This was not my first rodeo attempting Heston Blumenthal’s thrice cooked chips, in fact if you want to make them as standard, here is the recipe to do so.
How to Make Heston Blumenthal’s Thrice-Cooked Chips in an Air Fryer (Using Duck Fat)
Heston Blumenthal’s thrice-cooked chips are renowned for their crispy exterior and fluffy, soft interior—a culinary masterpiece that balances texture and flavour perfectly. While traditionally cooked in oil (a neutral one like groundnut / peanut), it’s entirely possible to adapt this technique to an air fryer, which makes it quicker and less greasy, especially after my attempt at deep fat frying in an air fryer as can be seen in the video!
Method:
1. Prep the Potatoes
Peel your potatoes and cut them into thick, chunky fries—around 1 cm wide. Its best to create a large block then slice thick credit card shapes, then cut lengthways to make the fries. Rinse the cut potatoes in cold water to remove excess starch. This step ensures that your chips don’t stick together and helps them become crispier. You’ll see the water is much clearer too!
2. First Cooking: Boiling
Bring to a boil a large saucepan of water. Add the sliced potatoess and parboil them for about 10-12 minutes until they are just starting to soften but still hold their shape. The more you can push this, the more you get that crispy outer edge, so push them til they just fall apart if possible! They will get stronger as they cool, just make sure you can lift them out without breaking! Drain the potatoes and allow them to dry thoroughly. You can spread them out on a wire rack or use paper towels. This drying step is crucial for the crispiness and it does help firm them up too. Place them in the freezer for 30 minutes.
3. Second Cooking: Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 150°C.
Add the duck fat and warm it to melt it so it is clear. Lightly coat the potatoes with the melted duck fat (or oil if using). Duck fat gives a deep, rich flavour, while peanut oil adds a subtle nutty taste, you can also use beef fat too, or even bacon fat! Place the chips in a single layer in your air fryer basket. You may need to do this in batches, depending on your air fryer’s capacity. Also note the more you add in the more the temperature could lower.
Cook the chips for 10-12 minutes at this lower temperature. The goal here is to remove moisture from the potatoes without browning them too much, it also cooks off more starch too apparently. Just cook them until they have a very delicate coating on them, checking your air fryer from time to time. Remove and drain on kitchen paper and place in the freezer for 1 hour, or however long you want – a great step for making ahead to do these steps and leave until you are ready for the final fry.
4. Third Cooking: Crisping
After the second round of cooking, take the chips out and increase the air fryer’s temperature to 200°C.
Melt the duck fat if needed, adding a little if necessary, then return the chips to the air fryer, stirring to coat the potatoes and cook for another 5-8 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy. Keep an eye on them at this stage, as air fryers vary in power, and you don’t want to burn your chips!
5. Season and Serve
Once the chips are perfectly crispy, remove them from the air fryer and sprinkle with salt while they’re still hot or any other seasonings such as a mix of parmesan, rosemary and garlic powder! Serve immediately alongside your favourite dipping sauce or as the perfect side to any meal.
Tips I found for Success:
- Dry the chips thoroughly: After boiling, ensure that the chips are as dry as possible. Excess moisture will stop them from getting crispy.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer: Cook in batches if necessary to ensure air circulation for even cooking. Remove the tray from your air fryer.
- Choose the right fat: Duck fat gives the chips a luxurious flavour, but peanut oil works well too if you prefer something lighter or have dietary restrictions. Just make sure it has a good smoke point, extra virgin olive oil is not recommended though. Use small batches of oil and add little bits if necessary.
Final Thoughts
Making Heston Blumenthal’s famous thrice-cooked chips in an air fryer is not only possible but an excellent way to get that signature crunch without deep frying. The air fryer allows you to achieve a healthier version of this classic recipe, while still delivering on taste and texture. Whether you choose to use duck fat or peanut oil, you’ll end up with chips that are crisp, golden, and utterly irresistible! I really enjoyed this recipe, it is still the best fries / chips I have ever tasted! Good luck if you try it, hope these tips help!