Call it a guilty pleasure or an important part of your weekly diet, we are not judging you. But there is something special about the fries, crisp to perfection, that makes these delicious side dishes hard to resist. Fast food chains have their own methods of making these tasty snacks, but if you want to enjoy them at home without all those calories, an air fryer is the way to go.
“Cooking at home gives you the power to influence your health,” says Marisa Moore, RDN, MBA, LD, Consumer Reports contributor who is a culinary and integrative dietitian. “You can enjoy crispy and delicious home fries using an air fryer or convection oven.”
Since they appeared on the market just over a decade ago, the air fryers have risen in popularity, making them a primary kitchen appliance that some households cannot live without. These kitchen gadgets are praised for their effectiveness in preparing everything from brownies, bacon to fish (bass or sea bass), with little or no oil, and in a fraction of the time it would take if you used your stove or oven. It’s not hard to see why they now have so many fans.
Consumer Reports tests and rates each air fryer in our lab based on established criteria including the efficiency of their controls, how quiet they are to run and how easy it is to clean
And their performance really varies. Our best assessment was obtained by the Gourmia model with an overall score of 80, and our lowest rated model, Instant Vortex 4-in -1 , got 47. If you want to buy one, check out our Air Fryer Buying Guide for more information.
In the lab, a taste test conducted by staff found that most air fryers do a pretty decent job of preparing popular fried foods like chicken wings , chicken nuggets, and, you guessed it, French fries.
“Achieving tasty fries at home is only limited by your creativity,” says Moore. “I like to leave the skin on when I make potato chips or sweet potato wedges for more fiber, and I add garlic, paprika, and other seasonings for added flavor.”
I put this tip into practice in my own kitchen, preparing the recipes below for French fries, sweet potato wedges, turnip wedges, and cassava using our top-rated model Gourmia GAF 686 Digital Air Fryer . A few pantry basics and a few sprigs of fresh herbs are all you need to create these healthy alternatives to fast food favorites, from KFC’s potato wedges to Red Robin’s seasoned fries. Keep reading the recipes and enjoy tasty French fries at 20 minutes or less.
Rosemary fries
For 10 wedges on KFC, expect to add 348 calories to your food. These delicious side dishes are typically made with a chicken-flavored seasoning, then deep-fried twice. You may not get the same flavor at home, but this recipe will easily become a new family favorite.
2 medium red potatoes with skin, washed
2 teaspoons of olive oil
¼ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of black pepper
¼ teaspoon of cayenne
1 tablespoon of chopped fresh rosemary
Preparation
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Preheat the air fryer to 380 ° F.
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In a large bowl, mix the potato wedges with oil, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
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Layer the potatoes (skin side up) in the fryer basket or pan, and cook for 8 minutes. Using heat resistant tongs, flip the wedges and cook for an additional 8 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
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Sprinkle the fries with rosemary and serve immediately.
Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise; then cut each half into 5 wedges (each potato should give approximately 10 parts). Optional: For an extra crunchy wedge, soak the cut potatoes in ice water for about 30 minutes then pat dry before seasoning. This helps remove some of the starch and gives your potatoes that extra crunchy texture.
Nutritional information per serving: 110 calories, 2 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugars (0 grams added), 2 grams of protein, 200 mg sodium
Makes 4 servings
Sweet Potato Wedges with Cinnamon
Arby’s Sweet Potato Wedges contain between 348 and 490 calories, depending on size. But these homemade creations, dusted with a dash of cinnamon, have a fraction of the fat and a flavor that tastes more like high-end restaurant wedges than a fast food chain.
2 sweet potatoes medium with skin, washed
2 teaspoons olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon of cinnamon
Preparation
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Preheat the air fryer to 380 ° F.
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Cut the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise, then cut each half into 5 wedges (each sweet potato should give approximately 10 parts).
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In a large bowl, mix the sweet potato slices with oil, salt, pepper, and cinnamon.
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Layer the sweet potatoes (skin side up) in the fryer basket or pan, and cook for 8 minutes. Using heat resistant tongs, flip the wedges and cook for an additional 8 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Serve them.
Nutritional information per serving: 110 calories, 2 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugars (0 grams added), 2 grams of protein, 200 mg sodium
Nutrition benefit: Packed with antioxidant beta-carotene.
Makes 4 servings
Garlic Parsley Turnip Fries
The gold standard for fast food fries comes from nothing more and nothing less than McDonald’s golden arches. But as irresistible as your fries can be, just one serving, roughly 12 to 15 thin fries, they will bring you 224 calories, according to Carb Manager, a carbohydrate counter (app) for different diets. These turnip (parsnip) chips are similar in size and texture, and nowhere near the level of fat.
1 lb of peeled turnips
2 teaspoons of olive oil
¼ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of black pepper
2 cloves of minced garlic
2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
Preparation
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Cut the turnips in half crosswise, then in half lengthwise, and then into rectangular pieces. Optional: For extra crunchy frying, boil for 3 minutes and pat dry before seasoning.
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Preheat the air fryer to 370 ° F.
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In a large bowl, mix the turnip pieces with the oil, salt and pepper.
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Place slices in a single layer in basket or tray the air fryer. Kitchen during 12 minutes (7 minutes if previously boiled), then flip the chips with heat resistant tongs. Sprinkle with garlic and cook for 10 additional minutes (7 minutes if previously boiled), until golden brown and fully cooked.
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Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.
Nutritional information per serving: 115 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of fiber, 5 grams of sugars (0 grams added), 2 grams of protein, 185 mg of sodium
Nutrition benefit: Two times the fiber in potatoes.
Makes 4 servings
Garlic and parsley cassava wedges
If you like seasoned potatoes, you know that the good ones have just the right amount of seasoning, along with a crispy exterior and a smooth texture on the inside. Red Robin knows this, which is why their seasoned fries are a restaurant favorite. It even offers diners the opportunity to enjoy a “eat all you can.” But trust us, a single serving of these fries will get you 370 calories to be exact. On the other hand, these thick-cut cassava wedges, mixed with garlic and sprinkled with parsley, give your palate a delight without affecting your daily diet.
1 large cassava root, peeled
2 teaspoons of olive oil
¼ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
Preparation
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Short yuca in half crosswise, then in half lengthwise, and then into rectangular pieces (if your yuca root is longer, you may have to cut additional pieces). Optional: For an extra crunchy fry, boil the yuca for 5 minutes, and pat dry before seasoning.
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Preheat air fryer to 380 ° F.
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In a large bowl, mix yuca pieces with oil, salt and pepper.
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Place the cassava in a single layer in the basket or tray of the air fryer. Kitchen during 12 minutes (7 minutes if previously boiled) Then flip the pieces of yuca with heat resistant tongs. Sprinkle with garlic and cook for 09 additional minutes (7 minutes if previously boiled), until golden brown and fully cooked.
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Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.
Nutritional information per serving: 185 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 39 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugars (0 grams added), 2 grams of protein, 160 mg sodium
Nutrition benefit: has about the 20 % Of value daily vitamin C.
Makes 4 servings
Best air fryers from CR tests
With so many fryers on the market, it can be difficult to choose the one that suits you best. Fortunately, CR’s test engineers have put nearly 3 dozen models to the test, assigning them an overall score based on their performance in key categories. Below are the top 5 of our rating in alphabetical order. For the full review, please visit the Rating
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2021, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with the advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports is an independent nonprofit organization that works with consumers to create a just, safe, and healthy world. CR does not endorse products or services and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2021, Consumer Reports, Inc.