Sweet potato fries make an excellent snack when served with your favorite sauce. They are a great way to diversify your diet if regular chips start to seem too predictable. These fries pair well with both burgers and fried meat, and can also be served on a plate with dip.
Using an air fryer allows you to achieve a golden, slightly crispy texture without the need for deep frying in lots of oil. The key to preparation is not to rush, as sweet potatoes contain more moisture than one might expect, so thorough drying before cooking yields a noticeable result.
How to Make Sweet Potato Fries in an Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cut the sweet potatoes into thin, even sticks.
- Place the cut sweet potatoes in a bowl with ice water and let them soak. Then drain the water and thoroughly pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel.
- Transfer the fries to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Add paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, mixing until evenly coated.
- Arrange the fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding the basket, as this can impede proper hot air circulation.
- Cook in the air fryer at 195°C for 21 minutes, flipping the basket about halfway through cooking.
- Serve immediately with your favorite sauce or as a side dish.
Why Soak Sweet Potatoes Before Air Frying?
Soaking the cut fries in cold or ice water is a beneficial preparatory step if you aim for the best texture. This process helps remove some surface starch before thermal processing begins. Equally important is the step after soaking: the fries must be properly dried before placing them in the air fryer. Any excess moisture will prevent browning and the crispy effect.
This is one of the simplest steps that is easy to skip, especially when needing to prepare dinner quickly, but the extra time spent is worthwhile.
Why Are My Sweet Potato Fries Not Crispy?
The most common reason is moisture. If the sweet potatoes remain wet after soaking, they are likely to steam rather than develop the proper brown color. Overcrowding the air fryer basket can also affect the result. The fries need space around them for hot air circulation. If there are too many in the basket, they should be cooked in batches rather than piled on top of each other.
Cutting the fries to approximately the same thickness also helps. Very thin pieces may cook faster, while thicker ones may remain soft inside.