Preheating your oven tray before adding frozen chips can make the difference between soggy and perfectly crispy results, according to kitchen expert Michael Forbes from AEG.
Most supermarket frozen chips have already been deep-fried before freezing, so they only need reheating in the oven. However, steam from the chips can make them soggy, especially when they are packed too closely together on a small tray.
The preheat trick for crispy chips
Forbes advises preheating both the oven and the tray before cooking chips. He said: "Straight from the freezer into a hot tray means an instant hit of heat – helping the outside to crisp up quickly instead of slowly steaming."
The tray only needs 10 to 15 minutes in the oven to reach the right temperature. This quick step lets the chips start cooking immediately upon contact, producing a far crispier bite when they come out.
Avoid extra oil and early seasoning
Forbes also warns against adding extra oil to frozen chips, as they are usually already lightly coated. He said: "Frozen chips have usually already been lightly coated in oil, so there's no need to add more. Too much oil can leave them greasy rather than gloriously crisp."
Salt should also be added after cooking, not before. Salt draws out moisture, which can create a damp surface and prevent crisping. Forbes added: "Seasoning afterwards, also helps maximise flavour, as the salt, herbs and spices cling to the hot chips and sit nicely on the surface, giving more flavour in every bite."
