Chips.

[One Amp Andy]

After a trip to the father in law's this evening which involved chicken and chip pan fried chips, I've decided that the usual oven chips the wife churns out are crap.

I don't really give a toss about the 'health issues' of fried stuff, I just want to recreate the perfect chip I had tonight. My question is, what is best, chip pan or deep fat frier?

[Kays vRS]

You can't beat chip pan chips.

[davepoth]

So long as there's fat it's fine, deep fat fryer may well be easier. Don't go to sleep while it's on though.

[jaybirduk]

Follow this method for the BEST chips

http://www.potatolovers.co.uk/content/recipes/info...

[Sheets Tabuer]

I don't eat chips myself but I allow my son to have fried chips every few weeks.

after slicing the chips thoroughly dry them in a glass towel then fry at 130c for 4 minutes, take them out and turn the oil up to 180 and fry till golden brown.

Lovely apparently.

[One Amp Andy]

Thankyou people. I shall report back tomorrow with my first attempt.

[dazco]

As an aside, if anyone fancies chips but does not fancy the calories, or the smell, I can 100% recommend the Tefal Actifry.

Superb bit of kit.

[Chim Girl]

Sheets Tabuer said:

...after slicing the chips thoroughly dry them in a glass towel then fry at 130c for 4 minutes, take them out and turn the oil up to 180 and fry till golden brown.

Lovely apparently.

Slice potatoes
Rinse under cold water until it runs clear
Par boil until they're just starting to go soft
Dry and cool
Cook at 130 deg for 4 to 6 mins - until they just start to become yellow rather than white
Cool
Cook at 180 deg until they have your preferred shade of golden.

In a true Blue Peter style, one I made earlier...

[jmorgan]

Doubled cooked chips, its the only way.

[Mobile Chicane]

You need the right type of potato as well: floury with mud on.

[One Amp Andy]

Those are the chips I'm aiming for Chim Girl. They look perfect. I presume I should get a thermometer too?

MC, do you recommend any particular potato?

I'm just on my way out to the shops for my chip pan. I can't believe I'm getting excited over chips.

[Shaw Tarse]

What fat will you use?

[One Amp Andy]

What do you recommend? I didn't think about that!

Eta: Who sells decent chip pans?

Edited by One Amp Andy on Saturday 29th October 13:10

[GG89]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSC6EwQ1wZE

[Sheets Tabuer]

You can get a deep fat fryer for about a tenner, the added bonus is a thermostat. I have a long one for fish.

This one is £25 in argos/tesco/asda

This is £12

[oilandwater]

I have one of those Tefal Actifry machines. Very little oil used and I think the chips taste great. Not like oven chips at all, and if you use olive oil - healthy too.

I know I know.....not 'real' chips, but damn near though.

[One Amp Andy]

First attempt looks absolutely crap, but tastes superb. Chicken, chips and a couple of beers.







Phone pic makes them look a bit pale, couldn't be bothered getting the DSLR just for chips!

[66comanche]

Peas from a can? Really? If not, you choose terrible frozen peas

[One Amp Andy]

They are out of a tin. I like tinned peas!

[Chim Girl]

One Amp Andy said:

Those are the chips I'm aiming for Chim Girl. They look perfect. I presume I should get a thermometer too?

MC, do you recommend any particular potato?

I'm just on my way out to the shops for my chip pan. I can't believe I'm getting excited over chips.

Oil temperature is important, 130 degrees to get the first seal, then 180 to crisp and colour. IMHO using a thermometer made a huge difference.

As for potatoes, as MC said the 'floury-ness' (dry matter:water) of the potato is important, try Maris Piper, Daisy or at a push King Edward. Definitely stay away from anything described as waxy or suitable for use in mash or salads.

In answer to your question about oil, I used groundnut.

Thanks for the compliment, doing three different stages of cooking was a tiny bit of a faff, but the results made it completely worthwhile. They were indeed perfect chips. Hopefully you'll share your next results and report that you've found your perfect chip.