If thin, crispy fries are your favourite, you’re going to love these air fryer shoestring fries! The air fryer makes them perfectly crispy without all the oil, and my blend of savoury seasonings makes them irresistible.
Are you a fan of crispy French fries? Or do you always dig for those soggy, limp fries at the bottom of the pile? For me, it’s alllll about the crispy, and that’s why I love these air fryer shoestring fries.
They’re thin little fries, which means they have the ability to cook up super crispy. And they’re perfect for cooking in the air fryer, which means a lot less work. Who wants to mess with deep-frying when you can get the same results with way less oil?!
How Do You Make Crispy Fries in an Air Fryer?
There are two tricks to getting crispy fries in the air fryer. First, always soak your potatoes. For this air fryer shoestring fries recipe, you’ll cut the potatoes into shoestrings, then soak them in ice water. After a good soak, rinse the potatoes well to wash away the excess starch. Getting rid of that starch goes a long way to achieving crispy fry perfection.
The other secret is in the cooking method. Coat the fries in oil rather than spraying them, which ensures that they’re evenly coated. Then, place the fries in the air fryer basket without crowding them; giving them enough room for air to circulate around each fry is key to getting crispy fries in the air fryer.
Notes on Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
For the shoestring fries:
- Russet potatoes – I like to keep the skin on, but you can peel them if you prefer.
- Cold water
- Ice
- Peanut oil – Vegetable, corn, and canola oil all work, but don’t use olive oil; you need an oil with a high smoke point.
- Salt and pepper
- Smoked paprika – This is my little secret ingredient for super flavorful air fryer shoestring fries!
- Garlic powder
For the dipping sauce:
- Vegan mayonnaise – Store-bought or homemade vegan mayo .
- Yellow mustard
- Truffle oil
What Kind of Potatoes Are the Best for French Fries?
Russet potatoes are the best for making crispy French fries; a waxy potato like Yukon gold won’t be nearly as crispy. Russets are also an ideal size for fries, which is why most restaurants use them.
How to Make Air Fryer Shoestring Fries
Making these air fryer shoestring fries is easy and doesn’t require a lot of hands-on time, but make sure you account for the hour long soaking time when planning your cooking.
Soak the potatoes. Use a mandoline slicer to julienne the potatoes. Place them in a large bowl and cover with water; add the ice and stir gently. Let the potatoes soak for 30 minutes, then discard the water and repeat the process once more, soaking the potatoes for another 30 minutes.
Drain. Strain the water from the bowl and place the julienned potatoes on paper towels. Pat them dry.
Prepare. Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF. Place the potatoes in a large bowl and toss them with the oil, making sure they’re evenly coated.
Air fry. Place the fries in an even layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 5 minutes, then shake the basket and air fry for another 5 to 7 minutes, or until they’re golden and crispy. Transfer to a wire rack or a paper-towel-lined plate to cool.
Season. Add salt and pepper to taste, then sprinkle the smoked paprika and garlic powder over the fries.
Make the sauce. Whisk the vegan mayo, mustard, and truffle oil in a small bowl until well-combined. Serve the air fryer shoestring fries with the sauce on the side.
Tips for Success
These tips will help you make perfectly crispy shoestring fries in the air fryer.
- Cut the potatoes in uniform sizes. If you don’t have a mandoline slicer, use a sharp knife to slice the potatoes into 1/8″ x 1/8″ matchsticks. Don’t make them thicker than this if you want them to turn out crunchy, and make sure all of the fries are the same size so they’re finished cooking at the same time.
- Dry them well. If there’s still water clinging to the fries when you coat them in oil, your fries will steam in the air fryer instead of getting crispy.
- Work in batches if you need to. Crowding the air fryer basket will give you soggy fries, so it’s better to make a few batches.
- Make them your own. Customize the recipe with your favorite herbs and spices. Seasoning salt, chili powder, thyme, or whatever you like on your fries.
Serving Suggestions
Air fryer shoestring fries are the perfect pairing with a vegan sandwich or burger. Try them with one of these recipes:
- Easy Grillable Veggie Burgers
- Vegan BLT Sandwich
- BBQ Chickpea Wraps with Ranch Dressing
- Vegan Quinoa Cauliflower Burgers
How to Store Leftovers
Leftover shoestring fries can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to reheat them, place the fries in the air fryer basket and cook at 400ºF for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. For best results, don’t overlap the fries when reheating.
Can This Recipe Be Frozen?
Yes, these air fryer shoestring fries can be frozen. Place the cooked, cooled fries in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply place them in the air fryer basket and cook at 400ºF for about 5 minutes or until heated through.
