Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Published by Fork Around & Find Out Kitchen — presented in the Lila editorial voice. Editorial standards

Quick Answer

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries get soaked, dried, and air fried until crisp on the outside and tender in the middle -- no deep fryer needed.

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Sweet potato fries look easy right up until a tray of orange noodles comes out of the oven and everybody quietly reaches for ketchup. These air fryer sweet potato fries attack the two things working against crispness: excess surface starch and moisture. Cut the potatoes into even 1/4-inch strips, soak them in cold water for 30 minutes, then dry them completely. Only then do they get olive oil and a light coating of cornstarch. That cornstarch forms a thin shell around the surface, giving the hot circulating air something dry to crisp while the inside turns tender.

Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and optional cayenne, then cook them at 380°F for 15 to 18 minutes, shaking the basket every five minutes. Thin, uniform fries matter because sweet potatoes do not reward optimism about size; thick pieces stay soft in the center while the skinny ones are already heading toward charcoal. Season again while they are hot and serve them immediately. They are excellent with burgers or sandwiches, but there is no law requiring a main course. A bowl of crisp sweet potato fries and a dipping sauce has resolved worse evenings.

Prep15 minutes

Cook12 minutes

Total27 minutes

Serves4 servings

DifficultyEasy

Ingredients

Servings

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Pinch of cayenne pepper, optional

Instructions

1Preheat air fryer to 380°F.
2Cut sweet potatoes into even 1/4-inch strips. Soak in cold water for 30 minutes, then drain and pat completely dry.
3Toss dried fries with olive oil, then sprinkle with cornstarch and toss again until evenly coated.
4Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne if using.
5Spread in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook 15 to 18 minutes, shaking every 5 minutes, until edges are crispy.
6Season with extra salt immediately after cooking.

Nutrition Information

Estimated per serving: 1 of 4 servings.

120Calories

2 gProtein

20 gCarbohydrates

4 gTotal Fat

0 gSaturated Fat

2 gFiber

1 gTotal Sugars

300 mgSodium

0 mgCholesterol

Estimated from the ingredients and quantities in this recipe using standard food-composition values. Brand choices, trimming, cooking loss, optional ingredients, and actual portion size can change the numbers. How we calculate nutrition estimates.

Pro Tips

Soaking in cold water removes excess starch, which is the difference between crispy fries and sad limp ones.
Cornstarch is the trick for crispy sweet potato fries — it creates a thin shell that crisps up.
Cut them thin and even. Fat fries stay mushy in the center.

Substitutions

sweet potatoes → regular russet potatoes Same technique, slightly shorter cook time.

cornstarch → arrowroot powder or tapioca starch Same crisping effect with either substitute.

Storage Instructions

Best eaten immediately. Leftovers can be re-crisped in the air fryer at 400°F for 3 minutes.

Make Ahead

Cut and soak fries up to a day ahead. Drain, dry, coat, and cook right before serving.

Freezing

You can freeze Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, but expect the starch to soften somewhat after thawing. Cool it completely, pack it airtight, thaw in the refrigerator, and reheat gently with a small amount of moisture if needed.