Air Fryer Chips: Perfecting The Crunch At Home

Air fryers have become increasingly popular, and for good reason. They're a healthier alternative to deep-frying, using less oil to achieve that crispy, golden finish. One of the most popular dishes to make in an air fryer is chips, and it's super easy to do. You can use a variety of potatoes, from Maris Piper to King Edward, and even sweet potatoes. The process is simple: cut your potatoes into chip shapes, season them, and pop them into the air fryer for around 20-30 minutes, depending on the thickness of your chips. There's no need to parboil or soak your potatoes beforehand, making this a quick and easy way to get crispy, fluffy chips.

Choosing the right potato

The best potatoes for air fryer chips are those with a higher starch content, also known as floury potatoes. These potatoes will give you that desired fluffy texture inside while crisping up nicely on the outside. Look for potato varieties such as Maris Piper, King Edward, or Rooster. These potatoes are widely available and are known for their excellent chip-making capabilities.

If you're unable to find these specific varieties, don't worry; most common types of potatoes will work. Other options include Yukon Gold potatoes or even sweet potatoes if you want to add a touch of sweetness to your chips.

When selecting your potatoes, opt for those that are firm and have smooth, unbruised skin. Avoid potatoes with sprouting eyes or those that feel soft or shrivelled, as these may not cook evenly or yield the best texture.

Additionally, consider the size of your potatoes. For air fryer chips, you'll want to choose potatoes that are relatively uniform in size. This will help ensure even cooking and allow you to cut them into similar-sized chips, which is essential for consistent results.

Once you've chosen the right potatoes, you'll want to prepare them properly. First, decide whether to peel them or leave the skin on for a more rustic feel. Then, cut them into chip-like shapes, aiming for uniform thickness to ensure even cooking.

In summary, choosing the right potato for air fryer chips involves selecting a starchy, floury variety like Maris Piper, King Edward, or Rooster, ensuring they are firm and unbruised, and opting for uniform size for even cooking. With the right potatoes and proper preparation, you'll be well on your way to making the best air fryer chips.

Using oil

While it is possible to make air fryer chips without oil, adding a little oil will make your chips taste better and crisp up nicely. You can use a spray bottle to distribute the oil evenly and use less of it.

You can use your favourite neutral-tasting frying oil, such as rapeseed, sunflower, olive, or vegetable oil.

The recommended amount of oil is 1 tablespoon per medium-sized potato. However, you can adjust the amount based on your preference. If you want crispier chips, you can add a little more oil.

First, prepare your potatoes by peeling them or giving them a good scrub if you prefer to leave the skin on. Cut the potatoes into your desired thickness, either thin for French fries or thicker for chunky chips.

Next, wash the potatoes in cold water to remove excess starch. You can also soak the potatoes in water for 30 minutes, but rinsing them thoroughly should be sufficient. After washing, pat the potatoes dry with a clean tea towel or kitchen paper.

Now, it's time to add the oil. Place the potatoes in a bowl, add the oil, and toss or mix until the potatoes are evenly coated. You can also use your hands to ensure all the chips are covered.

At this stage, you can also add your chosen seasoning. Experiment with different spices and herbs, such as paprika, curry powder, chip seasoning, salt, and pepper.

Once the potatoes are coated and seasoned, place them in the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to cook for 20 to 25 minutes at 200°C/400°F. Remember to check on the chips regularly and shake or turn them to ensure even cooking.

If your chips are not crispy enough after the initial cooking time, you can add a little more oil and put them back in the air fryer for a few more minutes.

And that's it! You now have delicious, crispy air fryer chips with the help of a little oil.

Seasoning

Before seasoning, it is recommended to rinse the chips in cold water to remove any excess starch. This will ensure that your chips don't burn before they are fully cooked. You can then pat them dry with a clean tea towel or some kitchen roll.

When it comes to choosing a seasoning, you have a variety of options. A simple option is to sprinkle salt and pepper over your chips. You can also experiment with different spices and herbs to add more flavour. Some popular choices include paprika, curry powder, garlic salt, chilli flakes, dried herbs such as rosemary, and Cajun spice. You can also try using a chip seasoning blend or adding grated Parmesan cheese. If you want to make spicy chips, you can coat them in curry powder or hot paprika seasoning before air frying.

It is recommended to add the seasoning after coating the chips with oil. This will ensure that the seasoning sticks to the chips and distributes evenly. You can also add more seasoning after cooking if needed.

Additionally, you can try making your own seasoning blend. For example, one source suggests making a lemon and rosemary salt by combining those ingredients with regular table salt.

Preparing the potatoes

Firstly, select the right type of potatoes. Floury potatoes, such as Maris Piper, Rooster, or King Edward, are ideal for making chips as they ensure a fluffier interior and crispier exterior. The number of potatoes you need will depend on the size of your air fryer and the number of servings.

Next, decide whether you want to peel the potatoes or leave the skin on. Peeling the potatoes will give them a more uniform look, but leaving the skin on adds a rustic feel and is perfectly fine as well. If you do peel them, you can save the skins to make tasty air-fried potato peels as a snack.

After deciding on the skin, it's time to cut the potatoes into chip shapes. You can make them thick for chunky chips or thin for crispy, French-fry-style chips. Use a sharp knife or a vegetable slicer/chipper to cut the potatoes lengthwise into uniform-sized pieces. Try to avoid uneven slices as they will not cook evenly. If you are making thin French fries, you will need to keep a closer eye on them during cooking to prevent burning.

Once your potatoes are cut, it is recommended to rinse them in cold water to remove any excess starch. This will help prevent them from sticking together and ensure a crispier texture. You can also choose to soak the potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes, but a simple rinse is usually sufficient. After rinsing, use a clean tea towel or kitchen roll to pat them dry.

Now it's time to season your potatoes. Place the sliced potatoes in a large bowl and add your chosen oil, such as olive oil, rapeseed oil, or sunflower oil. You can also use an oil spray or cooking spray if you prefer. Toss the potatoes in the oil until they are evenly coated. Then, add your desired seasonings. You can use salt and pepper, smoked paprika, curry powder, garlic salt, or even create your own lemon and rosemary salt for a unique flavour. Toss the potatoes again to ensure an even distribution of seasonings.

Finally, preheat your air fryer to 200°C/400°F, or a similar temperature depending on your air fryer model. This step is not mandatory but can help reduce the overall cooking time.

Cooking the chips

The cooking time for your air fryer chips will depend on the thickness of the chips and the model of your air fryer. The average cooking time is around 20-25 minutes, but thinner chips may take less time, and thicker chips may take longer. It's important to keep an eye on them during cooking and adjust the time as needed.

Preheat your air fryer to 180-200°C/350-390°F. If your air fryer doesn't have variable temperature settings, set it to cook for 30 minutes using the paddle.

Place the potato slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap. If you are cooking a large batch, you may need to cook the chips in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket, which can make them soggy.

Cook the chips for the desired amount of time, shaking the basket every 5 minutes or halfway through the cooking process. This helps to ensure even cooking and crispiness.

After the initial cooking time, check the chips to see if they are tender and cooked through. If not, continue cooking in 5-minute intervals until they are done to your liking.

For extra crispy chips, you can add a little more oil halfway through the cooking process.

Once the chips are golden brown and crispy, serve them immediately. Air fryer chips are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply pop them back in the air fryer for 5 minutes at 200°C/390°F until crispy again.

Frequently asked questions