While you can make all kinds of meals, snacks, and sides in an air fryer, they truly excel at making crispy, crunchy fried foods, and one of the most common must be French fries. In fact, we use fries to determine the frying quality and cooking speed of each air fryer we test since they're a consistent size, shape, and weight, allowing us to easily compare performance between models. We've found that there are three main things you'll want to look for when shopping for the best air fryers for fries: a roomy basket with ample surface area for cooking, a high maximum fan speed, and a high maximum power draw. Together, these factors allow for optimal air flow and even cooking, resulting in a batch of golden-brown fries that's ready fast.
We've tested more than 50 air fryers, and below you'll find our recommendations for the best air fryers for French fries and other crispy favorites. If you want more options to consider, see our picks for the best air fryers, the best budget and cheap air fryers, and the best large-capacity air fryers.
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Best Air Fryer For French Fries
Crispy Fries84.4%Frying Performance8.0Cooking Speed8.8Measured Capacity10.1 qt (9.6 L)See all our test resultsTotal Basket Surface Area99.3 in² (640.6 cm²)The best air fryer for French fries we've tested is the Ninja Foodi DZ550, thanks to its high-capacity cooking chambers and huge array of extra features. This dual-basket air fryer has a combined capacity of more than 10 quarts, which is great for feeding a crowd. It makes great-quality fried food, so whether you're making fries or another typically air-fried snack like wings or veggies, the vast majority of each batch comes out crispy and golden brown. It produces results quickly, too, preheating and cooking food fast.
This higher-end model's strong air-frying performance is largely attributed to a few key factors. It has a high maximum power draw and fast max fan speed, which helps it deliver crunchy results quickly. The temperature inside the baskets doesn't fluctuate much, either, which helps food cook more evenly. Plus, if you're cooking a full meal, you can use Ninja's 'Smart Finish' feature to have everything ready at the same time, so you can pop a side of fries in one basket and expect them to be crispy and hot whenever your main is ready.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Air Fryer For French Fries
Crispy Fries78.1%Frying Performance7.8Cooking Speed8.2Measured Capacity7.1 qt (6.7 L)See all our test resultsTotal Basket Surface Area97.7 in² (630.4 cm²)If you're willing to compromise on frying quality to save some cash, the Ninja Foodi DZ071 is a very good option. It's a 7.1-quart single-basket air fryer from the same lineup as the Ninja Foodi DZ550, and while it can't cook quite as evenly as its pricier sibling, it comes close. Most of each batch of fries turns out crispy and well-cooked, with just a few pieces coming out too soft or overcooked. Similarly, it cooks fast, just not as fast as the DZ550, so you'll have to wait an extra minute or so until your fries are finished.
Unsurprisingly, this model shares a similar design to the Foodi DZ550, which contributes to its good overall performance; it has a high maximum fan speed and a high maximum power draw, plus plenty of surface area in its basket, which helps it cook quickly and evenly. What sets this air fryer apart is its convertible basket. You can divide the basket to cook a main and a side of fries, and use Ninja's Smart Finish feature to finish cooking them simultaneously, or remove the divider to make one large batch.
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Best Mid-Range Air Fryer For French Fries
Crispy Fries71.9%Frying Performance7.9Cooking Speed8.7Measured Capacity5.1 qt (4.9 L)See all our test resultsTotal Basket Surface Area64.9 in² (419.0 cm²)If you want crispy snacks, but don't need two baskets to cook in, check out the Ninja Pro AF141, a compact 5.1-quart model. This air fryer produces good-quality air-fried meals and snacks thanks to its high maximum power draw and maximum fan speed. French fries, chicken nuggets, and onion rings come out evenly browned and crispy, with a relatively small portion left undercooked or burnt. It also preheats and cooks very quickly, making it an excellent option when you need a snack in a hurry.
