There’s a truth that anyone with an air fryer knows well: making chips seems easy, but getting that golden, even crunch that makes them irresistible is a whole different story. Too often the result is a soft potato on the outside, rubbery on the inside, light years away from traditional frying. The question then is: does it depend on us or on the machine?
Altroconsumo he tried to respond with data in hand. Researchers at the lab subjected a series of air fryers to rigorous tests with frozen chips, evaluating browning, crispiness, texture and taste, with standard and full-basket portions.
The results show that the differences between one fryer and another do not only depend on the power, but above all on how the hot air circulates in the basket and how the device is used. An overfilled compartment reduces crispiness, because the air cannot pass evenly between the chips.
The shape of the basket and the presence of a perforated grill also have a great impact: they favor air circulation and therefore more uniform browning. Another key element is cooking management. Shaking the basket halfway through is often decisive to avoid less cooked or less crunchy areas. In testing, this step is part of standard procedure.
Let’s now discover the best models.
The 4 best air fryers
If the goal is to obtain perfect fries, the Philips NA543/00 Series 5000 is the model that convinced the most in the tests. With a capacity of 7.2 litres, it stands out for excellent results both with standard portions and when the basket is filled to the maximum.
The chips are always well browned, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a uniform consistency and a very balanced taste. It is one of the best ever for fried food quality.
However, not particularly low consumption and a certain amount of noise during use should be considered. It is suitable for those who want consistently successful chips and the possibility of cooking large quantities in a single session, with a price of around €197–207.
For those who want quantity without sacrificing too much quality, the Electrolux E6AF1-6ST is an interesting solution. With its 5.4 liter capacity it can prepare over 1.3 kg of chips in a single cooking, maintaining overall good results even with generous portions. It is a model designed for those who have little space but do not want to give up good performance in the kitchen, even if the price is not among the lowest and consumption is not particularly low. The price positioning is around €272–348.
When the air fryer becomes a real alternative to the oven, the Ninja AF500EU FlexDrawer comes into play. With a 10 liter capacity and a modular drawer, it is designed for large volumes and maximum versatility. In tests it performed very well even with large loads, managing over 2 kg of frozen chips. Also perfect for preparing multiple dishes at the same time, even if you have to take into account a significant size and a certain amount of noise. The price is on average between €159 and €209.
The Princess 182025 is the right choice for those who want chips ready in a few minutes without spending too much. Compact (4.5 litres), it is fast and efficient, with cooking times of less than 20 minutes in tests. Performance is good and consumption is low, designed for those who don’t have large volume requirements and are looking for an immediate appliance to use every day, even if the limited capacity and cleaning that isn’t always very convenient represent the main compromises. The price is very competitive, around €47–52.
To learn about the best frozen french fries for your air fryer read:
Some practical advice for crispier chips
Chips are among the most difficult foods to cook well in the air fryer when preparing large quantities, because they easily tend to overlap and retain moisture, with the risk of losing crunchiness. To obtain a more uniform and golden result, the first rule is to never fill the basket beyond the level recommended by the manufacturer.
The way they are arranged also makes a difference. It is better to distribute them in as even a layer as possible, avoiding the use of baking paper or silicone mats which can obstruct the passage of hot air and make the base less crunchy. It is also useful to choose chips of similar size to each other, so as to encourage more uniform cooking.
If you use fresh potatoes, a small quantity of well-distributed oil helps improve browning without weighing down the final result. During cooking, shaking the basket once or twice is a simple but decisive step to avoid less cooked or less crunchy areas.
When preparing large portions, it may be necessary to increase the cooking times slightly compared to small quantities, just to compensate for the larger load. Furthermore, in double basket models, it is preferable to divide the chips between the two compartments instead of concentrating them in just one, so as to improve air circulation.
Finally, for large quantities it is not only the capacity declared in liters that matters, but also the shape of the basket: wider ones often guarantee better results than very high and narrow compartments, because they allow a more uniform distribution of the chips and therefore more effective cooking.
