How to Reheat Fries Without Turning Them Into Mush (Whether You Use an Air Fryer or an Oven)

Hot, golden french fries right out of the deep fryer might be our favorite food. Plus, they come in so many different varieties. (Curly! Waffle! Shoestring! Don’t make us choose!) Yep, fries are delightful, no matter how you cook ’em…except when you reheat them. Cold fries that are plopped onto a plate and shoved into the microwave on a wing and a prayer are pretty much guaranteed to fail—and fries deserve better.

Our advice? Learn how to reheat fries the right way—because there’s more than one way to do it, and no method is difficult. Whether you have an air fryer or a toaster oven, you’re on your way to a crispy plate of frites no matter what.

This isn’t the fastest way to reheat fries, but it’s one of the easiest, especially if you’re working with a big batch. All you need is a baking sheet.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the fries in an even layer on the baking sheet.

Step 2: Bake the fries until warmed through and crisp, 5 to 10 minutes.

For a small amount of fries, the toaster makes quick work of reheating them to crispy perfection.

Step 1: Arrange the fries in an even layer on a toaster tray.

Step 2: Toast the fries on a medium heat until warmed through and crisp, about 5 minutes.

For the ultimate in crispness without extra oil (and in lightning speed), an air fryer is ideal. It circulates air to evenly reheat food and eliminate soggy spots.

Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 5 minutes. Arrange the fries in an even layer in the air fryer basket or tray.

Step 2: Cook the fries until warmed through and crisp, about 4 minutes.

Grab a skillet and light your stove. This method isn’t the most conventional, but it’ll work just fine (especially if you don’t have a toaster or air fryer).

Step 1: In a large skillet over medium heat, preheat a few tablespoons of neutral oil until shimmering.

Step 2: Add the fries to the pan and cook, shaking the pan frequently, until crisp and warmed through, about 5 minutes.

If, for whatever reason, you’re left with a large amount of leftover fries, you could re-fry them. (TBH, it’s a lot of work and not one of our favorite methods—but we digress.)

Step 1: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot (like a Dutch oven), heat a few inches of neutral frying oil to 350°F.

Step 2: Add the fries to the oil in batches, frying until crisp and warmed through. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate before serving.