Discover the ultimate air-fried supermarket chips: top 10 crunchy favourites rated and revealed
- Replies 2
Growing up, we cherished those memorable moments when our parents or grandparents indulged us with a plate of hot, golden chips after playing outdoors all day. The delightful crunch and irresistible aroma were hard to resist (and still are!).
As time has passed, many of us have adopted modern cooking techniques, like using air fryers, to help maintain our daily pursuit of healthy lifestyles while staying true to our favourite culinary traditions. Lucky for you, we at the Seniors Discount Club have taken this opportunity to reminisce and marry the new with the old.
To uncover which supermarket chips make the most mouth-watering air-fried snacks, the Good Food by The Sydney Morning Herald have taken on the challenge of rating the top 10 chip contenders available across the Australian market.
Before diving into the final rankings, it's important to note that each chip was seasoned with salt and a sprinkling of neutral cooking oil before being cooked for 15 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius in an air fryer – just to make things a fair test, of course.
Now, let the crispy countdown begin!
10. Seasons Pride Low-Cholesterol Sweet Potato Chips
$4.69 for 750g
Members, I’ll be honest with you. I am quite devastated to see these chips ranked as 10th out of 10 contenders because personally, they are my favourite. However, according to the Good Food Guide, these vibrant sweet potato chips gave off a great first impression, boasting a beautiful orange hue and medium thickness. However, they failed to deliver the crunch and flavour, offering a slightly bland taste.
In my opinion, if anyone has bland taste here, it’s the Good Food writers.
However, I will call out the fact that these chips are a little more expensive, sitting at $4.69 for 750g. So perhaps they do deserve to be in tenth place…
9. Woolworths Essential French Fries
$3.50 for 1kg
Okay, now we are looking at some favourable pricing here! $3.50 for a kilo of chips isn’t too shabby at all. Just think about how much a packet of small hot chips costs at your local chicken shop. I think my local charges about $6 these days…
Apparently, these ‘french fries’ brought back memories of childhood french fries as these slender chips crisped up nicely in the air fryer. However, they fell short on flavour - a real case of style over substance. In my opinion, a ‘french fry’ can never match up to the flavour of a nice, fat hot chip. So I’m not surprised by these results.
8. McCain’s Gluten-Free Thin Cut Home Style Crispy Golden Chips
$5 for 750g
Now we are playing with the big guns. Except, it seems, ‘Ah McCain’ you haven’t ‘done it again’. You also haven’t been the cheapest either McCain sitting at a whopping $5 for only 750g…
Apparently, the Good Food writers had some high hopes for these thin-cut chips with their uncomplicated blend of ingredients. Unfortunately, they charred before achieving the desired crunchiness.
Ah McCain. Back to the drawing board again, it seems.
7. McCain’s Quick-Cook Straight-Cut Crunchy Chips
$5.30 for 750g
Yet again, McCain charging through the roof for their chips! $5.30 for 750g of chips is a bit too expensive for my liking, but of course, we are focusing on the flavour here. According to the Good Food writers, if time is of the essence for you, these brightly coloured quick-cook chips may be just the ticket. Although apparently, flavour-wise, they don't quite hit the mark, the texture features a reasonable crunchiness.
Reasonable crunchiness? Not good enough McCain, yet again, you haven’t done it again.
6. McCain’s Delish Gourmet Kitchen Rosemary and Sweet Potato Chips
$7.40 for 750g
Wow. To think I thought $5.30 for 750g of chips was a bit steep. Say hello to $7.40 for 750g of delicious gourmet rosemary and sweet potato chips! I didn’t know rosemary was such an expensive ingredient to add. Apparently, while these thin chips may not be the prettiest on the list, they surprisingly provide a satisfying crunch, fluffy interior and enjoyable taste.
5. Bird’s Eye Deli Seasoned Chips With Sea Salt and Rosemary
$4.80 for 600g
$4.80 for 600g! My goodness, we are getting to the smaller packets here in the top 5, members. Apparently, these generously seasoned chips struck a delightful balance between taste and texture, catering to those who prefer their chips slightly softer and more flavourful. So, perhaps the price tag is worth the flavour?
4. Coles Beer Battered Steakhouse Chips
$4.20 for 750g
Price, not too shabby; weight, not too shabby either! I have some high hopes for these beer-battered steakhouse chips, mainly because I know they are the chunky chips. I absolutely adore it. Apparently, they very much channel the pub atmosphere in your own home with these satisfying chips (brilliant!). Their thick-cut and beer batter contributes to a delightfully crispy exterior.
I didn’t doubt their success for a second.
