Air Fryer Inventors Reveal The Secret To Getting Perfect Chips Every Time

This game-changing kitchen appliance has become our go-to for not just chips, but hash browns, roast potatoes, and pretty much any potato-based treat you can think of.

Yet, as with any cooking method, there's always a little room to level up your skills, and if you're looking to master the art of air fryer chips, you're in luck because we've got the inside scoop.

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Crafting the perfect homemade chips can sometimes feel like a culinary balancing act, toeing the line between undercooked sogginess and overdone crispiness.

But the folks at Philips, the brilliant minds behind the air fryer, have let us in on the secrets to achieving chip perfection every time.

Martin Senders, the Airfryer chef at Philips, is passionate about the potential of air fryers for cooking up the best chips, whether you're a fan of chunky, crinkle cut, or skinny fries.

He says: "There's no denying that chips - whether chunky, crinkle cut or fries - work brilliantly in the airfryer."

"However, there's no reason you can't improve on a classic."

"From indulgent loaded fries to healthy alternatives, there's dozens of ways to dial up the flavour of your favourite side."

Make sure your potatoes are dry:

According to Martin, it's crucial to dry your potatoes thoroughly with kitchen paper after cutting them.

Eliminating moisture is key to ensuring your chips come out as crispy as can be, while still preserving their fluffy interior.

Avoid overloading:

The temptation to fill the airfryer with more potatoes than necessary can be strong.

Especially when you're feeling particularly hungry, but cramming too many into the tray is ill-advised.

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An excess of chips can hinder the flow of air within the drawer, leading to underwhelming, soggy chips.

Employ a criss-cross method:

Should you need to prepare a larger quantity of chips, Martin suggests a clever technique to ensure they all crisp up nicely.

He recommends arranging your chips in a criss-cross or lattice formation. 

This layout promotes more effective circulation of hot air around the potatoes.

This strategy also enables you to fit more chips into the drawer, which means you can avoid cooking multiple batches.

While many foods are perfectly suited to cooking in an airfryer, there are certain items that are best avoided.

For instance, attempting to cook bacon in the airfryer is not recommended.

Dietitian Brenda Peralta highlighted that frying bacon in this manner can lead to considerable mess and difficulty in the kitchen.

Peralta shared with Yahoo: "It is a fatty food, and when it is cooked in an air fryer, the fat can drip down and cause smoke or splatter."

"This can make the bacon difficult to cook evenly, and it can also produce a lot of smoke and odours."