Welcome to the most popular Instant Pot air fryer recipe on Corrie Cooks: Instant Pot french fries!
Healthy and easy side dish you can make again and again! Kids are loving them and they are great as a homemade snack.
These pressure cooker french fries are perfect for parties, weeknight dinners, appetizers and any time you have guests.
On this recipe we are making homemade french fries from scratch, but you can use this guide to make Instant Pot frozen french fries as well. See full instructions below.
Table of Contents
- Recipe Video
- Ingredients
- How to make French Fries
- What do you put on top of French fries?
- How many potatoes can I make at once?
- How can I keep french fries crispy after cooking?
- Can I use sweet potatoes?
- Do sweet potatoes and potatoes cook the same?
- Can I make the french fries using Instant Pot Duo Crisp?
- Can I make the french fries using Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid?
- Can I make this recipe without Air Fryer Lid, CrispLid or any other air fryer appliance?
- Do I need to turn on my Instant Pot for this recipe?
- Can I make this recipe in the oven?
- Can I make this recipe in a countertop air fryer?
- How to cook frozen french fries in the Instant Pot?
- Can I cut the potatoes into different size?
- Relevant products
- More Party Food Ideas
- Instant Pot French Fries
Recipe Video
Ingredients
This recipe requires simple ingredients: potatoes, oil and spices.
I like the natural taste, so I'm using only paprika, cornstarch, salt and pepper.
Feel free to take out the cornstarch.
Also feel free to change the suggesting spices and use whatever spices and seasoning you like the most!
How to make French Fries
Peel the potatoes.
Cut them into ¼-inch thick fries.
In a bowl, mix the potatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, cornstarch (optional) and any other spices you like.
Place the french fries in the air fryer basket. One layer is better but if you need to make a large batch you can place them as I did in the image below.
Cover with the Air Fryer Lid.
AIR FRY at 375 F° for 10 minutes.
Open the lid, flip the fries, and AIR FRY at 375 F° for another 10 minutes.
Open the lid and take out the french fries.
In case the fries are too soft, close the lid and AIR FRY for a few more minutes.
Serve and enjoy 🙂
What do you put on top of French fries?
You have so many options: Ketchup, mayonnaise, gravy, Tabasco sauce, four-cheese sauce, barbecue sauce etc.
Need more ideas? Check out What To Serve With French Fries for 15 delicious recipes.
How many potatoes can I make at once?
I don't recommend making more than 2 potatoes at once. If you need more, cook the fries in batches.
How can I keep french fries crispy after cooking?
If you are making many a few batches in advance, you can keep fried potatoes from getting soggy by placing them on a tray in a warm oven. That way they will remain crispy while serving.
Can I use sweet potatoes?
Yes you can. Check out this Instant Pot Sweet Potato fries for more info.
Do sweet potatoes and potatoes cook the same?
Russet potatoes (regular potatoes) need to be cooked a little longer than sweet potatoes. So for this recipe:
Potatoes: 10 minutes on each side.
Sweet potatoes: 9 minutes on each side.
Can I make the french fries using Instant Pot Duo Crisp?
Yes you can! Same ingredients and same instructions.
Can I make the french fries using Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid?
Yes you can! Same ingredients and same instructions. In fact, you can use Duo Crisp, Mealthy CrispLid, or any other air fryer you have in order to make this recipe.
Can I make this recipe without Air Fryer Lid, CrispLid or any other air fryer appliance?
Yes you can. Just use this recipe - Instant Pot French Fries Without CrispLid.
Do I need to turn on my Instant Pot for this recipe?
If you are using CrispLid or Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid - The Instant Pot should stay unplugged.
If you are using Instant Pot Duo Crisp - you need to plug in and turn on the Instant Pot.
Can I make this recipe in the oven?
Yes you can make these french fries in the oven: Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and put it all in the oven in a single layer with a little olive oil. Set to 375°F and bake for 25 minutes.
Can I make this recipe in a countertop air fryer?
Yes. These are basically Air Fryer French Fries so you can use this recipe in a regular air fryer as well.
How to cook frozen french fries in the Instant Pot?
To make frozen french fries, just AIR FRY at 400 °F for 15 minutes. If you want, you can flip them after 13 minutes and Air Fry for 2 more minutes but it's not mandatory.
This cooking method is perfect for shoestring or waffle fries. If you are using frozen steak fries, AIR FRY at 400 °F for 17 minutes
Can I cut the potatoes into different size?
Yes you can. Feel free to use other sizes and shapes than the classic ¼-inch strips.
