Frozen chips can be transformed into a zesty treat by adding a simple ingredient after cooking: lemon. Product developer and chef Vivian Villa says the citrus fruit makes frozen chips "taste like heaven" and delivers a "tasty balance to their crispy saltiness".
The 22p ingredient that upgrades frozen chips
Lemon is a natural flavour enhancer, commonly used on everything from cabbage to avocados. Shoppers can pick up a four-pack of Wonky Lemons at Aldi for 89p, working out at around 22p per lemon, reports the Express.
Speaking to Food Republic, Vivian said: "The acid provides a nice balance, cutting through the richness of a crispy fry."
How to add lemon to frozen chips
The timing of adding lemon is crucial. The chef explained: "For maximum lemon [flavour] on your fries, it's always best to add after the cooking process, as the high heat will destroy any [flavours] added beforehand."
She recommended mixing lemon juice and zest into fine salt or squirting fresh lemon around the inside of the bowl, allowing the fries to get kissed by the lemon juice without getting soggy — zest of lemon, salt, and pepper to finish. Adding lemon juice to other seasonings or lightly dressing the bowl with the juice and zest (rather than the fries), then tossing to coat, will ensure your fries will be crispy with that fresh lemon tang.
Other lemon tricks for frozen chips
Vivian also shared a tip for getting the most juice out of a fresh lemon: "Twisting a fork into the lemon is the best way to release every last drop of juice."
She added that you shouldn't "forget to zest the lemon [before] you [juice it]." Even just the lemon zest on its own, without any juice, can deliver that gorgeous citrus flavour to your chips. Simply toss your fries with the zest and your go-to seasonings.
For a citrus twist, you can also make a quick lemon aioli by mixing mayonnaise with fresh lemon juice and garlic. If you haven't got fresh lemons, dust on some lemon pepper seasoning blend, which usually contains genuine lemon ingredients like lemon peel and lemon oil, for that vibrant citrus hit.
