Sweet Potato Fries (Prep)
Vegetables·intermediate

Sweet Potato Fries (Prep)

Yield
Prep
Total
Serves 2 to 3
10m
25m
Spray SurfaceKid-FriendlyMeal-Prep
ClassicCinnamon SugarSee all on food page →

Craving sweet potato fries? The air fryer delivers crispy fries without all the oil of deep frying. Cornstarch is the secret ingredient for guaranteed crispiness. Here's how to make them.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Optional: 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika or cinnamon (pick a direction)
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Season it upPairs with Cinnamon Sugar, Smoked Paprika & Brown Sugar, Chili Lime, and 2 moreSee all seasonings →

Steps

  1. 01Peel the sweet potatoes. Cut into sticks about 1/4 inch wide and 3 inches long. Consistency matters more than precision. Even cuts mean even cooking.
  2. 02Soak the sticks in cold water for 20 to 30 minutes. This draws out excess starch and is the difference between crispy fries and soft sweet potato sticks.
  3. 03Drain and pat VERY dry. Wet sweet potato fries steam instead of crisp.
  4. 04Toss with cornstarch first, making sure every fry is coated. Then add oil and seasonings and toss again.
  5. 05Ready for the air fryer. Single layer, don't crowd, shake frequently.
Cornstarch is mandatory. Sweet potatoes have more sugar and moisture than regular potatoes, which makes them want to go soft instead of crispy. The cornstarch creates an outer shell that crisps while the inside stays tender. Skip it and you get sweet potato sticks. Use it and you get sweet potato fries. The cold water soak matters too. Do both.
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How to Air Fry It

Temp
Cook
Prep
Flip?
400°F
15m
10m
Yes
  1. 01Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
  2. 02Peel and cut sweet potatoes into evenly sized 1/4-inch thick fries.
  3. 03Toss the fries with a light coating of olive oil and your preferred seasonings.
  4. 04Place the fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer, working in batches if necessary.
  5. 05Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through until crispy on the outside and tender inside.

Lightly spray the basket or tray before cooking.

Recipe Notes

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Season it up

1 / 2

Pairs well

Meal Prep

Stores 3 days. Reheat at 400°F (200°C) for 3-4 minutes. They soften in the fridge, so the high temp blast is needed to re-crisp.

Discussion

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