The versatile potato is loved by families all around the world and it can be prepared and cooked in so many ways. But perhaps the most delicious – and the most indulgent – is potato in the form of chips.
But what happens if you have more chips than you can stomach at any time? Can you safely reheat chips without them going soggy?
To reheat chips, pop them into a preheated oven on a baking tray for around 5 minutes until hot through. You can also use an air fryer for reheating chips.
How to Reheat Chips
If you have some chips or French fries leftover, the good news is that they can be reheated easily. But, don’t be tempted to reheat them in the microwave, as they will be soggy and unappetizing. Instead, we have two other ways to go about reheating chips that don’t involve the microwave.
Let’s take a look at two simple ways of reheating chips so they’re nice and tasty when you come to enjoy them:
How to Reheat Chips in the Oven
Reheating chips in the oven is easy, but you just need to make sure you don’t dry them out. Below are the required steps:
- Preheat Oven
Switch on your oven and preheat to 205C or 400F. - Lay Chips on a Tray
Line an oven tray with greaseproof paper and spread your chips out on top. Try and lay them evenly so no chips are overlapping. - Reheat
Once your oven is up to temperature, reheat your chips for five minutes. - Check the Temperature
Remove one chip from the tray and pierce it with a fork. You want to see steam coming out of the centre of the potato, which indicates that it’s ready. If it’s not yet up to temperature, return the tray to the oven for a few more minutes. - Serve and Enjoy
You’re now ready to serve up your reheated chips with whatever accompaniment you choose.
How to Reheat Chip in the Air Fryer
If you have an air fryer at home, then you can make use of it in order to reheat chips perfectly. Here are the simple steps that you need to follow:
- Load the Basket
Drop your chips in your air fryer basket. You don’t need to worry about spacing them out. - Switch On
Set your air fryer to 205C or 400F and reheat your chips for 4-5 minutes. - Check the Temperature
Take a chip out of the basket and pierce it with a fork. If it’s steaming hot, your chips are ready to serve. If not, leave them in the fryer for a few more minutes. - Serve and Enjoy
When you’re happy that your chips are up to temperature, all that’s left to do is add some salt and vinegar and enjoy.Â
What is the Best Way to Reheat Chips
Using either the oven or an air fryer is the best way to go when it comes to reheating chips. When using either option, you want to give each chip plenty of space otherwise, they will become soggy.
The other thing to remember is that using a pan or the microwave is not the way to go. This will instantly lead to mushy, soggy chips.
How to Reheat Chips Successfully
If you want to have complete success when it comes to reheating chips then stick to our 3 vital tips below:
- Don’t Reheat in the Microwave – You might have realised this already, but we don’t recommend reheating chips in the microwave! While it might be okay for some people, not everyone is keen on soggy chips! It’s worth spending a little bit more time reheating them in the oven or air fryer instead.
- Lay Off the Sauce – If you’re planning to save and reheat your chips at a later date, then don’t cover them in sauce or gravy. Again, this will cause them to go soggy when you store or reheat them, so it’s best to keep them as plain as possible (a little bit of salt and vinegar won’t hurt).
- Store Properly – Once your chips have cooled, you need to wrap them well and get them in the fridge or freezer. The longer you leave them sitting out at room temperature, the more likely they are to spoil. While it can be tempting to leave takeaway sitting out on the counter, get in the habit of wrapping your chips well so they taste great when you come to reheat them.
Is It Safe to Reheat Chips?
Yes, it’s perfectly safe to reheat chips. Whether you have some leftover Mcdonald’s fries, chip shop chips, or some homemade curly fries, you can reheat them by following the steps introduced above.
But as mentioned throughout, it’s best not to reheat your chips in the microwave, as doing so will almost certainly cause them to go soggy.
Reheating Chips FAQs
If you still have questions about reheating chips or fries, then these FAQs might help out. If not, feel free to drop a comment at the end of this article:
Yes, you can reheat chips from the chip shop. In fact, you can reheat an entire fish meal from the chippy. Make sure you reheat them within 48 hours of buying them from the chip shop to avoid them becoming too soggy.
Provided that they have been stored safely (not at room temperature) then they should be safe to eat cold the next day if you can’t be bothered to go through the reheating process outlined above.
Yes, you can reheat chips that have been coated in any form of fat, generally. You may find that the chips do not crisp up as much as they previously did. But this is always going to be a drawback of reheating anything.
Ross is a freelance writer with a passion for delicious food and drinks, having worked in the hospitality industry in the past. He began working with Let’s Foodie when it first launched to provide information on how to reheat, freeze and microwave different foods.
You said:
“3. Check the Temperature
Take a chip out of the basket and pierce it with a fork”
Oddly enough – for me, at least – whenever I attempt to pierce Chip, the silly thing snaps in two… what could be wrong?