Fries before guys has become my life mantra. Favoring dependable potatoes seems more reasonable than fleeting love interests, but as with dateable men, not all fries are created equal. With plenty of football games, including the big one, just days away you might be wondering how best to make fries for a watch party.
That one's easy.
While the mighty air fryer has emerged as the best way to crisp up a bag of frozen varieties for a mealtime side or party platter, far too many succumb to common fry blunders, such as unbalanced potato-to-skin ratios, a lack of seasoning or a hint of freezer burn.
I know a quality french fry when I see one. Joey Skladany/CNET
So, as a self-certified fry expert, I rounded up six of the most popular varieties from Amazon Fresh to put them to the ultimate taste test. Of course, flavor will always reign supreme, but these fried tubers were also judged on their ability to cook in what has fast become one of our all-time favorite appliances.
The result: None of these spuds were total duds, but here's how they stacked up in my taste-test and ranking.
How to air fry french fries
The air fryer cooks frozen fries as fast and as well as any appliance we've tried. John Carlsen/CNET
While instructions will vary by brand, there are a handful of general tips to consider before tossing fries into an air fryer basket and pressing the on button:
Don't overcrowd the basket. They'll turn to mush and/or stick together.
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