3. Birds Eye Golden Crunch
$5 for 900g
Price tag is a little more on the expensive side; however we are getting 900g here, which does mean the price per unit isn’t as bad as the others! These Birds Eye golden crunch chips delivered on the promise of 'OK' crunch (you’d hope so). These crinkle-cut chips remind the Good Food writers of those scrumptious festival or school fair chips we all know and have enjoyed at one time or another – perfect for a generous helping of tomato sauce.
I don’t want to spark controversy here, but I will say I think they would taste better with BBQ sauce. A big shout-out to all of my BBQ sauce lovers out there.
2. Seasons Pride Cafe Series Sweet Potato Chips Seasoned with Paprika
$4.79 for 600g
I was absolutely delighted to see these chips in the top 2! As a weekly ALDI shopper, I’m certainly the one who picks these up at least once a fortnight as a little ‘treat’. They are on the more expensive side at $4.79 for 600g. However, they are sweet potato chips seasoned with paprika which makes them absolutely delicious. They present a delightful combination of caramelised edges and subtle spices, resulting in a delicious and addictive treat. Addictive is quite an understatement. It’s honestly, surprisingly easy to eat 600g in a day.
1. Birds Eye Deli Seasoned Chips with Golden Ale Beer Batter
$4.80 for 600g
I don’t think this one will come as a surprise to any thick chip lovers! However, for those of you who prefer the thinner chips, I’m sorry, these probably aren’t for you. However, the Good Food writers wrote a rave review about these chippies, so maybe they are worth a try? They claimed ‘come on a journey to flavour town with the champion of frozen chips. These thick-cut and beautifully crisp chips are enveloped in an enticing beer batter, creating a crunch that keeps you coming back for more.’
Now, THAT’S a rave review, and at $4.80 for 600g, it is on the more expensive side, I know. However, it seems for the best chips in the supermarket, we do have to pay a little more for a little less. A shame, I agree. But are we all that surprised, considering the current cost of living?
With these top picks in hand, I have no doubt you can confidently bring the nostalgia of the crispy chips we all love (without the added guilt!) to your family gatherings or quiet afternoons at home. Bond with your grandchildren over a delightful treat, but do remember to remind them of the power of moderation, as too much of a good thing can sometimes leave us feeling a bit, well, chipper.
If you have a homemade chip recipe that you think is even better in the air fryer than any supermarket chip then you know I would LOVE to hear it. I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this topic, members, and of course, don’t be afraid to share what your favourite frozen chip at the supermarket is!
As time has passed, many of us have adopted modern cooking techniques, like using air fryers, to help maintain our daily pursuit of healthy lifestyles while staying true to our favourite culinary traditions. Lucky for you, we at the Seniors Discount Club have taken this opportunity to reminisce and marry the new with the old.
Do you prefer thin or thick chips? Image source: Shutterstock.
To uncover which supermarket chips make the most mouth-watering air-fried snacks, the Good Food by The Sydney Morning Herald have taken on the challenge of rating the top 10 chip contenders available across the Australian market.
Before diving into the final rankings, it's important to note that each chip was seasoned with salt and a sprinkling of neutral cooking oil before being cooked for 15 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius in an air fryer – just to make things a fair test, of course.
Now, let the crispy countdown begin!
10. Seasons Pride Low-Cholesterol Sweet Potato Chips
$4.69 for 750g
Members, I’ll be honest with you. I am quite devastated to see these chips ranked as 10th out of 10 contenders because personally, they are my favourite. However, according to the Good Food Guide, these vibrant sweet potato chips gave off a great first impression, boasting a beautiful orange hue and medium thickness. However, they failed to deliver the crunch and flavour, offering a slightly bland taste.
In my opinion, if anyone has bland taste here, it’s the Good Food writers.
However, I will call out the fact that these chips are a little more expensive, sitting at $4.69 for 750g. So perhaps they do deserve to be in tenth place…9. Woolworths Essential French Fries
$3.50 for 1kg
Okay, now we are looking at some favourable pricing here! $3.50 for a kilo of chips isn’t too shabby at all. Just think about how much a packet of small hot chips costs at your local chicken shop. I think my local charges about $6 these days…
Apparently, these ‘french fries’ brought back memories of childhood french fries as these slender chips crisped up nicely in the air fryer. However, they fell short on flavour - a real case of style over substance. In my opinion, a ‘french fry’ can never match up to the flavour of a nice, fat hot chip. So I’m not surprised by these results.
8. McCain’s Gluten-Free Thin Cut Home Style Crispy Golden Chips
$5 for 750g
Now we are playing with the big guns. Except, it seems, ‘Ah McCain’ you haven’t ‘done it again’. You also haven’t been the cheapest either McCain sitting at a whopping $5 for only 750g…
Apparently, the Good Food writers had some high hopes for these thin-cut chips with their uncomplicated blend of ingredients. Unfortunately, they charred before achieving the desired crunchiness.
