The Best Seasonings for Air Fryer French Fries

Whereas there are limitless styles and sizes for frozen grocery retailer French fries, there’s a restricted collection of flavors. I believe probably the most branching out I’ve seen from fry corporations are black pepper and the considerably tame orange seasoning on curly fries. For such a extremely regarded snack, we’ve actually taken a backseat on taste exploration. French fries are the tortilla chip of the freezer aisle—let’s give them Takis-level seasoning (or a minimum of kettle corn-level). Listed below are some methods to get inventive along with your subsequent batch of French fries. 

Naturally, I make my frozen French fries in the air fryer. Positive, you could possibly use your typical oven however if in case you have an air fryer, don’t rob your self of time and crunch. Air fryer French fries are constantly superior and take a fraction of the time of oven roasted fries. It’s even the best way to revitalize soggy, cold, leftover fries the following day. For those who’re buying round for an air fryer, check out my roundup and reviews of my top air fryer picks for this yr.

Greatest seasonings for air fryer French fries

Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

To use dry seasoning powders, I normally add the new fries to a giant mixing bowl and shake the powder extensively across the floor. Then use the bowl to toss the fries round and coat them extra evenly. In order for you the powder to stay even higher, think about using an oil sprayer to offer the fries a lightweight coating earlier than they go within the air fryer. They’ll retain a few of that further oil if you toss the seasoning mud on later and the powder will stick in a thicker layer. The ratio of powder to fry is private, however I discover that erring on the facet of more-is-more works out higher for me.

Bouillon powder

For those who thought savory French fries meant including salt, boy are you lacking out. You may make your french fries just a little meatier with a shake of bouillon powder. I take advantage of the Maggi hen flavored bouillon powder that comes as a unfastened powder. You should utilize the dry cubes (not the semi-hydrated stuff) and crush these right into a powder if you happen to can’t discover the unfastened stuff. 

Ranch dressing powder

No surprises right here however ranch dressing is a crowd pleaser, even when it’s dry. I believe it’s the buttermilk. Use the identical methodology of dusting the powder over your bowl of freshly air fried French fries and toss.

Tajin

Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

I don’t love Tajin rims on my cocktails however I do love Tajin powder on my French fries. For those who haven’t stored up with the Taijn craze, it’s a vivid purple powder that blends spicy seasonings with citric acid. It’s a pop of bitter with a spicy end, and the prickly combo is irresistible on French fries. 

Tajin is powder nevertheless it’s a bigger granule dimension than one thing like ranch dressing powder. I’ve two ways for serving to it persist with the fries. I like to recommend utilizing a spritz of oil over the fries earlier than frying so the powder sticks higher later. Together with that, use a mortar and pestle to grind the Tajin down into a good finer powder. For those who can’t discover Tajin, you’ll be able to duplicate the flavour profile with a heavy squeeze of lime juice and a combination of salt and cayenne powder dusted over the fries.

Buldak (or different) ramen seasoning packet

Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

It’s nearly like the previous three options all rolled into one. Savory, spicy, bitter, and a bit creamy, Buldak ramen packets have dry seasoning packets nestled inside with the noodles. They’re primarily bouillon powder, however the Buldak and Shin model on the spot noodles at all times embrace a spicy component, or have an non-obligatory spice packet. My Buldak was “quattro” cheese and got here with a savory cheese powder that I dumped over my straight minimize fries. 

Cinnamon sugar

Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

Follow me on this. Cinnamon sugar French fries are literally nice. If we’re all okay with one thing like candy and bitter hen and fastnachts (doughnuts made with potatoes) then you’ll be able to settle for the thought of including sugar to your french fries. 

I’ll add a pair teaspoons of sugar, a pinch of salt, and a heavy shake of cinnamon to my mortar and pestle, and grind it down right into a high-quality powder. You should utilize powdered sugar and cinnamon as an alternative if you happen to don’t have a mortar and pestle. Mud this over your frites and revel in a potato-y model of funnel cake. 

Salt and vinegar

I do know this isn’t precisely new, however consider this as a reminder you can add salt and vinegar to your French fries at residence. I did this to oven-roasted French fries a short time again, nevertheless it works simply as effectively within the air fryer. Do that as a pre-treatment or publish. For those who don’t like moist fries, drizzle vinegar over your frozen fries first, then add them to the air fryer to cook dinner. After they arrive out, shortly toss them with salt. The vinegar chunk is way more delicate this manner. For those who just like the sharp vinegar expertise, use a spritz bottle or simply drizzle malt vinegar over your fries after they arrive out of the air fryer, and end with salt. 

These are my favourite fry seasoning experiments to this point, however understand that you’ll be able to take the fundamental methodology and run with it to fit your tastes. The important thing, like with including seasoning to popcorn or tortilla chips, is utilizing a high-quality powder so it sticks to the floor, or creating a lightweight “adhesive” with a mist of oil or a sprinkle of liquid (like lime juice or vinegar) so the dry seasoning can persist with that.