Chips are a comforting and delicious addition to any meal, but cooking frozen chips in the air fryer can go wrong if you’re not careful. Here’s how to avoid soggy or burnt results
Chips are best when they’re crispy and crunchy.(Image: EL Studio via Getty Images)
Nothing beats a portion of golden, crispy chips with your dinner. Despite being very simple, they instantly liven up any dish and are easy to prepare.
Slicing and cooking potatoes doesn’t require a great deal of effort, but on those lazier days, having a bag of frozen chips stashed in the freezer is an absolute lifesaver. Most of us now reach for the air fryer to cook them, given that it’s faster, healthier and often produces better results. But if yours are regularly turning out soggy or unappetising, experts say there’s a very good reason for this — and thankfully, it’s easily avoided.
Consumer experts at Which? believe that many Brits are being let down by their air fryers, with several frequent mistakes potentially wrecking the taste and texture of their food. They said: “There’s a bit of a learning curve with some air fryers, so you might need to tinker before you get recipes right.”
Chips are among the foods most likely to go wrong during cooking, despite their simplicity. They can come out soggy and limp on some occasions, and completely overdone on others.
The experts said: “Getting the perfect golden-brown chips can take a few tries, as the time and temperature depend on things such as the power, size and type of your air fryer.”
Air fryer mistake that ruins chips
According to the experts, cramming too much into the air fryer basket or tray is one of the most common mistakes you can make with your chips. It’s crucial to ensure they all sit comfortably inside, as this helps them cook without any soggy or charred sections.
Packing the basket too tightly can also create a fire hazard, especially if the food comes into contact with the heating element, so this should be avoided for safety.
For chips, aim to arrange them in a single layer wherever possible, for the best and crispiest outcome. If you’re looking to prepare larger portions, you might want to consider an air fryer with a larger capacity.
Another error that can lead to burnt chips is forgetting to shake or stir the contents of your air fryer basket while cooking. Packaging instructions can occasionally be deceptive and suggest doing this just once during the cooking process.
But according to the Which? experts, carrying this out more often delivers superior results, so it’s worth experimenting with.
That said, you’ll naturally need to pull open the drawer to complete this task. The experts said: “This will let out some hot air, so you want to avoid doing it too frequently. But at least a couple of times during cooking should help achieve a more even colour and tastier chips.”
