GoKawiilThere's a specific kind of satisfaction in discovering that the expensive option isn't actually better. I set out to find the best frozen fries for the air fryer by buying six bags across a range of brands and prices, cooking them all under the same conditions back to back. The results weren't close. The bag that came out on top was the least expensive at under $3. They're widely available and probably already sitting on the shelf at your nearest grocery store.
At this point, we can agree that the air fryer has no match for cooking frozen fries. It's fast, and the results are as good as, if not better than, oven baking or deep-frying. Plus, there's no messy oil to clean up or an excruciating oven preheat to endure.
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. Alexandra Jones/CNET
As a self-certified fry expert, I picked six of the most popular varieties purchased on Amazon Fresh for the ultimate potato stick taste test. Flavor will always reign supreme, but these fried tubers were also judged on their ability to cook in one of our all-time favorite appliances.
The result: None of these spuds were complete duds, but here's how they stacked up in my taste-test and ranking.
Ranking the best frozen french fries in an air fryer
365 by Whole Foods had a surprisingly poor showing. Joey Skladany/CNET
It's worth reiterating that there wasn't a single option on this list that I wouldn't eat. The taste test was a reminder that frozen fries were practically made for an air fryer, yielding a hot, crunchy and salty snack in less than 15 minutes.
As with every carb-packed delicacy, some were better than others. Taste is subjective, and one person's Michelin star is another person's fast food. But I can assure you that my palate has waited all my life for this moment, and I stand by my final ranking.
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