Vent: my air fryer turned a bag of frozen fries into a smoky charcoal experiment last night.

I set it to 400 for 15 minutes like the bag said, but got distracted by a phone call and came back to a kitchen full of smoke and these little black sticks, so what's your go-to time for frozen fries to avoid this?

3 comments

3 Comments

leo_fisher15d ago

Honestly this is why I don't trust package instructions anymore, they're like a best case scenario. It's the same with microwave times, you gotta know your own machine. My air fryer runs hot, so I always knock at least 25 degrees off whatever the bag says. That extra buffer is the difference between good fries and a fire drill.

matthewmartin16d ago

My old air fryer manual said 400 for 15 minutes too. I burned three batches of fries before I figured it out. The real trick is to check them at 10 minutes and shake the basket. Every fry and every machine is a little different. Now I never set it for more than 12 minutes on the first try. That extra three minutes is exactly when they go from perfect to smoke alarm.

jake98616d ago

Ever think maybe the problem is the temperature and not the time? I run mine at 370 for frozen fries, even if the bag says 400. That high heat is just asking for trouble if you get distracted for a second. I get what @matthewmartin is saying about checking early, but I've found lowering the temp gives you a way bigger window before they burn. My fries still get crispy, just without the smoke and charcoal ending.