Frozen chips can be made crunchier and tastier with a simple ingredient: a light coating of oil before air frying. This tip comes from cookery enthusiast Chloe Edges of recipe blog Feast Glorious Feast and chef Mark Slutzky, director of culinary at McCain Foods.
The secret to extra crispy chips
Writing on her blog about how to cook frozen chips in the air fryer, Chloe Edges said: "Not all oven chips are created equal, and you'll likely have a preference for ones you prefer. You will find that many oven chips have a light coating, which is designed to make them crispy."
She noted that this is why you don't need to double-fry them, as you do with homemade chips to get that crispy crunch. However, she said that "if you want extra crispy chips", you can spray them with a little vegetable oil.
Chef's recommendation and revival tip
Mark Slutzky also recommends coating frozen chips with oil before cooking. He told The Takeout: "If you're looking for an extra crispy finish, you can give your fries a spritz of your favourite cooking oil before baking."
Oil is equally effective for seasoning chips, as the fat helps bind herbs and spices to the potatoes. Mark also recommends using oil to revive soggy, limp chips. To breathe new life into them, lightly coat them with oil to help restore that crispy texture, then place them in your air fryer at 190°C for five minutes. He guaranteed that the chips will be "hot and crunchy once more, ready for you to enjoy".
How to make frozen chips crispier in the air fryer
Begin by preheating your air fryer to 200°C for five minutes before placing your frozen chips into the basket. Arrange the frozen chips in a single layer, taking care not to overcrowd them. Coat the frozen chips in vegetable or olive oil before placing them in the air fryer to cook for 10 minutes. Afterwards, shake the basket or use tongs to turn the chips over.
Air fry for a further 10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chips, until they are golden and crisp. Transfer the chips to a wide bowl, season immediately with salt, and serve piping hot alongside your preferred sauce. Frozen chips aren't always the most flavourful, so a generous pinch of salt makes all the difference.