More Air Fryer Favourites
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Crispy Air Fryer Tofu (How to Make Crispy Tofu)
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Orange Tofu
Ingredients
- 3 large Russet potatoes , unpeeled
- Cold water , for soaking
- 3 cups ice
- ¼ cup peanut oil , Vegetable, corn, and canola oil work too. Don’t use olive oil.
- Salt and pepper , to taste
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika , to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 5 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise
- 8 tablespoons yellow mustard
- ¼ teaspoon truffle oil
Instructions
- Slice the potatoes. Use a mandolin on the “julienne” setting to slice your potatoes. If you don’t have a mandolin, use a sharp knife to slice the potatoes into 1/8" x 1/8" matchsticks. Don’t make them thicker than this if you want them to turn out crunchy.
- Soak them. Place the sliced potatoes in a large bowl. Cover them with water and add the ice. Stir twice gently. Let them soak for 30 minutes. Discard the water and repeat the process once more. The total soaking time should be 1 hour.
- Dry them. Strain the water and set the potatoes on paper towels. Pat them completely dry.
- Grease them. Preheat the air fryer to 400 F. Add the potatoes to a large bowl and pour in the oil. Toss them until completely coated in oil.
- Fry them. Place the greased potatoes in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overlap them too much. You may have to work in batches. Air fry the french fries for 5 minutes. Shake the basket. Air fry them for another 5-7 minutes or until golden and crispy. Carefully remove them from the heat. Set them on a wire rack or a paper towel-lined plate to cool.
- Season them. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle the smoked paprika and garlic powder over the fries. Set them aside to cool.
- Make the sauce. Whisk the vegan mayo, mustard, and truffle oil in a small bowl until well combined. Serve your fries with the sauce on the side.
Notes
Air Fryer Shoestring Fries
Ingredients
- 3 large Russet potatoes unpeeled
- Cold water for soaking
- 3 cups ice
- ¼ cup peanut oil Vegetable, corn, and canola oil work too. Don’t use olive oil.
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 5 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise
- 8 tablespoons yellow mustard
- ¼ teaspoon truffle oil
Instructions
- Slice the potatoes. Use a mandolin on the “julienne” setting to slice your potatoes. If you don’t have a mandolin, use a sharp knife to slice the potatoes into 1/8" x 1/8" matchsticks. Don’t make them thicker than this if you want them to turn out crunchy.
- Soak them. Place the sliced potatoes in a large bowl. Cover them with water and add the ice. Stir twice gently. Let them soak for 30 minutes. Discard the water and repeat the process once more. The total soaking time should be 1 hour.
- Dry them. Strain the water and set the potatoes on paper towels. Pat them completely dry.
- Grease them. Preheat the air fryer to 400 F. Add the potatoes to a large bowl and pour in the oil. Toss them until completely coated in oil.
- Fry them. Place the greased potatoes in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overlap them too much. You may have to work in batches. Air fry the french fries for 5 minutes. Shake the basket. Air fry them for another 5-7 minutes or until golden and crispy. Carefully remove them from the heat. Set them on a wire rack or a paper towel-lined plate to cool.
- Season them. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle the smoked paprika and garlic powder over the fries. Set them aside to cool.
- Make the sauce. Whisk the vegan mayo, mustard, and truffle oil in a small bowl until well combined. Serve your fries with the sauce on the side.
Notes
Nutrition
Air Fryer Shoestring Fries https://jessicainthekitchen.com/air-fryer-shoestring-fries/ March 21, 2023
This strawberry crumble recipe is easy as can be! You only need 5 ingredients and a few minutes of assembly for the perfect summery dessert, with tender , syrupy strawberries and a crispy oat topping.
Strawberries are my favourite fruit, whether it’s in my 3-Ingredient Strawberry Banana Smoothie or Strawberry Jalapeño Salsa . But, if you’re on the hunt for an easy strawberry dessert idea, it doesn’t get much better than this easy strawberry crumble. It comes together in a snap, and aside from the strawberries, all of the other ingredients are kitchen staples that you probably already have on hand.
And don’t let the simplicity of this recipe fool you! This is the best way to enjoy fresh strawberries when they’re in season. They bake up tender and syrupy; the sugars concentrate, making them even sweeter, and the soft berries contrast perfectly with the crispy oat topping.
This strawberry crumble is the kind of dessert you can easily whip up on a weeknight when you’re craving a treat, but it’s also impressive enough that you can triple the recipe and serve it for a party. Just don’t forget to add a scoop of your favourite vegan ice cream on top!