Ah McCain. Back to the drawing board again, it seems.
7. McCain’s Quick-Cook Straight-Cut Crunchy Chips
$5.30 for 750g
Yet again, McCain charging through the roof for their chips! $5.30 for 750g of chips is a bit too expensive for my liking, but of course, we are focusing on the flavour here. According to the Good Food writers, if time is of the essence for you, these brightly coloured quick-cook chips may be just the ticket. Although apparently, flavour-wise, they don't quite hit the mark, the texture features a reasonable crunchiness.
Reasonable crunchiness? Not good enough McCain, yet again, you haven’t done it again.
6. McCain’s Delish Gourmet Kitchen Rosemary and Sweet Potato Chips
$7.40 for 750g
Wow. To think I thought $5.30 for 750g of chips was a bit steep. Say hello to $7.40 for 750g of delicious gourmet rosemary and sweet potato chips! I didn’t know rosemary was such an expensive ingredient to add
. Apparently, while these thin chips may not be the prettiest on the list, they surprisingly provide a satisfying crunch, fluffy interior and enjoyable taste.
There is nothing quite like hot chips seasoned with extra chicken salt. Image source: Shutterstock.
5. Bird’s Eye Deli Seasoned Chips With Sea Salt and Rosemary
$4.80 for 600g
$4.80 for 600g! My goodness, we are getting to the smaller packets here in the top 5, members. Apparently, these generously seasoned chips struck a delightful balance between taste and texture, catering to those who prefer their chips slightly softer and more flavourful. So, perhaps the price tag is worth the flavour?
4. Coles Beer Battered Steakhouse Chips
$4.20 for 750g
Price, not too shabby; weight, not too shabby either! I have some high hopes for these beer-battered steakhouse chips, mainly because I know they are the chunky chips. I absolutely adore it. Apparently, they very much channel the pub atmosphere in your own home with these satisfying chips (brilliant!). Their thick-cut and beer batter contributes to a delightfully crispy exterior.
I didn’t doubt their success for a second.
3. Birds Eye Golden Crunch
$5 for 900g
Price tag is a little more on the expensive side; however we are getting 900g here, which does mean the price per unit isn’t as bad as the others! These Birds Eye golden crunch chips delivered on the promise of 'OK' crunch (you’d hope so). These crinkle-cut chips remind the Good Food writers of those scrumptious festival or school fair chips we all know and have enjoyed at one time or another – perfect for a generous helping of tomato sauce.
I don’t want to spark controversy here, but I will say I think they would taste better with BBQ sauce. A big shout-out to all of my BBQ sauce lovers out there.
2. Seasons Pride Cafe Series Sweet Potato Chips Seasoned with Paprika
$4.79 for 600g
I was absolutely delighted to see these chips in the top 2! As a weekly ALDI shopper, I’m certainly the one who picks these up at least once a fortnight as a little ‘treat’. They are on the more expensive side at $4.79 for 600g. However, they are sweet potato chips seasoned with paprika which makes them absolutely delicious. They present a delightful combination of caramelised edges and subtle spices, resulting in a delicious and addictive treat. Addictive is quite an understatement. It’s honestly, surprisingly easy to eat 600g in a day.
1. Birds Eye Deli Seasoned Chips with Golden Ale Beer Batter
$4.80 for 600g
I don’t think this one will come as a surprise to any thick chip lovers! However, for those of you who prefer the thinner chips, I’m sorry, these probably aren’t for you. However, the Good Food writers wrote a rave review about these chippies, so maybe they are worth a try? They claimed ‘come on a journey to flavour town with the champion of frozen chips. These thick-cut and beautifully crisp chips are enveloped in an enticing beer batter, creating a crunch that keeps you coming back for more.’
Now, THAT’S a rave review, and at $4.80 for 600g, it is on the more expensive side, I know. However, it seems for the best chips in the supermarket, we do have to pay a little more for a little less. A shame, I agree. But are we all that surprised, considering the current cost of living?
With these top picks in hand, I have no doubt you can confidently bring the nostalgia of the crispy chips we all love (without the added guilt!) to your family gatherings or quiet afternoons at home. Bond with your grandchildren over a delightful treat, but do remember to remind them of the power of moderation, as too much of a good thing can sometimes leave us feeling a bit, well, chipper.
If you have a homemade chip recipe that you think is even better in the air fryer than any supermarket chip then you know I would LOVE to hear it. I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this topic, members, and of course, don’t be afraid to share what your favourite frozen chip at the supermarket is!
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