Let me share all my tips and tricks to making crispy sweet potato fries in the air fryer. It's not just as simple as throwing them in the air fryer if you want them to actually be crispy! If you want to stop wasting your time on limp fries, this is the recipe for you.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Through my testing, I've discovered how to make sweet potatoes fries in the air fryer that are actually crispy with only a few simple ingredients. It's not just as simple as cutting your potatoes into thin fries!
Sweet potatoes have a higher starch and sugar content than white potatoes, so they are going to brown more quickly before getting crispy than their French fry making counterparts. Let me share my tricks so you can enjoy crispy sweet potato fries!
This is the reason why the air fryer can be a challenge to achieve crispy sweet potato fries. In the oven, we can cook the fries at 425F without the risk of them burning before getting crispy. Since the air fryer is a tiny little convection oven, we can't go that high without the sweet potato fries getting too brown really quickly.
Ingredients needed
For your convenience, I have all the ingredients listed here and the step by step procedure with photos. If you would like to print the recipe, please click here for the recipe card.
- 1 pound (454g) sweet potatoes, peeled and ends trimmed:
- ½ tablespoon (4g) cornstarch: This is one of the necessary components for crispy sweet potato fries.
- 1 tablespoon (14g) oil: Olive oil, vegetable oil, or avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon (3g) garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
The best way to make air fryer sweet potatoes fries
Follow these 6 steps for the best results and to avoid soggy sweet potato fries.
Step 1: Your sweet potato fries have to be small! ½ inch wide by ¼ inch thick is optimal for crispness. That way you get a nice size fry, but they are thin enough to be crispy. Also, they need to be no longer than 3.5 inches. Longer fries will be mushy in the middle.
Step 2: Soak the fries in a large bowl with cold water. This step helps pull some starch out of the potatoes so they do not brown as fast. I tried to make my fries with and without soaking and this definitely made a difference! Soak for at least 30 minutes.
Step 3: Drain the water from the potatoes and dry with paper towels. Water on your potatoes will keep them from getting crispy and they will just steam.
Step 4: Toss with cornstarch first, then oil and seasonings. The cornstarch is another big component to crispy sweet potato fries in the air fryer and in the oven.
Step 5: Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 380F (193C)
Step 6: Cook the sweet potato fries in the hot air fryer basket at 380 degrees F in a single layer for 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown, shaking the basket halfway through. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you will most likely need to cook at least 2 batches. In my testing, 1 pound of sweet potato fries fit in my 8 quart air fryer in 2 batches.
The cook time will also depend on your air fryer. Air fryers of different sizes and wattage cook food differently. One thing is for sure, these take less time in the air fryer than they do in the oven.
Why are my sweet potato fries soggy in the air fryer?
Soggy sweet potato fries are likely because they were cut too big. Make sure they are no more than 3.5 inches long, ½ inch wide, and ¼ inch thick. Thin strips will give you crispy fries!
Homemade fries that aren't made in a deep fryer, whether made with sweet potatoes or regular potatoes, are definitely going to be fewer calories than their deep-fried counterparts. These air fryer sweet potato fries are the perfect side dish and will be your go-to sweet potato fries recipe.
More easy air fryer recipes:
HUNGRY FOR MORE EASY RECIPES? Click here to subscribe to my newsletter and get my 80+ recipe e-cookbook absolutely FREE!
Actually Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
Instructions
- Use a sharp knife to cut the sweet potato pointy ends off, then cut the sweet potato into fries that are no more than ½ inch wide, ¼ inch thick, and 3.5 inches long. Put the fries in a large mixing bowl and cover with cold water. Soak for at least 30 minutes, but the longer the better. Drain the water and dry the fries on paper towels.
- Pre-heat the air fryer to 380F (193C) for 5 minutes.
- Add the fries back to the dry bowl and toss with the cornstarch. Now toss fries with the oil and seasonings.
- Add the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 380F for 13-15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Toss halfway through by shaking the basket. You will likely need to cook them in multiple batches. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Cooking time: The cook time will also depend on your air fryer. Air fryers of different sizes and wattage cook food differently.
- Storage and reheating: Store the leftover fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Â Reheat in the air fryer at 380F for 5 minutes.
Nutrition per serving
Nutrition is provided as a courtesy only. Please re-calculate on your own with the ingredients and amounts you used for the most accurate data.
Diane Lanier says
Can you use xantham gum instead of cornstarch?
Jennifer Banz says
No as Xanthan gum is not a starch. The only other alternative would be arrowroot starch but I have read that it's not as good as cornstarch.