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    Home » Side Dish Recipes » Vegetable Recipes

    Published: Jul 19, 2022 · Modified: Jul 26, 2023 by Renée · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Rutabaga Fries Air Fryer and Oven Method

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    A basket filled with cooked rutabaga fries along with a title text graphic.

    Chomping on Rutabaga Fries is similar to munching on French fries, except there are very few carbs but still a lot of flavor. These Rutabaga fries can be made in an air fryer or oven, so why not give them a try?

    A wire basket and a white bowl filled with rutabaga fries.

    While I'm not here to convince you that fries made from rutabaga will fool your taste buds into thinking you're eating fries made from potatoes. What I am here to convince you is that they will give you relatively the same satisfaction and scratch that itch.

    Table of Contents Found Here
    • 🛒 The ingredient list:
    • 🔪 Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
    • ❓ What is a rutabaga and how does it taste?
    • 🔍 Why is there a wax coating on a rutabaga?
    • 🔪 How to remove the paraffin wax coating from a rutabaga and slice them for fries:
    • 🌡️ Cooking temperature for rutabaga fries:
    • ⏲️ Cooking time / air fryer and oven:
    • 📷 The step-by-step photo instructions:
    • 🔍 Is there a difference in texture between the two cooking methods for these veggie fries?
    • 🔑 My best tips for making rutabaga fries:
    • 📅 How to store raw rutabaga and for how long?
    • 🌡️ How to reheat rutabaga fries?
    • 🍠 Additional delicious root vegetable recipes:
    • 🤭 Must see fun products for the rutabaga/veggie lovers:
    • 📇 The printable recipe:
    • Printable Recipe Card
    • Please comment if you've made this recipe.

    🛒 The ingredient list:

    • rutabaga
    • olive oil
    • salt
    • pepper
    • garlic powder

    🔪 Kitchen tools and equipment needed:

    In this post I'm describing how to cook the rutabaga fries in a conventional oven as well as in an air fryer.

    The air fryer I have is quite large (with a 20 quart capacity) and comes with some really nice grated shelves. I used those in two layers (as you can see in the video) in my air fryer.

    When I cook the fries in a conventional oven, I use my rimmed baking sheets that I cover with aluminum foil for easier cleanup.

    I also used my chef's knife, that I keep nice and sharp by using my small knife sharpener, a large wooden cutting board, and some oven gloves for use in both the oven and air fryer. And, as needed, I use my trusty kitchen timer (or my good friend, Alexa) to keep me from veering off task and burning food.

    And lastly, I used one of my very favorite stainless steel large mixing bowls that I can always count on to hold a lot of ingredients, and it's perfect for flipping and tossing veggies in oil, but not one-handed. (see video. LOL)

    ❓ What is a rutabaga and how does it taste?

    A rutabaga is a root vegetable that's in the cruciferous family of vegetables along with broccoli, cabbage, radish, turnips, and cauliflower.

    Some say rutabaga's have a flavor that's a cross between a cabbage and a turnip, and I suppose that's true. However, once cooked, they completely mellow out in flavor and I find they're quite addicting once roasted.

    🔍 Why is there a wax coating on a rutabaga?

    It is there to protect the vegetable from drying out so rutabagas will keep longer for storage.

    The wax needs to be fully removed before eating and cooking.

    🔪 How to remove the paraffin wax coating from a rutabaga and slice them for fries:

    Subscribe to my Kudos Kitchen channel on YouTube. IT'S FREE!! Thanks, and I can't wait to see you there!!

    🌡️ Cooking temperature for rutabaga fries:

    Whether I'm cooking my fries in the air fryer or oven, I preheat either appliance to 425-degrees Fahrenheit for at least 10 minutes.

    ⏲️ Cooking time / air fryer and oven:

    In an air fryer, I cook them on a wire rack for good air circulation for approximately 15-17 minutes, stirring them twice halfway through.