Just remember that cooking time may change.
You can even keep the potatoes as is, and make Instant Pot Baked Potatoes.
Relevant products
More Party Food Ideas
Instant Pot French Fries
Ingredients
- 4 potatoes cut into ¼-inch sticks
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch optional
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes and cut them into ¼-inch thick fries.
- In a bowl, mix the potatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika and cornstarch.
- Place the air fryer basket inside the Instant Pot and place the potatoes inside.
- Cover with the Air Fryer Lid.
- Set the Instant Pot to AIR FRY at 375 F° for 10 minutes.
- Open the lid, lip the fries and close the lid.
- Set the Instant Pot to AIR FRY at 375 F° for another 10 minutes.
- Open the lid, serve and enjoy 🙂
Video
Nutrition
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The video says to push the Bake button and do 375 for ten minutes, but the written recipe below the video says to hit the Air Fry button. Which one is correct/better?
Air Fry. You can use bake as well but air fry would be better for this recipe.
Do you have air fryer recipes for making french fries?
Yes, this recipe can be used in a regular air fryer too.
First time making fries in the air fryer! We have a professional deep fryer I hate. This recipe was a breeze to make. With 6 kids at home, I made three giant batches, stirring the fries, adding two minutes. Absolute perfection, without the mess, the stink and the tummy ache from deep fried foods.
That's great! Thank you for your comment 🙂
I have the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid. The manual states: "36. When the stainless steel inner pot is empty, do not heat it with the Air Fryer Lid for more than 10 minutes, as doing so may damage the cooking surface. If I'm cooking French fries, the inner pot is empty. The recipe calls for more than 10 minutes cooking time. I'm confused.
I have the same question, Florida Nanny. I’ve had the Crisp Lid for 2 months and haven’t used it because of this question.
Corrie, no water in the liner? Will the liner get extremely hot?
Anyone have an answer, please?
If you are making this recipe, the inner pot is not empty... It has a steamer basket with french fries inside 🙂
Just brought home my air fryer lid for my instant pot and your French fries will be my first attempt for dinner tonight. Question. I also bought an instant pot metal mesh basket, thought I'd need it to air fry. But there is a basket in the air fryer lid box. I assume I'll always use that to air fry. Right? Any idea what to do with mesh metal basket??? Can't wait to try your recipes!!!!
That's great! Hope they turn out well for you. You do need some sort of metal mesh basket to air fry, seems like you have two and can use one or the other, but you don't need both.
Hi!
I just got the instant vortex mini 2 quart air fryer.
How would you reccommd to make this recipe with that? I'm not sure if it's similar to what's been mentioned. Super excited to try!
Do you use the upper level layer of the basket? I did, but didn’t know how to turn the lower level of fries. Some of my fries were good but others were a bit soggy. It was my first time using the lid.
You can use both layers or just one layer depending on how much you are making. To flip the fries on the lower level, you'd have to carefully move the top layer using oven mitts and then replace it after flipping. Hope that helps!
What do you mean "Place the trivet and the basket inside the inner steel pot"? Do you mean the basket base? I've just starting using this thing.
The trivet refers to a small metal insert that comes with the Instant Pot. And the air fryer basket comes with the Crisp lid. You place the trivet in the pot first, and place the basket on top. Hope that helps 🙂
I just bought a Duo crisp Instant Pot and it did NOT come with a trivet. Was it supposed to? Or will I need to purchase one separately? The air fryer basket was included.
It probably depends on the model, I'm not sure. But you can purchase one separately, they are inexpensive online.
Joyce, we have the duo crisp. The air fryer basket comes with a black plastic ring that clips on to the bottom. Then you place both these clipped together into the big stainless steel inner pot, and then put that in the instant pot. You don't need to use the stainless steel trivet. Btw, careful you don't burn your wrist on the sides of the hot pot, I did 3 times!
Just got the Air Fryer lid for Christmas and anxious to try this recipe. Can I put two layers in at the same time, using the metal separator?
I think that should work, as long as both layers have the potatoes in a single layer and there is sufficient space below and above each layer for proper air circulation.
Do you have a YouTube channel?
If not....you should
Just wondering what the corn starch does for the recipe? Is it to make them crispier? Can’t wait to try these.
Yes, it helps make them a little crispier and prevents sogginess. They are great with or without!
I tried and the fries sticks to the frying pan. Any idea what would be my mistake??
If the fries are sticking, try using a little bit more oil, and making sure the fries are completely coated with the oil on all sides so they don't stick.