Vegan Cheesy Potato Wedges | Vegan Potato Air Fryer Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should potatoes be soaked before air frying? ›

Soaking the potatoes does something magical with the starches—it helps achieve the coveted French fry crispiness and prevents the fries from sticking together. This is what I did for the air fryer, too. I soaked these potatoes for about an hour or so, but I've also soaked them for up to 24 hours with no ill effect.

Potatoes can come out soggy in an air fryer if you don't dry them after washing. Once you've washed your spuds you need to dry them thoroughly.

Potatoes can dry out in the air fryer if they're cooked too long, so make sure to take them out when they're crisp and golden on the outside but still tender inside. Also, make sure to use enough oil so the skins don't dry out too much.

The key to making a super crispy potato wedges is cutting them nice and thin and giving them plenty of time in the oven to crisp. Flipping them too early or over-crowding the pan will leave you with less than crispy potatoes but if you are willing to wait - you can make something every one will love.

Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch. Excess starch can inhibit the potatoes from cooking evenly as well as creating a gummy or sticky texture on the outside of your potatoes. Cold water is used because hot water would react with the starch activating it, making it harder to separate from the potatoes.

This step is commonly missed in making homemade fries, but it might be one of the most important! Soaking your fries in cold water helps remove excess starch, which allows for crispy, golden fries! The cold water bath also helps the french fries retain their shape and contributes to a fluffy inside.

Don't crowd the air fryer basket. Air should be able to circulate around the potatoes to make them crisp. Overcrowding the potatoes in the basket will cause uneven cooking.

Before you put the potatoes in the air fryer, make sure you let them steam dry. Wet potatoes won't crisp up as well. All you need to do is to leave them sitting in the colander for a few minutes to dry and then you're good to go.

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

Spray each potato with a few spritzes of oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Arrange in the basket, and air fry 400F until a knife can easily be inserted into the center of each potato, about 35 to 40 minutes, turning halfway through cooking time.

How long does it take for a potato to get soft in the air fryer? ›

Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Rub potatoes with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and parsley. Place potatoes in the air fryer basket. Cook in the preheated air fryer until potatoes are soft, 40 to 50 minutes, depending on potato size.

The acid in the vinegar can also help to slightly break down the surface of the potatoes, aiding in the development of a crispier texture during frying. Additionally, the vinegar can contribute to a golden-brown color on the exterior of the fries.

After closely inspecting the brand of frozen French fries I often buy, I realized that they are coated in a blend of starches to help crisp them up. So, I decided to give the method a shot with roasted potatoes. And it turns out, coating the potatoes with cornstarch is the secret to super crispy roasted potatoes!

Place them in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Allow them to soak, 2 to 3 hours. (You can also stick them in the fridge and let them soak overnight.) When you're ready to make the fries, drain off the water and lay the potatoes on 2 baking sheets lined with paper towels.

It's essential that you spread the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and that you leave a little space between each one. If they're too crowded, the potatoes will steam inside the air fryer, and they won't get crispy. In order to give them adequate space, you'll likely need to work in batches.

Add the frozen roast potatoes to a preheated air fryer basket. This will help make sure they get a lovely crispy skin. Shake the air fryer basket: To promote even cooking and prevent sticking, give the basket of your air fryer a gentle shake halfway through the cooking process.

If you're pressed for time, the slightly sticky, cut potatoes should be soaked for a minimum of 15 minutes. However, a longer soak time may allow more starch to be removed. So, if you can prep the fries ahead of time, a few hours of soaking can help make them even crispier.