Air Fryer Frozen Chips
Air fryer frozen chips need no thawing and hardly any oil, and they come out crisper than from a baking tray. Oven chips already carry a thin coating of oil, so a teaspoon and a pinch of salt are all they need. At 200°C they take 18 minutes, plus a few minutes to preheat. The one rule is to spread them out rather than pile them up.
- Total
- 23 min
- Prep
- 2 min
- Cook
- 21 min
- Serves
- 3
- Per serving
- 260kcal
Getting the texture of air fryer frozen chips right
Oven chips are par-fried and coated in a little oil before freezing, so they have what they need to crisp up in the hot air. Adding a teaspoon of oil improves browning and helps the salt stick. The most important thing is space: air fryer frozen chips need the air to reach every side, so keep the layer shallow.
Straight-cut oven chips are the easiest, and 500g is the most a standard basket can handle in one go. Steak fries, crinkle-cut and skinny fries vary a lot in thickness, so use the packet as a guide and start checking a few minutes early.
If you are cooking for more than three, cook two batches rather than one big pile, and allow about 18 minutes for each. The second batch can go back in for 2 minutes to warm through while you plate up the first. Salt added after cooking sticks better than salt added before, and it keeps the chips from going limp.
How to make air fryer frozen chips
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Preheat Heat the air fryer to 200°C for . A hot basket helps the chips start crisping straight away.
- Season Tip the frozen chips into a bowl, add the oil and toss to coat lightly. Do not defrost them first. Leave the salt for later.
- Cook Spread the chips in the basket in as even a layer as you can. Cook at 200°C for , shaking the basket well after .
- Check and serve The chips should be deep golden and crisp at the edges. If some are still pale, give them another . Toss with the salt in a warm bowl and serve straight away.
What to serve with them
Chips go with almost anything from the freezer, such as air fryer frozen chicken nuggets or air fryer frozen chicken wings. If you would rather start from fresh potatoes, see air fryer chips.
Common problems and fixes for Air Fryer Frozen Chips
- The chips are soggy and pale.
- The basket was too full. Cook no more than 500g at a time in a standard 4–5.5 litre air fryer, spread out as flat as you can, and cook larger amounts in two batches.
- Some chips are crisp while others are limp.
- They were stacked on each other. Shake the basket halfway through, and again 3 minutes before the end if the pile is thick.
- The chips stick together.
- Do not defrost them, and add the oil before cooking. A hot, preheated basket stops them sticking and the shake breaks up any clumps.
Frequently asked questions about Air Fryer Frozen Chips
Do I need to defrost frozen chips first?
No. Cook them from frozen, because defrosted chips turn soggy and take longer to crisp.
How long do thin fries take?
Skinny fries and crinkle-cut chips are ready in 12–15 minutes at 200°C. Check from 10 minutes, because thin chips brown quickly.
How do I cook them in the oven?
On a baking tray at 220°C (200°C fan), gas 7, for 20–25 minutes, turning once. Check the packet, because brands vary.
Do I need to use oil?
No, they will cook without it, but a teaspoon of oil gives a crisper, more even colour.
How did you like the recipe?
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