    In an oven, I typically cook them on a baking sheet covered with foil for approximately 30-35 minutes, stirring them twice halfway through.

    📷 The step-by-step photo instructions:

    • Preheat an air fryer or conventional oven to 425-degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Use a sharp chef's knife or santoku and carefully slice off the waxy skin that surrounds the entire rutabaga. Take your time.
    • Cut the peeled rutabaga in half and place the flat side on the cutting board.
    • Carefully slice the half rutabaga into ¼" slices.
    • Stack the slices and slice the stack into ¼" slices which will make fry shapes.
    • Place the rutabaga fries into a large bowl (not shown) and drizzle with olive oil.
    • Shake the bowl well to coat the vegetable fries with oil.
    • Season the fries with salt, pepper, and garlic powder (not shown below, but see the featured video) and shake again to season all the fries.
    • Place the fries in a single layer onto a air fryer baking sheet (or onto a baking sheet for a conventional oven).
    • Roast the fries in an air fryer for 15-20 minutes, stirring once halfway through the process. OR Roast the fries in a conventional oven for 30-35 minutes, stirring once halfway through the roasting process.
    • Remove and serve immediately.

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    A rutabaga on a cutting board with some of the skin taken off.
    A whole rutabaga on a cutting board with all of the outer skin taken off.
    A peeled and sliced rutabaga on a cutting board.
    A rutabaga on a cutting board being sliced into fry shapes.
    A rutabaga being sliced into French fry shapes on a wooden cutting board.
    A pile of sliced Rutabaga Fries on a wooden cutting board.
    An air fryer tray covered with seasoned Rutabaga Fries before cooking.
    An air fryer tray lined with seasoned Rutabaga Fries before cooking.
    A baking sheet lined with foil and covered with seasoned Rutabaga Fries before cooking.
    A closeup photo a some Rutabaga Fries in a wire basket.

    🔍 Is there a difference in texture between the two cooking methods for these veggie fries?

    Not that I noticed, and you can see for yourself by looking at the photo above.

    I wanted to show the rutabaga fries using the two different cooking methods. The fries in the basket were cooked in the air fryer, and the fries in the bowl were cooking in the conventional oven.

    To me, they're very, very similar. The only difference is that that air fryer is a bit quicker than a conventional oven.

    🔑 My best tips for making rutabaga fries:

    • Choose a smaller size rutabaga over a larger size one as they're easier to skin and cut (see YouTube video). If needed, use two smaller rutabagas if you'd like more fries.
    • Make sure the knife you use is sharp because a dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one.
    • Preheat the oven for at least 10 minutes before roasting the fries.
    • Stir halfway through the baking process for the crispiest fries.

    📅 How to store raw rutabaga and for how long?

    You can store raw rutabaga in the refrigerator for up to two months. It's best to keep them in a brown paper bag in the fridge to keep them away from light.

    🌡️ How to reheat rutabaga fries?

    I find it's best to reheat them the same way you made them, either in the oven or air fryer to keep them as crisp as possible. Reheat the fries a temperature of 350-degrees until hot.

    🍠 Additional delicious root vegetable recipes:

    Roasted Parsnip and Carrots with Cardamom is one of my favorites. This particular recipe is written for a conventional oven, but this dish can also be cooked in an air fryer.

    Celery Root Mashed Potatoes takes your mashed potato game and raises it to another level. Trust me. You have to try this recipe!!

    My Italian Sausage, Fennel, and Potato Dinner is super simple to make and can be cooked outside on the grill or inside in the oven. This recipe is a real winner. The flavors of fennel combined with the potatoes is not to be missed.

    🤭 Must see fun products for the rutabaga/veggie lovers:

    Just when you think baby couldn't get any cuter, slip this turnip/rutabaga hat on 'em and watch the smiles spread ear to ear from everyone you meet.

    If you're a gardener then you'll DIG this adorable root vegetable t-shirt.

