How to Cook Frozen Roast Potatoes In The Air Fryer
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Frozen roast potatoes in the air fryer are the perfect time saving alternative to making the real thing from scratch! They come out perfectly crispy and golden brown on the outside while having a nice light and fluffy center. Not to mention, air fried roast potatoes are a fantastic accompaniment to any Holiday or Sunday roast.
I absolutely love potatoes in any form: baked, mashed, French fries, roasted, chips, or even hash browns. But if I have to spend my time peeling, parboiling, cutting and all the other things that go with making potatoes from scratch, I’m just not doing it.
Thank goodness modern day conveniences brought us frozen potatoes! And before air fryers, I was perfectly happy making them in the oven. But now, my go to method is the air fryer. This post is all about how to air fry frozen roast potatoes so you have the perfect dinner side…or maybe just a snack… anytime you want it!
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
Faster than roasting – Roasting potatoes from scratch can take up to 45 minutes to an hour! But in the air fryer, they are done in just 15-20 minutes!
Perfect Every Time – I have never been disappointed with air fryer frozen roast potatoes. They come out perfectly golden and delicious every time.
No Thawing Required – One of the best parts about this recipe is that you can cook the potatoes straight from frozen, saving you loads of time.
Healthier – Since the air fryer uses way less oil than any other cooking methods, these roast potatoes are actually healthier than if you were to deep fry them or roast them in the oven.
Love potatoes? Try these easy recipes ; Easy Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Recipe, Frozen Jacket Potato in Air Fryer, and Airfryer Hash Browns
Is it better to air fry frozen or thawed?
You always want to add roast potatoes to the air fryer that are still frozen. In the past, I have tried thawing them before air frying, and found that they come out somewhat soft and soggy. So don’t even mess with defrosting your potatoes because they turn out best when you air fry them from frozen.
What are the best frozen roast potatoes?
The frozen roast potatoes that I will be using in this recipe are McCain’s just because they are my favorite and quite easy to find at the market. However, there are loads of roast potato brands that you can use and are just as delicious such as Aunt Bessie and the supermarket own brands.
Variations/ Adaptations
Frozen potatoes in the air fryer are simple to make even if you decide not to use roasted potatoes. Frozen french fries are some of the best potatoes in the air fryer because they really get that fried taste. I also love frozen diced potatoes in the air fryer due to them being a quick and delicious breakfast side.
And here are some great seasoning and topping ideas for your roasties in the air fryer:
- Cajun blend of spices such as cayenne pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and a bit of ground thyme.
- Toss them in garlic butter.
- Grated cheese and melt it on top with bacon bits and sour cream.
- Drizzle with truffle oil.
If you love using the airfryer, try these ideas ; How To Air Fry Thick Cut Back Bacon, Cooking Frozen Sausages in an Air Fryer and Airfryer Frozen Fries
How to make frozen roast potatoes in the air fryer
Start by preheating your airfryer basket for 5 minutes at 400°F (200°C)
- Add your frozen roast potatoes and evenly distribute across the airfryer basket (Image 1).
- Cook for 20 minutes at 400°F (200°C), shaking the basket at the 10 minute mark to maximise crispiness (Image 2).
3. After 20 minutes the potatoes should be cooked throughout (Image 3).
4. Add a sprinkle of sea salt and serve with a protein & veg of choice and enjoy! (Image 4).
Here are some delicious main dishes to serve with these roasties ; Perfect Pan Fried Cod Recipe, Salmon Tray bake with Asparagus (in 30 minutes) and Frozen Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer
Tips and tricks for the best results
- Make sure the air fryer is preheated before adding the potatoes so the outsides crisp up nicely.
- Arrange the potatoes in a single layer, making sure they do not overlap much.
- Shake the basket or flip the potatoes every 5-10 minutes to make sure they brown on all sides.
- Different air fryers cook differently, so keep an eye on your potatoes as they cook. When they are golden, crisp, and heated through, take them out.
Make Ahead Instructions
There is an option to make these ahead however, they are typically best when cooked and served right away.
To make ahead and use within a few hours, follow the instructions above but only cook the potatoes for a total of 15 minutes. Then turn the air fryer off and leave the potatoes warm in the air fryer until you are ready to cook them the rest of the way. When you are ready, turn the air fryer back on to 204℃ (400℉) and cook for the remaining time until the potatoes are done.
You can also cook them fully and then store and reheat them using the reheat instructions in the next section.
You can also use your airfryer to reheat your favourite dishes ; The Best Way to Reheat Chicken Wings in the Airfryer, The Best Way To Reheat Salmon and The Best Way to Reheat Baked Ziti
Leftover and Storage Instructions
To store leftover roasties, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It is not recommended to refreeze any food that has already been frozen.
Reheat the cold leftover potatoes by placing them in an airfryer that has been preheated to 350℉ (177℃) for 3-5 minutes or until heated through.
FAQs
Most store bought roast potatoes already have oil on them and will air fry nicely without any additional oil. However, if you want some extra crisp, a spritz of oil may help with that.
Absolutely! Just preheat your air fryer to 400℉ (204℃), add a single layer of frozen roast potatoes, cook for 15-20 minutes, shaking or flipping the potatoes once, and then enjoy!
You can cook frozen roast potatoes in the air fryer in 15-20 minutes.
If your potatoes are soggy, then they have either defrosted or there are too many potatoes in the air fryer. Make sure you preheat, keep the temperature at 400℉ (204℃), and only cook one layer of potatoes at a time.
Frozen Roast Potatoes in Airfryer
Ingredients
- 700 g frozen roast potatoes
Method
- Start by preheating your airfryer basket for 400℉ (204℃) Then, add your frozen roast potatoes and evenly distribute across the airfryer basket.
- Cook for 20 minutes at 400℉ (204℃), shaking the basket at the 10 minute mark to maximise crispiness.
- Serve with a protein & veg of choice and enjoy!
Notes
- Preheat the air fryer before adding potatoes for crispy outsides.
- Arrange potatoes in a single layer, avoiding overlap.
- Shake or flip potatoes every 5-10 minutes for even browning.
- Monitor cooking closely; remove when golden, crisp, and heated through.
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