Nearly Perfect French Fries!

An Ideal American Side Dish

Making the perfect French fry is a lengthy process for a home cook. You’re talking par-boiling, drying, a rest in the freezer, a first fry, another rest, a second fry. It’s a commitment.

It’s a lifestyle.

The air fryer fry is not all of that, but it can make nearly perfect fries — and I’ve come to believe that near-perfection is actually the more honest American aspiration, anyway.

A “more perfect union” was always the language — not a finished product, but a direction. A heading. Lots of ups, plenty of downs, and a long road that demands we stay on it even when the destination feels impossibly far. Being an American isn’t arriving somewhere. It’s deciding, again and again, to keep going.

Blues Traveler had a line that’s been stuck in my head: time is the beauty of the road being long. I think about that a lot right now. When any administration pursues its own gratification at the expense of our shared humanity, it doesn’t reflect our enduring spirit — it challenges it. And the response to that challenge is showing up. Turning the tide. Fighting the long fight with the emotional intelligence to know the difference between a setback and an ending.

Also: making fries.

These come together in about 20 minutes of air-fry time, and they’re legitimately delicious. They pair well with whatever you’re watching on the news — whether that’s cause for celebration or cause for rallying your neighbors.

Stay safe out there.

Nearly Perfect French Fries

Servings: 2

Ingredients

2 medium (or 1 ½ large) Russet potatoes

1 ½ tbsp olive oil

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dried parsley flakes

½ tsp black pepper

Instructions:

Slice the potatoes into lengths about ½ inch wide. Skins on or off — that’s your call, and both are correct.

Rinse the cut fries under cold water, repeating 2-3 times until the water runs clear. This pulls out excess starch and helps make air fryer fries crispy.

Toss the fries directly into the air fryer basket while still wet. Set to 385°F and cook for 10 minutes.

While the fries cook, combine all dry seasonings and stir together.

Carefully dump the fries into a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and add the seasoning blend. Toss until every fry is well coated.

Return the seasoned fries to the air fryer for another 10 minutes at 385°F, or until golden and crisp. (Note: some air fryers may take 5-10 minutes longer.)

Let them sit for 1–2 minutes before serving. Nearly perfect! Serve alongside whatever conversation needs to happen at your kitchen table.

Notes

Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket, or your fries won’t achieve ideal crispiness — work in two or more rounds if you’re increasing the batch.