Despite its diminutive design, its basket has a good amount of surface area, so you can fit more food in a single layer than with some other 5-quart air fryers, making it a great option if you're short on counter space. While it has fewer functions than the Ninja Foodi DZ071, it still offers great versatility. The four presets (Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate) give you access to a wide range of temperatures and fan speeds, so you can fine-tune your hand-cut French fries or reheat leftovers without drying them out.
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Best Budget Air Fryer For French Fries
Crispy Fries81.2%Frying Performance7.8Cooking Speed8.0Measured Capacity6.3 qt (6.0 L)See all our test resultsTotal Basket Surface Area75.5 in² (487.1 cm²)The best air fryer for fries we've tested at a budget-friendly price is the COSORI TurboBlaze, a powerful 6.3-quart model that delivers impressive performance. It cooks a bit more evenly than the Ninja Pro AF141, so each batch of fries or onion rings comes out evenly cooked and crispy, with only a small handful left undercooked or burnt. And while it takes an extra minute to preheat, it cooks faster, so you won't have to wait long for results.
Like the Ninja, this unit provides more basket space than most air fryers with a similar capacity. This allows you to spread food out for better airflow and, ultimately, better results. On the downside, its max fan speed is actually a little too fast for optimal performance, as the air passing over the heating element moves too quickly to heat up properly, leading to inconsistent temperatures. Consequently, it takes a little while to heat back up after you open the drawer, and the temperature fluctuates a bit throughout cooking, but it's still relatively easy to follow a recipe accurately.
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Best Cheap Air Fryer For French Fries
Crispy Fries75.0%Frying Performance7.6Cooking Speed8.1Measured Capacity5.9 qt (5.6 L)See all our test resultsTotal Basket Surface Area70.2 in² (452.6 cm²)If you're looking for a way to make crispy snacks at a very affordable price, consider the Beautiful 6qt Digital. This air fryer cooks almost as evenly as the COSORI TurboBlaze, which is impressive considering it's typically available for less than $70. Most of each batch comes out crispy, while a smaller portion remains undercooked, and just a couple of pieces burn. It preheats and cooks quickly, so you don't have to wait long for results, but as you might expect at this price point, it still takes longer to cook than the picks above.
This air fryer doesn't reach quite as high a temperature or fan speed as our top picks, and its temperature fluctuates a fair bit during cooking. Luckily, it has plenty of cooking surface area in its basket, which improves airflow and helps produce more even results. And, unlike most air fryers that are typically only available in some shade of black or grey, the Beautiful comes in a wide range of hues, such as 'Cornflower Blue' and 'Sage Green,' making it a solid choice if you want an affordable option that matches your decor.
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Best Glass Air Fryer For French Fries
Crispy Fries81.8%Frying Performance7.5Cooking Speed6.9Measured Capacity5.9 qt (5.6 L)See all our test resultsTotal Basket Surface Area53.1 in² (342.8 cm²)For those looking to minimize the amount of dishes that pile up after dinner, the Ninja Crispi Pro AS101 is the best air fryer with a glass basket that we've tested. It has a unique design with two swappable glass cooking chambers, which also serve as storage, so you can stow away leftovers without making extra dishes. Using the larger 6-quart container, it provides very good frying quality. By the time it finishes cooking fries and other air-fried snacks, most of each batch is crispy and golden-brown. It cooks decently fast, but using the smaller 2.5-quart container significantly improves the cooking speed while delivering results that are nearly as evenly cooked.
This air fryer's high maximum fan speed and high maximum power draw both contribute to producing optimal results. And while it has a smaller surface area than similar-capacity options, it still provides a reasonable amount of space to arrange food in a single layer for crispier results. That said, if you need more space, the Ninja Crispi DualZone DD101 has two glass cooking chambers and air fries almost as evenly. Like the Beautiful 6qt Digital, both of these Ninja models come in a variety of colorways, so you can choose one that suits your taste.
