Wash the russet potatoes thoroughly and pat them dry with a clean towel. Leaving the skin on, cut the potatoes into thick slices, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
(Optional): If you have extra time, soak the potato slices in cold water for about 30 minutes to remove excess starch.
In a large mixing bowl, add the potato slices. Drizzle olive oil over the potatoes and toss them gently to coat the slices evenly. Sprinkle salt, black pepper, and any additional seasonings like paprika, garlic powder, or onion powder over the potatoes. Toss again until the potatoes are well coated with the seasoning.
Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes.
Place the seasoned potato slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer Set cook time for 15-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.
Once the cottage fries are cooked to perfection, remove them from the air fryer and transfer them to a serving plate.