Your frozen chips won't turn soggy if you avoid making this 'big' mistake

Daily Record

2 days ago

Experts believe there is a easy fix to keep your frozen chips from turning into a mushy mess
Frozen chips are a favourite in the majority of British homes, with both children and adults. The tasty staple can elevate any dish making it a huge hit for all the family. They're quicker and easier to make than homemade chips, however experts are warning that one common cooking mistake can turn them into a soggy mess.
On average, Brits eat chips or fries three times a week, with 44 per cent describing themselves as a connoisseur of fried potatoes.
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When we think of chips, especially french fries, we think of golden and crispy. So when they come out of the oven limp, it's far from ideal.
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Provided you cook them correctly, chef David Nayfield from Che Fico said chips can taste as good as restaurant quality every time you cook them.
The professional warns against overcrowding your oven trays or air fryer baskets, as doing so is the 'biggest mistake' you can make when making chips at home, reports the Express.
To achieve the perfect crunch, your chips need enough space to crisp up. Placing too many too close together will cause them to steam rather than bake.
David also highlighted the importance of pre-heating your appliance before cooking. Putting them straight into a cold oven or air fryer is likely to result in soggy or unevenly cooked chips.
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A useful guideline is to heat your appliance to around 200C before cooking the chips, to achieve that perfect golden texture.
And when it comes to the debate between using an air fryer or a traditional oven to cook your chips, chefs have a clear favourite.
New York City's celebrity chef, George Duran, has claimed that using an air fryer for your chips is like 'giving them a fast-track to crispy heaven'.
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Not only is this method often quicker than oven cooking, allowing you to savour those delicious crispy fries sooner, but it also eliminates the risk of injuries from handling hot cooking oil, making it a much safer alternative.
During National Chip Week earlier this year, The UK's No.1 Air Fryer and Multi-Cooker Brand Ninja shared their secret to producing the perfect homemade chip.
It's not just speed which is key when it comes to making homemade chips, it's also important to make them look and taste like the real deal. And also how often you shake them and how much oil you use.
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Posting their top tips alongside their recipe on their website, Ninja chefs wrote: "Use at least 1 tablespoon oil when air frying hand-cut chips.
"For crispier results, use up to 3 tablespoons oil. Shaking the chips is key for getting them crisp and golden brown, so shake or toss with silicone-tipped tongs frequently."
Hopefully you'll never touch a soggy oven chip again.