    This cute quilt is for my rutabaga/cat loving friends out there. The colors of this rutabaga catta quilt are so vibrant and eye CATching you won't be able to take your cat eyes off it!

    Listen up everybody and turn all "ears" this way. These super adorable and lifelike looking miniature vegetable earrings are sure to get you noticed (in the best way, of course)!

    And last, but certainly not least, is this fun and funny rutabaga Ginsburg book bag as a sign of our times. This tote bag is sure to be a real conversation starter anywhere and everywhere you go.

    When you make today's recipe (and I hope that you will), I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to come back and give it a star rating along with a comment on why you rated as you did.

    Search engines such as Google appreciate comments and ratings and, in turn, will show my recipes to more people. Please look for the pink star rating box within the printable recipe card. Thank you!!

    📇 The printable recipe:

    Printable Recipe Card

    A oval white bowl along with a fry basket filled with golden brown Rutabaga Fries.

    RUTABAGA FRIES - air fryer or oven method

    Renee Goerger
    Chomping on Rutabaga Fries is similar to munching on French fries, except there are very few carbs but still a lot of flavor. These Rutabaga fries can be made in an air fryer or oven, so why not give them a try?
    Have you made this recipe?Please Comment and Rate
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save recipe Save this recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    conventional oven: 30 minutes mins
    Course Vegetable - Side Dish, Vegetable Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 70 kcal

    Equipment

    • baking sheet oven method
    • aluminum foil oven method
    • air fryer air fryer method
    • slotted spatula
    • large mixing bowl
    • measuring spoons
    • kitchen timer optional
    • oven gloves
    • cutting board
    • chef's knife
    • knife sharpener optional

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 medium rutabaga peeled and sliced into fry shapes
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat an air fryer (or conventional oven) to 425° Fahrenheit.
    • Use a sharp chef's knife or santoku and carefully slice off the waxy skin surrounding the entire rutabaga. Take your time.
    • Cut the peeled rutabaga in half and place the flat side on the cutting board.
    • Carefully slice the half rutabaga into ¼" slices. Stack the slices and slice the stack into ¼" slices, making fry shapes. Repeat the same process with the other half.
      A rutabaga on a cutting board being sliced into fry shapes.
    • Place the rutabaga fries into a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil.
    • Shake the bowl well to coat the vegetable fries with oil. Season the fries with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and shake again to season all the fries.
    • Place the fries in a single layer onto an air fryer baking rack (or a baking sheet for a conventional oven).
    • Roast the fries in an air fryer for 15-20 minutes, stirring once halfway through the process.
    • OR Roast the fries in a conventional oven for 30-35 minutes, stirring once halfway through the roasting process.
    • Remove and serve immediately.

    Notes

    A sharp knife is a safe knife. Take your time cutting the waxy skin from the rutabaga.
    A smaller rutabaga is more tender and easier to cut than a larger one.
    Store rutabagas in the refrigerator in a paper bag for up to two months.
    Reheat rutabaga fries in the oven or air fryer to retain a bit of crispiness. Microwaves will make them limp and soggy.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 70kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 884mgPotassium: 310mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 1mg

    Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen on my site, please don't hesitate to reach out to contact me. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back with you just as soon as I possibly can!

    Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!

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    Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!

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      5 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    1. Natalie says

      July 22, 2022 at 8:03 am

      5 stars
      My kids loved your rutabaga fries, and I am happy as a mom to provide a healthier version of their usual snack, thanks!

      Reply
      • Renée says

        July 22, 2022 at 2:14 pm

        My pleasure, Natalie!

        Reply
    2. Jenni says

      July 22, 2022 at 7:27 am

      5 stars
      I have never had rutabaga before, but I was so curious about this recipe that I just had to give it a try! Oh my goodness, these were amazing!! I'm going to make these a ton!

      Reply
      • Renée says

        July 22, 2022 at 2:16 pm

        I'm happy you enjoyed them, Jenni! Rutabaga are a hidden gem!
        Take care,
        Renee

        Reply

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