Update: My frozen fries turned into a single potato brick in the air fryer

I pulled a bag of crinkle cuts from the freezer, dumped them in the basket, and set it for 15 minutes. After 5 minutes, I shook it and found they had all fused together into one solid lump. I spent the next 25 minutes (so 30 total) prying them apart with tongs and a fork in batches, cooking in between, to get them crispy. Has anyone else had this happen, and is there a trick to stop it besides cooking from fresh?

3 comments

3 Comments

stone.evan2mo ago

You know, I wonder if your freezer is set too cold. If things freeze extra hard, the ice crystals can basically glue them together. Try putting the bag on a kitchen counter for just five minutes before you cook. Let that brick soften up a bit so the fries aren't welded together by ice. It's a small step, but it might save you the tongs-and-fork battle next time.

wrenstone2mo ago

Ever notice how @stone.evan's fix works for more than just fries?

richardfox2mo ago

The five-minute counter trick works great for eggs too actually. If you pull eggs straight from the fridge and try to peel them right after boiling, the shell sticks like crazy. Letting them sit on the counter for a few minutes before you boil them makes peeling way easier since the shell doesn't bond as tight to the egg white.