It's safe to say we're a nation of chip lovers, but can the frozen variety ever live up to what you get from your favourite chippy?
Maybe it's because they're smothered in salt and vinegar and wrapped in paper, or maybe it's that nostalgic taste of seaside holidays you get from them, but chip shop chips just have that extra something that makes them so tasty. But with the cost of living soaring, a chippy trip isn't something many people can afford week in week out, so a bag in the freezer is a must if you don't want the trouble of making them from scratch.
This week, we've been trying frozen chips from three supermarkets known for keeping their costs low, to see how they compared on taste and value for money. Here's our verdict:
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Iceland Ridiculously Crispy Straight Cut Chips 1.2kg
We don't have chips very often in my house, so when I do tuck into them I want them to be perfect and to me that's nice and crispy and the more seasoning the better. I grabbed a bag of these from Iceland, swayed by the 'ridiculously crispy' name but I'll admit I didn't have the highest hopes.
You get a really massive bag for £2.50, which I thought was pretty good value and it certainly saw us through several portions, considering I've got two kids to feed, who endlessly tell me they're "starving". The chips were quite light in colour and thin - not as thin as a McDonald's French fry, but definitely on the skinny side.
I think it's the size that helps them crisp up, because when I took them out the oven around 25 minutes later, they were piping hot and really did live up to their name. They were nicely seasoned already (though I still added more salt and pepper) and they tasted absolutely delicious when dunked into ketchup.
Although they were quite thin, they still had enough of a bite to taste the potato, so if you like your chips thin and crispy, these are definitely the ones for you because I couldn't fault them.
Price: £2.50 for 1.2kg bag
Rating: 5/5
Where to buy: Iceland stores or online
Aldi Four Seasons Straight Cut Chips 1.5kg
I usually make my own chips in my air fryer as a moderately healthy option, but let's be honest, it's always useful to have a bag of frozen chips in your freezer! I was after a quick and easy tea so visited my local Aldi to find a nice big bag that wasn't too expensive.
Surprisingly, there wasn't that much on offer at my local Aldi, most likely because I'd visited later in the evening, but I managed to find Aldi's Four Seasons Straight Cut Chips buried deep in the freezer section. The bag was absolutely huge, and for £1.29, I thought that was amazing value.
I cooked them for the recommended 20 minutes and tucked in with plenty of ketchup and mayo. The chips generally tasted pretty good, but I wouldn't say they were anything special.
They had that generic frozen chip taste, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but they just didn't blow me away. The chips were generally quite soft after 20 minutes, so if you prefer your chips with a crunch I'd recommend you keep them in for a bit longer.
The chips were relatively thick and really filling, and basically reminded me of chips you get at the pub. I'd definitely purchase these again purely for the value, but I wouldn't say the taste was mind-blowing.
Price: £1.29 for a 1.5kg bag
Rating: 3/5
Where to buy: Your local Aldi store
Asda Crispy Skin-On Fries
I'm completely obsessed with chips, and a trip to the chip shop is a fairly regular treat. I spent years being impossibly strict with the food I allowed myself to eat and now that I'm in my 30s, I'm keen to make up for lost time, especially where chips are concerned.
My local Asda store boasts quite an impressive selection of chips, so we usually have a bag in the freezer for those days when we fancy a carb-laden treat meal that's cheaper than popping to the local chippy. Recently, we've been tucking into the supermarket giant's Crispy Skin-On Fries.
At £1.50 for a 750g bag, they're a reasonably priced alternative to the (let's be honest, far superior) chip shop chip, and they're very tasty, too. I don't think supermarkets can compete with the chippy so tend to avoid their chunky chips, which seem to be the closest comparison, as they're always a little bit of a let down.
Asda's Crispy Skin-On Fries are delicious and delightfully crispy. They're a little fatter than the skinny fries offered by the likes of McDonald's or Burger King, but they're pretty darn close to being just as good.
They cook in the oven fast and can also be whipped up in the ever-popular air fryer, so are a cost effective treat - ideal, while we're all increasingly concerned with keeping bills as low as possible.
Some reviewers on Asda's website have declared they're identical to Five Guys fries, and while I personally think Five Guys are far tastier, I can definitely understand the comparison. They're satisfyingly crispy, light and delicious and I'll definitely buy them again.
Price: £1.50
Rating: 4/5
Where to buy: Your local Asda store, or online here.
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