A soggy batch of fries at my friend's house in Spokane made me change my whole method

I was over at my buddy's place for a game night and he threw some frozen fries in his air fryer. They came out limp and wet, a total letdown. He just shrugged and said that's how they always turn out. I looked at his machine, a basic model, and realized he was packing the basket way too full. I told him to try just a single layer, about a cup and a half max, and crank it to 400 degrees. The next batch was a total game changer, super crispy and golden. Now I never fill my basket more than halfway, no matter what I'm cooking. It seems obvious, but seeing that fail up close really drove it home. What's the one simple trick that fixed a food fail for you guys?

3 comments

3 Comments

patel.shane23d ago

My uncle swore his oven fries were terrible until I watched him put them on a cold baking sheet. He wasn't preheating the pan. Letting that sheet get hot in the oven first made all the difference, they finally got crispy.

patricia3223d ago

Wait, you preheat the pan itself? I always just preheat the oven. Does the sheet go in empty while it heats up?

emmamason23d ago

Yeah that's a game changer, I started tossing mine in a little oil first too and they get way better.