This post was originally published on A Food Lover’s Kitchen.
These Air Fryer Cottage Fries are so easy to make in the air fryer and the result is a potato with a satisfying crispy exterior and fluffy interior.
» We also love this Easy Air Fryer Meatloaf Bites and Air Fryer Fried Pickles.
You can cook just about anything in the air fryer in under fifteen minutes. And cottage fries are one of those things. If you didn’t know, potatoes cut into thick discs are often referred to as cottage fries.
Cottage fries are one of the easiest types of fries to make because they’re so quick to cut. You don’t need any special tools, just a sharp knife and a few seconds to cut slices.
You can use a mandoline to make perfect slices from any sized potato in just a few minutes, but I usually just cut them free-hand with a knife. You want to make the slices about 1/4″ thick. Any thinner and they’ll turn into potato chips. You can also make potato wedges in the air fryer.
You want there to be some potato in the middle, which will become silky soft as it cooks.
I always leave the skin on the potatoes, but you can remove it if you like. It won’t change the cooking time or preparation at all.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This list is short and sweet. Great potatoes and a little oil are all you need for these perfectly crispy cottage fries.
- Russet potatoes – Russet potatoes work the best for this recipe though you could also use Yukon gold or Maris piper potatoes.
- Olive oil – This helps make the potatoes crispy and keep them from sticking to the basket.
- Salt and pepper – to taste.
How to Make Air Fryer Cottage Fries
Russet potatoes work the best for this recipe. They have enough starch in them to get crispy and yet remain fluffy on the inside. A smaller sized potato that makes silver dollar size circles is just right.
We’ve also used Yukon gold potatoes and Maris piper potatoes with great success. Any starchy potato will do. Waxy, not as much.
Start out by washing and scrubbing the potatoes. Then cut them into slices. Put the slices in a bowl of cold water. You want to try to remove as much of the starch on the surface of the potato as possible.
You can leave the potatoes in the cold water for 5-10 minutes for good measure, but I don’t find it necessary. It’s more important to make sure the potatoes are dried off before putting them in the air fryer.
Pat them dry with a paper towel or tea towel to remove as much moisture on the surface as possible. Season with just salt & pepper, or use a seasoning salt.
Spray the potatoes with oil, and also spray the bottom of the air fryer basket to help prevent sticking, but don’t use a non-stick cooking spray! A reusable oil sprayer is the way to go.
Place the potatoes in the basket, making sure not to crowd them so that they crisp on all sides. Air fry at 400° F (200° C) for 7 minutes, flip them and then another 7 minutes at the same temperature.
Voila, beautifully crispy cottage fries waiting to be dipped in your favorite sauce.
If you like your potatoes to be a little more browned or crisp, leave them in for a bit longer. Every air fryer varies, so you’ll have to find the time that’s perfect for you.
Why Use an Air Fryer
An air fryer is an incredibly easy way to cook just about anything. You place the food in a fryer-style basket and hot air rapidly circulates all around the food, making the food crisp – much like deep-frying, but without the oil. You can cook anything you’d make in the oven.
- I use a Ninja MaxXL air fryer (pictured left). If you don’t have an air fryer yet, check out these options to find one that fits your needs.
- See reviews and prices for air fryers on Amazon.
- Here’s a printable Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet to get you started.
- Click to find more recipes to make in your Air Fryer.
- Learn how to make fun things in the air fryer, like potato wedges, pork belly bites, and chicken wings.
Dipping Sauces
All potatoes need dipping sauces, and we’ve tried them all! Here are a few of our favorites that you can make at home:
- Honey mustard dipping sauce
- Honey sriracha sauce (try these honey sriracha potatoes, yum!)
- Ranch dressing
- Alabama White BBQ Sauce
Tips For Making Potatoes in the Air Fryer
- Many potato recipes, like french fries and hashbrowns, suggest soaking or rinsing the potatoes in water before baking, to reduce the amount of starch. If you’re using very starchy potatoes, like russets, it does help a bit.
- We tried it both ways and found that the potatoes were pretty crispy either way. If you’re in a hurry, skip it and go directly to the frying.
- You can cut the potatoes into any thickness for this recipe but keep in mind that the times will change. If you cut the potato thicker, the cook time will increase to 18 minutes total.
- When spraying the potatoes and basket make sure to use pure oil such as avocado, canola, or vegetable oil. Don’t use a non-stick cooking oil spray.
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Air Fryer Cottage Fries
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 large Russet Potatoes Sliced
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400° F (200° C), for 5 minutes.
- Clean the potatoes. Slice them about 1/4" thick. Put the slices into cold water for about 3 minutes to wash off the starch.
- Drain the water and pat the potatoes dry. Toss them with the olive oil and salt.
- Add the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook for 14 minutes, flipping the potatoes halfway through cooking.
- Serve with additional salt, if necessary.
All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.
Nutrition
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Laura is a passionate foodie and owner of Air Fry Anytime She is dedicated to sharing delicious recipes and helpful tips for using air fryers at home. With years of experience in the kitchen and a love for healthy, flavorful cooking, Laura has become an expert at using air fryers to create amazing meals that are both nutritious and delicious.
I’ve been thinking about an air fryer for so long! I love how versatile it is…these cottage fries look so delicious!
YUM!! These look absolutely divine. I’m a sucker for honey mustard, so I’ll definitely be trying that!
It’s a really good honey mustard too. I could drink it. 😉
I am loving my air fryer and these potatoes are definitely going to be made soon. Yummy!
Oh wow! These cottage fries have such a wonderful texture. I love how easily they come together too. Definitely need to get an air fryer.
These were the perfect side for my roast! Thanks for posting.
Delicious! I love a good reason to break out the air fryer. Nicely done!
This is such an easy peasy air fryer recipe!
Came out perfectly crispy, loving your airfryer recipes keep them coming!
You’re making me hungry… I think I just heard my tummy growl. lol!