This Recipe Is the Secret to Getting the Crispiest Fries in Your Air Fryer

Gather the ingredients. The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney Cut the potatoes into 3/4-inch sticks. Leave the skins on for a more rustic look as well as saving time. If you don’t like the skins, you can peel them. The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney Place the potatoes in a large bowl immediately after cutting. Cover them with cold water and soak them for at least 30 minutes or up to 12 hours. If you're soaking for a longer period, make sure to cover them with plastic wrap and place them in the refrigerator. The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney Drain the potatoes and place them on a tray lined with paper towels. Pat them completely dry. Toss the cornstarch, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney Add the potatoes to a large bowl. Drizzle olive oil over the top and then toss them to completely coat. The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney Sprinkle the cornstarch mixture over the top of the potatoes and toss them to coat. The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney Add the French fries to the basket of the air fryer. Fry at 360 F for 25 to 30 minutes, pausing the air fryer to toss the fries every 5 minutes. The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney Increase the temperature to 425 F and cook for another 5 minutes until they are golden brown and crisp. The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney Serve the fries alongside ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce. Sprinkle on more salt if you wish or top with chopped parsley or chives.