Revive your leftover fries in the air fryer! Learn how to reheat fries in the air fryer, and you’ll never have to suffer through cold or microwaved french fries again!
Air Fryer vs. Microwave
It takes just 4 minutes to reheat fries in the air fryer. A bit longer than the microwave, but the results are well worth the small time investment.
The microwave works…but you’ll end up with sad, soggy fries.
The air fryer can revive leftover french fries to their original glory! Leftover fries reheated in the air fryer are hot, crispy, and the closest you can get to fresh.
- This method works with any type of leftover french fries. Try it with Mcdonald’s fries, Chick-Fil-A waffle fries, Arby’s curly fries, or the frozen fries you made last night for dinner. In the image above, you can see that I’m reheating a pile of fast food fries that my kids didn’t eat but wanted to save for later.
- Reheating fries in the air fryer gives you the perfect opportunity to add extra seasonings to them.
- You don’t need to add any extra oil. There is oil in or on the fries already and the air fryer will use that to crisp them back up again.
- The only other rule is to be sure not to overcrowd the basket. You don’t need to keep them in a single layer, but you do want plenty of room in the air fryer for air to circulate.
How to Reheat Fries
- Start with cold, leftover french fries. Any kind of previously cooked fries can be reheated in the air fryer! In the images, I’m using shoestring fries from a fast food restaurant.
- Add the fries to the air fryer. While you don’t need to keep the fries in a single layer, you should avoid layering them more than 2 deep to keep everything crispy.
- Air Fry for 3-4 minutes at 400°F/200°C. Thicker fries may take an extra minute or two. Shake the basket once after about 2 minutes to make sure everything is reheated evenly.
- Serve reheated fries immediately. They are best if enjoyed right away, with ketchup, barbecue, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Tips and Tricks
- The actual time it takes to reheat your fries in the air fryer will depend on the amount that you’re cooking and the size of the fries. Add extra time for thick steak fries or waffle fries. If you only have a handful of fries to reheat, reduce the time.
- Add any seasonings before or after cooking. Seasoned salt is my go-to french fry seasoning.
- Oil isn’t necessary, but you can add some if you want extra, extra crispy french fries. I suggest spraying on a very small amount if you want to try this.
Reviving Those Old Fries
Try adding some cheese! Heat up those leftover fries and turn them into french fry nachos!
Once the fries are crisped up, add a handful of shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese. Air fry for another minute to melt the cheese.
Want more toppings? Add some cooked pieces of bacon on top of the melted cheese, and serve with sour cream to make the most delicious loaded fries from your leftovers.
Storing and Reheating
- Try to eat leftover fries within 4 days. Keep them in an airtight container rather than the takeout box.
- I don’t recommend freezing leftover fires…The texture of potatoes changes quite a bit when they are frozen and they will not reheat as well.
How to Reheat Fries in Air Fryer
Learn how to reheat fries in the air fryer, and you'll never have to suffer through cold or microwaved french fries again!
Servings: 1
Calories: 923kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups leftover french fries
Instructions
- Gather your leftover french fries.
- Place the leftover french fries in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry the french fries at 400°F/200°C for 3-4 minutes, until heated through. Shake the basket half way through to ensure even cooking.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- You can cook any amount of leftover fries, as long as you don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket.Â
- The nutrition facts for this recipe will depend on the amount and type of fries you are reheating. The facts listed here won’t be accurate.Â
- You may need more cook time for thicker, larger fries, or if you’re reheating a large amount. Reduce the time for very thin fries, or very few of them.Â
- Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven. If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the “Air Fry” function.
- Pro Tip: Check your food as it cooks. Each air fryer runs a bit differently. Sometimes air frying is a trial and error process. Check your food as it cooks to learn your air fryer better! When cooking a new recipe or food items be sure to check your food often to help avoid over/under cooking.
Nutrition
Calories: 923kcal | Carbohydrates: 107g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 53g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 31g | Sodium: 1739mg | Potassium: 1526mg | Fiber: 16g | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 5mg
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Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
Can I reheat leftover sweet potato fries?
Yes! Sweet potato fries reheat just as wonderfully in the air fryer as regular french fries do. Keep a close eye on them, as sweet potatoes can burn easily if overcooked due to their sugar content.
The microwave was always my go-to for reheating chips! Who would have thought the air fryer would do a much better job? Perfectly reheated and crispy as though they had just been made!
Thank you!