Can you reheat McDonalds fries (AKA chips or hot chips)? You sure can! Learn how to reheat McDonalds fries in the air fryer- it only takes 3 minutes! Air frying is the best way to reheat fries so they taste fresh. You’ll love this simple air fryer recipe that will help turn soggy old McDonalds fries crispy and warm. Make the most of your leftover fries by learning how to heat up McDonalds fries!

Reheating fast food fries is definitely not the most nutritious how-to recipe here. However, it’s a great way to bring your old fries back to life. This is how to make fries crispy again.

Believe it or not, when you reheat fries in air fryer, they are even better than when you eat them fresh. You know how fries from the Golden Arches typically have a few soggy fries in with the bunch? When you reheat fries at home, all of your leftover french fries get crisped right up.

So, forget reheating french fries in the microwave, my friends. I’m going to show you how to heat up McDonalds fries the right way. Just doing my part to prevent food waste.

BTW, these directions should work with other fast food french fries: Chick-Fil-A fries, In-And-Out fries, Wendy’s fries, Five Guys fries, and Maccas fries. (Fun fact: “Macca’s” is the nickname for McDonald’s Australia.)

The french fries at American McDonald’s tend to be super oily. If your fastfood fries aren’t, just spritz them with a little cooking spray before following the directions below.

Hot tip! You may need a slightly longer cooking time to reheat Red Robin french fries. Red Robin serves thick steak fries, very different than the thin fries at McDonald’s.

⭐ Why Reheat McDonald’s Fries?

Many of us are not eating enough vegetables according to the guidelines. McDonald’s fries do contain potatoes, which are veggies, but I can’t really promote fried potatoes as a nutritious choice. Unfortunately, for some people, the veggie-containing food they eat most often is McDonald’s french fries.

Since McDonald’s is so popular, it makes sense for me to discuss their foods, even if I don’t generally recommend them. That said, here are some advantages I see to reheating McDonald’s fries:

• Reduce food waste: McDonald’s fries taste bad cold and often end up in the trash. Using the food you’ve already paid for saves money. If you don’t want to try reheating them, chop them up and repurpose them in soups and hash brown dishes.
• Fast: You can reheat fries in the air fryer in only 3 minutes. You don’t need to preheat the air fryer or do any sort of food preparation. It’s so easy.
• Crispy Fries: Think you can’t cook? Throw those old fries in the air fryer and watch how they come out even crispier and better than McDonald’s fresh fries. (Now that you’re a cooking champ, I hope you’ll try some of my other air fryer recipes!)
• Kid favorite: Even picky eaters tend to enjoy McDonald’s Happy Meals with fries. It’s an easy option for parents who get frustrated with kiddos who don’t seem to eat enough.

🥘 Reheat McDonalds Fries in Air Fryer Ingredients

What do you need to reheat McDonald’s fries in the air fryer? Here’s what I used:

• One box of McDonald’s fries

I tested these directions with a medium-sized fries. They all fit nicely on one air fryer tray.

Since these fries already contain plenty of oil, there’s no need to use cooking oil spray before air frying. Did you know that the ingredients in McDonald’s fries vary by country? It’s true!

For example, here are the ingredients for U.S. McDonald’s fries:

• Potatoes
• Vegetable oil (Canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Natural Beef Flavor with milk and wheat derivatives)
• Dextrose
• Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate
• Salt

And here are the ingredients for UK McDonald’s fries:

• Potatoes
• Non-Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Sunflower, Rapeseed)
• Dextrose
• Salt

As you can see, Britain uses a different oil blend and skips the sodium acid pyrophosphate. Also, unlike in the US, British McDonald’s fries appear to be vegan. Differences in ingredients could result in slight changes to the timing of this recipe.

🍽 Equipment

The only piece of kitchen equipment you really need to air fry leftover fries is an air fryer. Your Ninja Foodi, Philips, Instant Pot Vortex, Cosori, Nuwave, Breville, or whatever brand you have can reheat fries. I use a 10-Quart Kalorik Digital Air Fryer Oven.

🔪 How to Reheat McDonalds Fries in an Air Fryer

Let’s learn how to reheat McD fries! Remove the fries from the box and put them in a single layer on your air fryer tray or air fryer basket. I could fit them all on one tray (some overlap is OK).

Remember, you do not need to use cooking spray for American McDonald’s french fries! They already contain a significant amount of oil, so we don’t need more.

️⏲️ Cooking Time and Temperature

How long to reheat fries in an air fryer? What temp to reheat fries in an air fryer? It took a total of 3 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200C) to air fry leftover McDonald’s fries. (Use the top rack for air fryer ovens.)

Let the fries cool for 1-2 minutes before eating. They’ll continue to crisp up a little more.

Fast food fries are best reheated the same day, as they’ll harden if left uncovered in the refrigerator for too long. This reheating hack only works once with McDonalds fries. The fries become rock hard if you don’t finish the reheated fries and try reheating them again the next day.

👪 What to Serve with McDonald’s Fries

McDonald’s french fries aren’t a meal by themselves! If you’re eating at home, why not add non-starchy veggies and more protein to your plate? Here are some of my favorite recipes to serve with fries:

• Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
• Air Fryer Breaded Fish
• Frozen Burgers in Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Bone In Ribeye Steak
• Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables

FAQs

How to reheat fries in the oven?

To reheat leftover fries in the oven, spread them out on a dark baking sheet. Bake them for 3-5 minutes in an oven preheated to 450F (232C). Check them frequently to ensure they don’t burn.

How to reheat fries in the microwave?

You can reheat french fries in a microwave, but they will turn out limp and not crisp. To do it, put them on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 20-30 seconds. If not warmed to your liking, cook longer, checking on them in 30 second increments.

How to reheat McDonald’s fries in a toaster oven?

You can reheat McDonald’s fries in the toaster oven using the regular oven directions above. Put the fries on a foil-lined tray and cook for 3-5 minutes at 450F (232C). Keep an eye on them to prevent burning. You could also reheat them in a skillet on the stovetop with a little oil.

Can you reheat cheese fries in an air fryer?

Yes, you can use the air fryer to reheat cheese fries. You can also make cheese fries while reheating leftover fries. About 1-2 minutes before the air frying time is up, sprinkle your favorite grated cheese over the tops of the fries. Put the fries back in the air fryer to finish reheating and to melt the cheese.

Are cold fries safe to eat?

Cold french fries that have been stored properly are safe to eat, though they may not be very tasty. The fries should be kept in the refrigerator. Any fries left out at room temperature for more than two hours should be discarded.

🍟 Other Air Fryer Fries Recipes

Are you looking for more recipes for fries in the air fryer? I’ve got you covered! Check these out:

• Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
• Air Fryer Frozen Sweet Potato Fries
• Jicama Fries Air Fryer Recipe (a low-carb substitute for fries)

Psst… if you’re all about reheating foods in the air fryer, don’t miss this post: Reheat Pizza in Air Fryer.

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