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Original poster

Do you still use a pan filled with oil to fry chips?

169 replies

BatFaceOwl · 01/05/2023 12:52

Or maybe you've got one of those deep fat fryers that would sit on the side filled with rancid old oil (although I'm remembering my grandmas here and maybe they wasn't the norm with them!)

Anyway, with the rise in popularity of air fryers I wondered if anyone still did stuff the 'old fashioned' way?

I've never cooked chips in anything other than the oven or an airfryer

OP posts:
ChocChipHandbag · 03/05/2023 08:18

shard5 · 03/05/2023 08:11

I have an Actifry by Tefal and chips are cooked in there unless I'm making stir fry noodles with sweet chilli chicken served on a bed of fried chips. That dish does not taste right with airfryer chips.

Noodles on a bed of chips?

Bold.

Blanketpolicy · 03/05/2023 08:20

shard5 · 03/05/2023 08:11

I have an Actifry by Tefal and chips are cooked in there unless I'm making stir fry noodles with sweet chilli chicken served on a bed of fried chips. That dish does not taste right with airfryer chips.

I can just picture it now 😋

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 03/05/2023 08:26

We don't have one but only because I know of we did I'd be tempted to have chips every night 🤣

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Amortentia · 03/05/2023 08:50

As a child of an alcoholic Ive out out more chip pan fires than the local fire brigade. 😂 I was really good at putting them out too, I followed the instructions those scary adverts advises. You chucked a damp tea towel over it and switched the hob off. Except for one time I hadn’t put enough water on the towel and it stated to frazzle. In my moment of panic (I was about 10 at the time) I chucked a glass of water over the towel. I just made it out the kitchen before a fountain of hot fat hit the ceiling. Terrifying.

I could never have one in the house, it’s air fryers all the way for me.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 03/05/2023 09:28

How do you fry an egg in a chip pan?

I had a friend as a student who tried to make cheesy peas in one (spoiler: it didn't work)!

I agree that oven chips are not worth bothering about. I've not tried an air fryer, but I can't see how they can be anywhere near as good as proper deep-fried chips, as it's the oil that gives them the taste. It seems a bit like saying that taking all of the paintings out of a gallery doesn't have any impact on your enjoyment, as you still have a lovely, purpose-designed (empty) gallery to visit!

Deep-fat fryer for us too - the ones that drain and store the oil are brilliant. They're not dangerous if you have an adult attending them whilst in use - just as you would if using a frying pan or similar.

LaMarschallin · 03/05/2023 09:48

ChocChipHandbag · 03/05/2023 08:18

Sounds delicious'

Show quote history

They really are Smile

Polis · 03/05/2023 10:02

Does nobody watch Masterchef? There's someone deep frying something in every episode- tempura everything. Scotch eggs, bhajis, beignets, haggis bon bons..

I bought my deep fat fryer after watching the Hairy Bikers make scotch eggs.

tiger2691 · 03/05/2023 11:47

Lard and beef dripping for me.

PieonaBarm · 03/05/2023 22:27

@LangClegsInSpace well if you're my Grandma you do it badly 😂

Basically you get the fat/oil hot enough and then crack it in, like you would into water for a poached egg. It's no wonder she'd had a heart valve replacement with a pigs valve in the late 70's. Lived to a fine old age though, once my Dad banned her from using a chip pan again 😂😂

GeraltsBathtub · 03/05/2023 22:37

I’ve never deep fried anything, I’ve always been too afraid of chip-pan fires. I don’t like frozen oven chips but chips from scratch cooked in the oven are ok.

Tratjymp · 03/05/2023 22:49

Yeah but it's fat rather than oil.

NotPennysBoat · 03/05/2023 22:56

My mum used to have a pan filled with oil just used for chips. They were the best. chips. ever. She rarely changed the oil, but did occasionally pour it through and old (clean) pair of tights to filter out the skanky bits!

LangClegsInSpace · 04/05/2023 01:18

PieonaBarm · 03/05/2023 22:27

@LangClegsInSpace well if you're my Grandma you do it badly 😂

Basically you get the fat/oil hot enough and then crack it in, like you would into water for a poached egg. It's no wonder she'd had a heart valve replacement with a pigs valve in the late 70's. Lived to a fine old age though, once my Dad banned her from using a chip pan again 😂😂

Wow, not sure I'd be brave enough to try that. Did she ever cook you one? Are they nice?

knitnerd90 · 04/05/2023 04:02

I fry on the hob occasionally, but I use fresh oil each time (bulk jugs from the asian supermarket). Vegetable oils degenerate with each use, and in any case I won't be using it again soon. Deep-frying is too messy to be more than an occasional event; chips are what I get when I go out.

Catsmere · 04/05/2023 04:10

I can’t cook chips, I only have a microwave - and absolutely nowhere to put an air fryer. If I want chips I have to eat out. :(

Jackienory · 04/05/2023 04:16

Local chippy or air fryer.

Nugg · 04/05/2023 04:24

Both! But my deep fryer is cleaned out, oil filtered and reused a few times and all stored in a cupboard

PinkButtercups · 04/05/2023 05:00

No, but chips in the deep fat fryer are the best!
I don't own one but might purchase one!

sashh · 04/05/2023 05:35

Oil?

As a child we had a fryer on the hob filled with Lard or dripping - they are the best chips ever.

I've not made any for ages but I have been known to use the wok.

Willmafrockfit · 04/05/2023 05:46

dh likes to, very occasionally

Tourmalines · 04/05/2023 05:49

I would never use a deep fat fryer for chips . My mum always did . I use too many moons ago The oil becomes carcinogenic after a couple of uses, so needs changing . I wouldn’t use it that much anyway so now I have my chips in my air fryer .Of course probably not exactly the same but good alternative.

Tourmalines · 04/05/2023 05:54

Oakbeam · 01/05/2023 17:20

My mother used a chip pan but never lard. She used vegetable oil that went solid and white when cold.

What vegetable oil is that, I’ve never seen vegetable oil solid ,hard and white ?

GingerKombucha · 04/05/2023 06:30

About twice a year I make chips at home, usually for a treat or birthday and do triple cooked chips, you need a pan, oil and a thermometer but it's pretty easy. I'd never reuse oil as I think it's a bit gross but my grandma definitely did.

sashh · 04/05/2023 06:34

Tourmalines · 04/05/2023 05:54

What vegetable oil is that, I’ve never seen vegetable oil solid ,hard and white ?

Show quote history

Vegetable shortening eg Trex.

Oakbeam · 04/05/2023 08:01

Vegetable shortening eg Trex.

It was Trex now I think about it. It came in a blue box with white lettering.