Making chips in the air fryer couldn't be easier, with less oil and quick cooking times. But I found that homemade chips, especially those made with sweet potatoes, wouldn't crisp up. No matter how much oil I used or how hot the air fryer was, I was really struggling to get them crunchy. Of course, deep-frying them would achieve that result, but I wondered if there was a way to get the same result without oil. I tried a number of different methods, and one yielded the crunchiest, perfect homemade fries.
The Secret to Crispy Chips
First, make sure the chips are all the same size. This helps them cook evenly, avoiding some from burning and others from becoming soggy. Next is the most important step and the one that has completely transformed my fries, and it involves getting a large bowl, filling it up with water and ice cubes.
Soaking cut fries in ice-cold water helps remove excess starch, enabling them to crisp up more easily. As some of the starch is removed, the inside can cook into a lighter, softer texture while the outside becomes more crisp. It is, however, important to use ice-cold water, which I did by adding several ice cubes.
How to Prepare the Perfect Chips
I let the potatoes soak for around five to 10 minutes before letting them dry completely on a kitchen towel. Once completely dry, I put them into a bowl, seasoned them with salt, pepper, and paprika, then drizzled them with oil. They were then placed in my air fryer basket, making sure they didn't overlap, and cooked at 180°C for 20 minutes, shaking halfway.
After 20 minutes, the chips were beautifully crisp with a fluffy interior. I use this recipe to accompany many meals, such as chicken, and they taste delicious. A number of fast-food chains, as well as higher-end restaurants, use this technique to keep uncooked fries fresh and promote crispier, fluffier chips.
