Air Fryer Soft Chips: The Perfect Crunch!

Making soft chips in an air fryer is a straightforward process. First, peel and slice your potatoes into chips. Then, toss them in a mixture of cornflour, oil, and seasoning. You can also add flavourings like Cajun spice, garlic salt, or chilli flakes. Place the chips in the air fryer and cook at 190C/375F for 20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes. And that's it! You now have soft and fluffy chips cooked to perfection in your air fryer.

The best types of potatoes for soft chips

While any type of potato can be used to make soft chips in an air fryer, some types are better than others. The best potatoes for soft chips are those that are firm, starchy, and low in sugar, such as Maris Piper, King Edward, Sante, Rooster, Pentland Dell, Russet, or Yukon Gold. These varieties tend to hold their shape well during deep frying, resulting in chips that are crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.

Maris Piper potatoes, for example, have a fluffy, creamy, yellow texture and yellow-brown skin. They are a good all-rounder and are widely available across the UK. King Edward potatoes, on the other hand, have light tan skin with pink blush spots and a lovely flavour. They are also easy to grow at home.

When choosing potatoes for soft chips, it is important to select ones that are approximately uniform in size so that they cook evenly. Avoid potatoes with green spots or sprouts, as these can make the chips taste bitter. Instead, look for firm potatoes with no signs of softening or sponginess, as high moisture content can lead to mushy chips.

In addition to the type of potato, the preparation and cooking method also play a crucial role in achieving soft chips in an air fryer. Cutting the potatoes into uniform sizes, removing excess starch by rinsing and soaking, and drying them thoroughly before cooking can help ensure even cooking and the desired soft texture.

How to prepare the potatoes

Preparing the potatoes is a crucial step in making soft chips in an air fryer. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Firstly, select the right type of potatoes. Floury potatoes, such as Maris Piper, King Edward, Rooster, or Russet potatoes are ideal for making soft chips. These varieties will ensure a fluffier texture inside the chips and a crispier exterior.

Next, decide whether to peel the potatoes or leave the skin on. Peeling the potatoes will give them a neater appearance, but leaving the skin on can add a crispy texture and is where most of the fibre is found. If you do peel them, consider saving the skins to make tasty air-fried potato peel snacks.

Once you've decided on the skin, it's time to cut the potatoes into chips. You can use a vegetable slicer/chipper or a sharp knife to get thin French fries or thicker, chunkier chips. The thickness will impact the cooking time and the crispiness of the chips. Thinner fries will cook faster and be crispier, while thicker chips will take longer and have a softer texture.

After cutting, rinse the chips in cold water to remove any excess starch. This step will help ensure fluffier insides. You can also soak the chips in cold water for at least 30 minutes if you want to go the extra mile, but a simple rinse will also do the trick.

Once rinsed, use a clean tea towel or kitchen paper to pat the chips dry. This step is important because any remaining moisture can affect the cooking process and the crispiness of the chips.

Now, it's time to season the chips. You can add some olive oil, vegetable oil, sunflower oil, or even a cooking spray to the chips. Use your hands to ensure all the chips are coated evenly. Then, sprinkle your favourite spices over the chips. Smoked paprika, curry powder, garlic granules, chip seasoning, or just salt and pepper can all work well.

Finally, preheat your air fryer to 200°C/400°F. This step is not mandatory, but it can help reduce the overall cooking time.

Oil and seasoning

The amount of oil you use will depend on the number of potatoes you are cooking and your desired level of crispiness. For a medium-sized potato, you will need one tablespoon of oil. You can use a cooking spray to reduce the amount of oil used. Neutral-tasting oils with a high smoke point, such as rapeseed, sunflower, or vegetable oil, are ideal for air frying.

If you are using frozen chips, you may not need to add oil as they are usually already coated.

When it comes to seasoning, the options are endless. You can keep it simple with salt and pepper or get creative with spices and herbs. Here are some seasoning ideas:

• Smoked paprika
• Cayenne
• Garlic granules or powder
• Onion powder
• Parmesan
• Curry powder
• Chinese five spice
• Cajun spice
• Dried herbs (e.g. rosemary)
• Chilli flakes
• Mexican blend
• Chinese 5 spice
• Italian blend

If you want to add extra flavour to your chips, you can soak them in water with some salt for 30 minutes before cooking. This will help season the potatoes and remove excess starch. However, this step is not necessary, and you can simply rinse the potatoes in water to remove the starch.

Once your potatoes are dry, add the oil and chosen seasonings, and toss to coat evenly. Then, they are ready for the air fryer!

Air fryer temperature and time

The temperature and time for cooking chips in an air fryer will depend on the type of potato used, the thickness of the chips, and the desired crispiness. Here is a guide to help you get the perfect soft chips:

Preparation

First, prepare your potatoes. You can either peel them or give them a good scrub and leave the skin on. If you are peeling the potatoes, you can save the skins to make tasty air-fried potato peel snacks. Cut the potatoes into chips, about 1cm thick. If you want thinner or thicker chips, adjust the cooking time accordingly, as thinner chips will cook faster while thicker chips will take longer.

Rinsing and Drying

Rinse the chips in cold water to remove any excess starch. This step will help ensure fluffy insides. Pat the chips dry with a kitchen towel or tea towel. This step is important because any remaining moisture can affect the cooking process and the crispiness of the chips.

Oil and Seasoning

Add a small amount of oil to the chips. You can use olive oil, vegetable oil, sunflower oil, or a cooking spray. Use your hands to ensure all the chips are coated. Then, season the chips with your desired spices. You can use salt and pepper, or try smoked paprika, garlic granules, curry powder, or Cajun seasoning for extra flavour.

Cooking

Preheat your air fryer to 200°C/400°F. Place the chips in the air fryer basket and set the timer for 20 to 25 minutes. It is important to check on the chips regularly and shake or turn them to ensure even cooking. Depending on your desired level of crispiness, you may want to add a little more oil halfway through the cooking process.

Checking for Doneness

After the timer goes off, check if the chips are cooked to your liking. They should be golden brown and crispy on the outside, but still soft in the middle. If they need more time, put them back in the air fryer for a few more minutes.

Serving

Serve your air-fried chips immediately. They are best enjoyed fresh and can become soggy if left to cool. If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat them in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes at 180°C.

How to prevent soggy chips

To prevent your chips from turning out soggy, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, make sure to preheat your air fryer. This is important because it ensures that your food starts cooking and crisping immediately, reducing the chances of sogginess.

Secondly, avoid cooking with wet or loose batters or coatings. The batter needs to set immediately, which is why it won't work well in an air fryer. Stick to precooked crumbed and battered foods, as the coating will stay on better.

Another tip is to avoid overfilling the air fryer basket. This is crucial because the air fryer needs space to circulate air and create a crisp outside. If there is too much food, the air fryer will steam the food, leading to soggy results.

Additionally, always pat your potatoes dry before placing them in the air fryer. Moisture is the enemy of crispiness, so removing excess moisture by patting them dry will help ensure your chips turn out crispy, not soggy.

Finally, don't forget to check on your chips regularly during cooking and give the air fryer basket a good shake to ensure even cooking and browning. This will help prevent soggy spots and ensure your chips are crispy on all sides.

Frequently asked questions