Looking for another easy dessert idea with fresh strawberries? Make this 7-Ingredient Strawberry Crisp recipe !
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Crumble
There’s a lot to love about this strawberry crumble recipe! Here’s why I think you’ll be a big fan of it:
- Sweet strawberry flavor. Freshly-picked strawberries are the star of the show here! If summer could be summed up in one taste, it would be these sugary berries covered in buttery oats.
- Terrific texture. The soft, syrupy strawberries combined with the crispy, slightly crunchy oats make every bite of this dessert heavenly.
- Simple ingredients. You only need 5 ingredients for this homemade crumble. It comes together in no time!
Notes on Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Sugar – You can use granulated sugar, or coconut sugar if you prefer.
- All-purpose flour – This helps thicken the juices released by the strawberries.
- Strawberries – Fresh strawberries are best, but frozen strawberries can also be used. Make sure that you add them in frozen though, not thawed.
- Sea salt – This is technically optional, but it’s a great way to balance out the sweetness.
- Oats – Old-fashioned oats are best.
- Vegan butter – Use store-bought or homemade vegan butter .
How Can You Tell if Strawberries Are Ripe?
This recipe is all about the strawberries, so you want to pick good ones! Look for plump, brightly-colored berries that smell fragrant and sweet. Avoid strawberries that are mushy, wilted, or pale. Local strawberries are always superior to the giant strawberries they sell at the grocery store, which tend to be firmer (so they can withstand shipping) and blander.
How to Make a 5-Ingredient Strawberry Crumble
Ready to enjoy a sweet, fruit-filled dessert? Here’s what you’ll need to do!
- Prepare. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
Macerate the strawberries. Whisk the sugar, flour, and sea salt in a mixing bowl. Add the strawberries and toss to coat them. Let the berries sit for 10 minutes to macerate.
Make the topping. In a second bowl, stir together the oats, remaining flour, and sugar. Slowly pour in the melted butter and stir until a loose crumble forms.
- Assemble. Divide the strawberry mixture between two ramekins and sprinkle the oat mixture over the top.
- Bake. Place the ramekins on a half sheet pan to catch any juices that bubble out and bake for 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, then serve.
Tips for Success
These simple tips will help you make a perfect strawberry crumble:
- Use the best berries you can find. Some people think crumbles, pies, and other baked goods are the perfect way to use fruit that’s bland or about to spoil, but fruit desserts are only as good as the fruit you use! Subpar strawberries will give you a subpar strawberry crumble.
- Don’t over-mix the crumble topping. Once it holds together when you pinch it between two fingers, you don’t need to stir it anymore.
- Be patient. It’s tempting to dig into your crumble right away, but the 10 minutes of cooling time allows all those divine strawberry juices to thicken to a syrupy consistency.
Substitutions & Recipe Variations
Feel free to get creative with this recipe and switch up the topping! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- For the crumble. Try using chopped nuts, coconut flakes, or almond meal for different flavors and textures. You can also add some spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to the topping mixture.
- For the strawberry filling. If strawberries aren’t your favorite, feel free to use other fruits like peaches or blackberries, or use a combination of in-season fruit.
Serving Suggestions
This strawberry crumble is delicious on its own, but it’s even better when topped with a dollop of whipped coconut cream , vegan vanilla ice cream, or even some vegan yogurt .
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Leftover strawberry crumble can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Simply reheat it in the microwave or a 350ºF oven when ready to eat, or enjoy it chilled.
Can I Freeze Strawberry Crumble?
You can freeze this vegan strawberry crumble for up to 2 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating or eating.
More Easy Fruit Desserts
Looking for more easy dessert ideas with fresh fruit? Check out these ones!
- Banana Oatmeal Cookies
- Mango Coconut Chia Seed Pudding
- Grilled Peaches with Coconut Ice Cream
- Strawberry Granita
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar , divided
- 1/2 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour , divided
- 1 1/2 pounds strawberries , chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 cup oats
- 2 tablespoons melted vegan butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 tablespoons of the sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons flour, and the sea salt. Add the strawberries and toss to coat. Allow to sit for 10 minutes to bring out the flavor of the strawberries and to thicken their juices.
- In another bowl, mix together the oats, remaining 1/2 cup flour, and 1 tablespoons sugar. Add the melted butter bit by bit until a loose crumble forms. Don’t over mix it.
- Divide the strawberry mixture evenly between two ramekins. Top with the oat mixture, dividing the topping equally between the two ramekins.
- Place the ramekins on a half sheet pan to catch any juices that bubble out of the ramekin. Bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.
