Chips are just one of those foods that never get boring, no matter how much you eat them.
Whether you’ve picked up a portion from your local takeaway or whipped up a delicious homemade batch, they always seem to hit the spot – but if you’ve not eaten them straight away, the leftovers aren’t always so appealing.
They’re quick to lose their crunch, which can make them taste pretty soggy or tasteless.
However, experts say there’s an easy way to revive them – and it takes less than five minutes to do with one very common kitchen gadget.
Hunter Ebling, a food expert at Maine Lobster Now, says the best way to bring chips back to their crispy, golden state is to reheat them in an air fryer.
“An air fryer works wonders for leftover chips because it circulates hot air around them, crisping them up evenly without making them greasy,” he explained.
“If you set it to 190°C and leave them in for around four minutes, you’ll get chips that taste freshly cooked with no limp or soggy bits in sight.”
The way you store your chips beforehand can also make a big difference. Hunter advised cooling them down as quickly as possible and refrigerating them with a loose cover.
“Sealing them in an airtight container might seem like a good idea, but it actually traps moisture, which makes them even soggier when you reheat them,” he warned
Before popping them back in the air fryer, he also suggested patting them dry with a kitchen towel or lightly salting them to draw out any excess moisture, as dry chips crisp up far better than damp ones.
For those without an air fryer, there’s still a way to restore your chips. According to Hunter, a standard oven can do the trick as long as you reheat them the right way.
He explained: “Preheat your oven to 220°C, spread the chips out in a single layer on a baking tray and don’t pile them up or they’ll steam instead of crisp. Bake for about five to ten minutes. This will warm them through while keeping that much-loved crunch intact.”
If you want to go a step further, pan-frying is another solid option.
“A really hot pan with just a little bit of oil can revive your chips beautifully,” Hunter said.
“You don’t need much, just enough to coat the pan, and you should keep the chips moving so they don’t burn.”