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Best Large-Capacity Air Fryer For French Fries
Crispy Fries82.1%Frying Performance7.8Cooking Speed6.2Measured Capacity18.1 qt (17.1 L)See all our test resultsTotal Basket Surface Area104.4 in² (673.8 cm²)If you're looking for the best way to make large batches of fries, consider the Midea Flexify Pro. Like most oven-style air fryers, it has a much larger overall capacity than even the biggest basket-style models, with plenty of cooking surface area to match. It has a lower maximum fan speed than any of the models above, reducing airflow, but its particularly high maximum power draw helps this unit produce very good quality fried food. While a small handful of fries doesn't crisp up enough, the rest come out golden brown. It cooks more slowly than most basket-style air fryers, but your snacks and sides still come out in a reasonable amount of time.
This air fryer's form factor may come with some downsides compared to most basket-style air fryers (like a bulky design and longer cooking time), but it also introduces some benefits. There are two rack positions, so you can make a double batch of fries or cook a main and a side at one time. The glass doors also let you take a peek at your recipe's progress without letting heat escape. Plus, if you're looking for a family-sized air fryer that's going to live permanently on your countertop, you might prefer the Midea's stainless steel body and French doors to the utilitarian design of most large-capacity basket-style air fryers.
Notable Mentions
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Typhur Sync Air Fryer:
The Typhur Sync Air Fryer offers similar frying quality to the Ninja Foodi DZ550, though it cooks more slowly. If you don't need the extra basket and prefer an option with a companion app, it's an impressive choice.
See our review -
Philips 3000 Series Dual Basket NA350/00:
The Philips 3000 Series Dual Basket NA350/00 is a good alternative to the Ninja Foodi DZ550 if you're looking for a dual-basket air fryer at a lower price. While it's slower and cooks less evenly than the Ninja, it produces very good-quality fried food decently fast.
See our review -
Ninja Speedi SF301:
The Ninja Speedi SF301 is a combination air fryer and multi-cooker that cooks very evenly, leaving more of your food crispy than the Ninja Foodi DZ550. Unfortunately, it's been discontinued, but if you can get your hands on one, it's a great choice for French fries.
See our review -
COSORI Iconic:
The COSORI Iconic offers similar performance to the COSORI TurboBlaze. It's more expensive, and it doesn't cook quite as evenly, but it has a premium stainless-steel body and a little extra capacity.
See our review -
Typhur Dome 2:
The Typhur Dome 2 is a good alternative to the Midea Flexify Pro for large batches of French fries. While it has a much smaller overall capacity, it has more surface area than the Midea, making it easy to spread out more fries in a single layer for better results.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 01, 2026:
We named the Midea Flexify Pro our 'Best Large-Capacity Air Fryer For French Fries' and moved our previous pick, the Typhur Dome 2, to our Notable Mentions, since the Midea offers more capacity and produces slightly crisper fries. We also added a note about the Ninja Crispi DualZone DD101 to the text of Ninja Crispi Pro AS101 for users who like the design but need more capacity.
Jul 17, 2026:
We've ensured that all our main picks can still be purchased and remain the best options for users.
Jun 01, 2026:
We've ensured all main picks are available and represent the best option for user needs. We've also made slight changes to the text of this article to explain the real-world impact of the designs and performance of our picks.
Apr 22, 2026:
We added the COSORI Iconic to our Notable Mentions because of its good frying performance.
Mar 11, 2026:
We switched the positions of the Ninja Pro AF141 and the COSORI TurboBlaze due to pricing changes. We also added the Typhur Sync Air Fryer to our Notable Mentions for users who want a single-basket alternative to the Ninja Foodi DZ550.
All Reviews
The recommendations above are what we think are currently the top air fryers for French fries for most people. Aside from performance, we factor in feedback from our visitors, price, and availability.
If you'd like more options to consider, here's the list of all our air fryer reviews, sorted by frying performance. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no air fryer is perfect, many perform well enough to please most people, and smaller details are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.