Air Fryer Chips: Can You Make Crispy Fries?

Air fryers are a healthier alternative to deep-frying, as they require less oil. You can use an air fryer to make delicious, crispy, golden, and fluffy chips. Any potato will work, but waxy varieties are best for this recipe. You can also use sweet potatoes and add additional flavourings such as Cajun spice, dried herbs, garlic salt, chilli flakes, or curry powder. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your chips, but they should be done in around 20 to 30 minutes.

Potato types for air fryer chips

When making chips in an air fryer, it's important to use the right type of potatoes. The best potatoes for air fryer chips are those that are starchy, or floury, rather than waxy. This is because starchy potatoes contain less moisture, so they crisp up better.

Examples of starchy potatoes include Russet potatoes, also called Idaho potatoes, and medium-sized Yukon Gold potatoes, which have a creamy flavour. Yukon Gold potatoes will result in a harder crunch, so if you want a fluffier chip interior and a crispier exterior, it's best to opt for Russet potatoes.

If you're based in the UK, two of the most common floury potato varieties are Maris Piper and Rooster. These are great options for air fryer chips as they will achieve the desired crispy edges.

It's best to avoid waxy potatoes like red potatoes, as they often turn chewy instead of crisp.

Oil and seasoning

When it comes to oil, you can use your favourite neutral-tasting oil, such as rapeseed, sunflower, or vegetable oil. You can also use coconut oil, ghee (clarified butter), or olive oil from a spray can. The amount of oil you use will depend on the recipe and the quantity of chips you are making, but it is typically around 2 tablespoons or 2 teaspoons.

For seasoning, you can keep it simple with just salt and pepper, or add extra flavourings such as:

• Cajun spice
• Chilli powder
• Curry powder
• Garlic salt or garlic powder
• Paprika
• Cornflour
• Dried herbs (e.g. rosemary)
• Nutritional yeast
• Parmesan

You can add the seasoning to the chips before or after air frying. If using chilli flakes or dried herbs, it is recommended to add them halfway through cooking so they don't burn.

Soaking and slicing

While some recipes suggest that you can skip the soaking process and just rinse the potatoes, many others recommend soaking the sliced potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes. This helps to remove excess starch from the potatoes, which will give them a great crunch when they cook. It also helps prevent the potatoes from sticking to each other in the air fryer basket.

To prepare the potatoes for soaking, start by peeling them or giving them a good scrub if you prefer to leave the skin on. Then, slice the potatoes into thin, uniform pieces, ensuring that each slice is of similar thickness. This can be done using a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer. If you're making thicker chips, cut the potatoes into rectangular blocks and then slice them into batons. If you're making thinner French fries, simply slice the potatoes into thin sticks.

Once you've sliced the potatoes, transfer them to a large bowl and add enough cold water to cover them completely. Let them soak for 15 minutes, then drain the water and add fresh ice water for another 15 minutes of soaking. If you're short on time, you can also just rinse the slices repeatedly until the water runs clear, indicating that the starch has been removed.

After soaking or rinsing, it's crucial to pat the potatoes dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Removing the excess moisture is essential for achieving crispy chips.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking temperature for air-fried chips is recommended to be 180°C (350°F). This temperature is standard across different air fryer models. Adjusting the temperature is not recommended, and instead, the cooking time should be altered to achieve the desired crispiness.

The cooking time for air-fried chips can vary depending on the thickness of the chips and the desired level of crispiness. It is recommended to cook the chips for around 20 to 30 minutes at 180°C to achieve golden and crispy chips. However, thinner chips may take a few minutes less, while thicker chips may require a few minutes more. It is important to keep an eye on the chips and shake the basket a few times during cooking to ensure even browning and to prevent burning.

For example, one recipe suggests setting the timer for 5 minutes initially, then shaking the basket well and setting the timer for another 8 minutes. This process of shaking and resetting the timer is repeated for 7 minutes, and then the chips are checked. If a more golden-brown result is desired, the chips are shaken again and cooked for an additional 5 minutes.

Another recipe suggests cooking the chips for 15 minutes, giving them a mix, and then returning them to the air fryer for another 15 minutes until they are golden. This recipe also mentions that tossing or mixing the chips every 10 minutes is essential to ensure even cooking and to prevent sticking.

It is worth noting that the cooking time may vary slightly depending on the specific model of the air fryer, so it is always a good idea to check the chips regularly and adjust the cooking time as needed.

Serving suggestions

Air fryer chips can be served as a side dish or a snack. They go well with a variety of main dishes, such as lasagne, steak pie, or chicken wings. For a more indulgent snack, serve the chips on homemade bread or brioche buns with spicy bang bang sauce, BBQ sauce, or classic burger sauce. You can also smother them in gravy or make them into poutine, salt and pepper chips, or pizza fries.

If you want to add extra flavour to your chips, you can experiment with different seasonings and spices. For example, smoked paprika, curry powder, or chip seasoning. You can also try fresh minced garlic and parmesan cheese, or drizzle the finished chips with truffle oil. Other herbs and spices that can be used include basil, thyme, or red pepper.

Air fryer chips are best served fresh, but if you want to prepare them in advance, you can cut, peel, and slice the potatoes, then place them in a bowl of cold water to be soaked.

Frequently asked questions