Air Fryer Magic: Oven Chips Perfection

Cooking chips in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get delicious, crispy, golden, and fluffy chips. The air fryer distributes heat evenly, resulting in perfectly crisp oven chips. You can cook frozen oven chips in an air fryer, and you can also make your own chips from scratch. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chips and the type of air fryer you have.

Oven chip varieties that can be cooked in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook oven chips in an air fryer. Many chip fans regard it as the best way of cooking them. The hot air distributes heat more evenly around the chips compared to a conventional oven, resulting in perfectly crisp oven chips.

If you're using frozen oven chips, do not let them defrost as they will become wet and soggy and will take longer to cook. Most store-bought oven chips already have a light oil coating on them, so you don't need to add any more. However, some sources recommend adding a small amount of extra virgin olive oil to prevent the chips from becoming soggy. You can also add your own seasonings to spice up your chips.

The cooking time depends on the thickness of the chips. Thin French fries usually cook for 8-10 minutes, while regular straight-cut or crinkle chips are perfectly cooked in 12 to 15 minutes. Chunky oven chips are much larger and should be cooked for up to 20 minutes. If you're using frozen chips, heat your air fryer to the temperature on the packaging for a fan oven, and then cook them for 3/4 of the time stated, checking on them every 5 minutes.

McCain oven chips are a popular option for air fryer chips, with some claiming that no other brand of oven chips comes close. McCain oven chips are low in calories, with just 132 calories per 100g of oven chips. The ingredients are simply sunflower oil and white potatoes.

How to avoid soggy chips

Yes, you can cook oven chips in an air fryer. In fact, many chip fans regard it as the best way of cooking them. The hot air distributes heat far more evenly around the chips compared to a conventional oven, resulting in perfectly crisp oven chips every time.

To avoid soggy chips, it is important to preheat your air fryer. Home economist Fiona Mair says: "It's important to preheat your air fryer when cooking these types of foods so it's the correct temperature at the start. That way, food starts to cook and crisp immediately." Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (360°F) for 2 minutes.

It is also important not to overfill the basket, as this can cause uneven cooking and browning, as well as undercooked soggy areas. To overcome this, cook food in batches or purchase an air fryer with a larger basket.

To ensure your chips are crispy on all sides, shake the basket halfway through cooking. Some air fryers have a programmed setting that beeps to remind you to shake the food. If yours does not have this feature, set a timer for every 5-10 minutes.

If you are cooking homemade chips, you can also toss them in a little cornflour, oil, and seasoning before placing them in the air fryer.

The benefits of using an air fryer

Yes, you can cook oven chips in an air fryer. In fact, many chip fans regard it as the best way of cooking them. The hot air distributes heat far more evenly around the chips compared to a conventional oven, resulting in perfectly crisp oven chips.

Air fryers are a healthier alternative to deep frying. They promise the taste, texture, and golden-brown colour of oil-fried foods without all the fat and calories. Research links the oils used to cook fried foods to health problems like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Air fryers use a fan to push heated air around the food, creating a crispy brown coating and keeping the inside soft. The circulating air cooks the outside of foods first, and as the food cooks, a container below the basket catches any grease that drops.

Air fryers are also energy-efficient, using less energy than traditional ovens and stovetops, which is good for both the environment and your wallet. They also heat up very quickly, so you can have a meal ready in just minutes. They are perfect for reinvigorating leftovers, which come out hot and crispy rather than soggy, like when you use the microwave.

Air fryers are versatile, and can be used to cook a wide variety of foods, including vegetables, chicken, fish, and even desserts like cookies and fruit crisps. Many air fryers also come with additional accessories, such as baking pans or grill grates, that allow you to cook even more types of food.

Air fryers are also easy to use and clean. Simply put your food in, set the timer, and you're all set! You can clean your air fryer basket after each use just like you would for any pot or pan you use for cooking.

Oil and seasoning

When adding oil to your chips, start by adding a small amount, and toss the chips to ensure they are evenly coated. You can always add more oil if needed. If your chips are frozen, you can simply add them straight to the air fryer basket and set the temperature and time. Shake the basket at each 5-minute mark to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking. If your chips are not frozen, you may want to preheat your air fryer for 2 minutes before adding them.

If you are seasoning your chips, there are a variety of options to choose from. Salt and pepper are classic choices, but you can also experiment with garlic granules, paprika, dried herbs, or grated parmesan, added towards the end of cooking. You can add your seasonings before cooking or halfway through, depending on your preference. If you want to get creative, you can even try tossing your chips in cornflour before adding oil and seasoning; this will give them a little extra crispness.

It's important to note that the cooking time for your oven chips will depend on the thickness of the chips and the type of air fryer you have. Thin French fries will cook faster than chunky chips, so be sure to keep an eye on them to avoid burning. The recommended cooking time ranges from 8 to 20 minutes for frozen chips, and up to 30 minutes for fresh chips, but you may need to adjust this based on your air fryer and the desired level of crispiness.

How to cut potatoes for air frying

Yes, you can cook oven chips in an air fryer. In fact, many chip fans regard it as the best way of cooking them. The hot air distributes heat far more evenly around the chips compared to a conventional oven, resulting in perfectly crisp oven chips every time.

Now, to cut potatoes for air frying, you can try the following methods:

Cutting Straight Chips

Peel the potatoes and trim away all the rounded edges to create rectangular blocks. Then, cut the blocks into batons that are somewhere between fries and thick chips. If they are too thin, they might break, and if they are too thick, they won't cook through.

Cutting Potato Wedges

Cut the potato in half lengthwise. Place the cut side of the potato onto the cutting board and cut it in half again to create quarters. Repeat with the other half. Now, position each potato quarter with the cut side up and cut down the centre of each quarter to create a wedge. Repeat with the other quarters until the entire potato is cut into wedges.

Cutting Potato Matchsticks

Cut the potatoes into matchsticks using either a knife or a mandoline slicer.

Cutting Potato Thin Rounds

Cut the potatoes into thin rounds using either a knife or a mandoline slicer.

Frequently asked questions