Are you looking for a delicious and healthy dish that won’t take up too much of your time or effort? Well, look no further than air fryer sweet potato fries! This is my favorite dish to prepare in an air fryer. Sweet potatoes are also incredibly delicious and packed with essential vitamins and minerals.
Whether you’re a beginner cook or a seasoned pro in the kitchen, air fryer sweet potato fries are sure to become your go-to recipe. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can create an amazing side dish or snack that’s sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
In this article, we’ll explore how to make air fryer sweet potatoes, what seasonings to use and if its better than using a regular oven.
Ingredients Needed For Making Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
The Sweet Potato
When it comes to making air fryer sweet potato fries, there aren’t too many ingredients you need. It probably isn’t a surprise but you’ll need sweet potatoes. I usually use maximum 4 pieces for my 4QT air fryer. If you have a bigger one, like a 10QT air fryer or an air fryer oven, you may put more in them but don’t overcrowd the basket or tray because it will result in uneven cooking.
Opt for organic sweet potatoes if possible, and be sure to give them a good scrubbing before slicing them into thin fry shapes. You’ll also need some oil of your choice; olive or avocado oil work best.
A bit of oil
You’ll also need a little bit of oil. I know that everybody is always talking about that air fryers don’t need oil and its much healthier. Well if you use a little bit of oil that is healthy and has a high smoking point (check out the best oils to use here) you won’t have any problems. The oil will help to give a better texture for your fries and it also helps to rub in the seasonings more. I usually use olive oil but for example avocado oil works as well.
I only use a splash or two for the oil. Just enough to be able to spread it and rub it into every piece.
Seasoning
So the last part is to prepare a seasoning mix. This is where the magic happens. You can come up with your own mixes too but here are a few ideas.
My favorite mix to use:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Cumin
- Paprika powder
Mediterranean mix:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Rosemary
Vegan cheese mix:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Nutritional Yeast
This is usually my 3 go to seasonings for the sweet potato. Sometimes I mix up these 3. Depends on my mood. It is worth mentioning that it is good to add some garlic powder in there too.
Enjoying your freshly cooked air fryer sweet potato fries is really easy! Serve with ketchup or any other dip of your choice – even ranch or BBQ sauce! And don’t forget about topping them off with a sprinkle of extra seasoning for that perfect crunchy texture!
How To Make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Making sweet potato fries in an air fryer is an easy way to whip up a delicious snack. As we discussed above all you need are some sweet potatoes, oil, and seasoning, and you’re good to go! Here’s how to make air fryer sweet potato fries:
First, cut your sweet potatoes into thin strips, wedges, or my favorite: into little disks. For the best results, try to keep the pieces of potato all the same size so they cook evenly.
As a rule of thumb, aim to slice the sweet potatoes to a thickness that matches the width of your finger. This is literally a rule of thumb, haha.
Then mix up the fries with oil and your choice of seasoning in a bowl.
In the mean time preheat your air fryer to 375°F. If you don’t have a preheat function just wait 3 minutes before you put the fries into the air fryer.
Finally, place the sweet potato fries in the air fryer. Cook at 375°F for about 15-20 minutes or until they reach your desired crispiness. Make sure to shake the basket at least once so that all of the fries get cooked evenly.
Also keep in mind that different air fryers have different perfomance. If the fries get burnt pretty easily then make sure you turn down the temperature a bit.
And voila! You have delicious air fryer sweet potato fries that are sure to please everyone at your next gathering!
Tips For Making The Best Sweet Potato Fries
Who doesn’t love sweet potato fries? They’re as tasty as they are healthy! But if you want to make the best sweet potato fries, there’s one key step: using an air fryer. Air fryers can help you get that perfect crisp and crunch every time. Here are some tips for making the best sweet potato fries in your air fryer.
Firstly, prepare your ingredients correctly. Cut your sweet potatoes into thin, even slices – the thinner they are, the crispier they’ll be! If you want to add any other seasonings or flavors, sprinkle them on before cooking.
Make sure not to overcrowd the basket or tray– spread out each layer so that all pieces of sweet potato touch the hot air. For basket-type air fryers I like to leave a little hole in the middle so the air can flow effortlessly. You can stack the sweet potatoes on one another but don’t overcrowd them.
For easier cleanup I like to use parchment paper or better yet a silicone bowl. This way it won’t make a big mess and it will be easier to take out the fries from the air fryer. Also it won’t scratch the non-stick coating of the air fryer.
Finally, once done cooking, take your delicious sweet potato fries out of the air fryer and enjoy! Serve with ketchup or dipping sauce for added flavor. With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to make perfect air fryer sweet potato fries every single time!
Comparing Air Fryer And A Traditional Oven For Sweet Potato Fries
When it comes to making the best sweet potato fries, a lot of people are torn between using an air fryer and a traditional oven. Both offer their own benefits, but which one is better? Let’s take a look.
Fortunately we have a built-in oven and an air fryer too so we could compare the results.
With air fryers, you can make your sweet potato fries in much less time. It took us less than 20 minutes for 3 servings of sweet potatoes.
For a traditional oven we needed around 30 minutes (excl. preheat time which is another 10minutes). And our oven is a modern one. That is a huge difference. This is actually one of the main reasons we use an air fryer. We are quite committed to eating healthy and the downside of that is that you have to cook your own food a lot. So when you cook everyday it really does count if something takes 20 or 40 minutes.
Also we liked the texture of the fries much better with the air fryer. It was crunchier on the outside but soft on the inside. With the oven it had a very soft texture altogether. This is because the extreme hot air blown over the fries makes a delicious crunchy outer layer. Take a look at the picture and you can see the difference that the air fryed sweet potatoes get a crunchier layer.
Beside the time and result there are many other advantages for using air fryers, like the energy efficiency.
Conclusion
Making air fryer sweet potato fries is a great way to make a delicious side dish. It’s quick, easy and healthier than using a traditional oven. With just a few ingredients and some simple steps, you can have some delicious crispy sweet potato fries ready in no time.
To get the best sweet potato fries from an air fryer, make sure you preheat it thoroughly before adding the fries and use enough oil to ensure they crisp up properly. Lastly, don’t overcrowd the basket so that each fry gets plenty of space to cook evenly.
Overall, with some patience and practice you’ll be able to make amazing air fryer sweet potato fries that are sure to please your taste buds. There’s nothing quite like a good batch of crispy homemade fries! So give it a try and enjoy!
Don’t forget to try our Air Fryer Potatoes O’Brien next time.