Homemade chips: in the oven's air fry mode, on fan heat, or the real Belgian frite
In Belgium, we don't mess around with frites. Newer ovens have an air fry mode that promises crispy chips with a spoonful of oil: is it worth the real double-cooked frite? Here are the three methods side by side, with the right settings and a straight-talking comparison.
- Air fry mode: 200 to 220 °C, 20 to 30 min
- Without air fry: fan oven 220 °C
- Belgian fries: 150 °C then 180 °C, two fryings
- The common secret: rinse and dry thoroughly
Appliance and settingOven, air fry mode 200 to 220 °C (or fan oven 220 °C)
Ingredients
Three methods, one potato
For all methods, everything starts with the right potato: a floury variety floury, such as Bintje, the historic star of the Belgian chip. Waxy (salad) varieties give soft, pale chips. Cut sticks about 1 cm thick for the oven as well as the deep fryer.
The steps
- Cut. Peel the potatoes and cut them into 1 cm sticks, as uniform as possible for even cooking.
- Rinse and soak. Rinse them under cold water until the water runs clear, then leave them to soak for 30 minutes in cold water.
- Dry very thoroughly. Spread them out on a clean tea towel and dry them one by one, or nearly so. This is the most important step, whatever the method.
- Air fry method (oven). Preheat the oven in air fry mode to 200 °C (220 °C according to the manual). Toss the chips with 1 tablespoon of oil in a bowl. Spread them in a single layer on the air fry or perforated tray, at the level indicated in the manual (often 2 or 3). Cook for 20 to 30 minutes, turning them halfway through.
- Fan oven method (oven without air fry). Preheat to 220 °C in fan mode. Spread the oiled chips on a tray lined with baking paper, in a single layer, on shelf 2 or 3. Cook for 30 to 35 minutes, turning them twice.
- Belgian method, first fry. Heat the fat to 150 to 160 °C (thermometer or thermostat-controlled deep fryer). Lower the chips in small batches for 5 to 7 minutes: they should be cooked but still pale. Drain and leave to rest for at least 30 minutes.
- Belgian method, second fry. Raise the fat to 175 to 180 °C. Return the chips to the fat for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden brown. Drain, shake, and salt immediately.
Appliance settings
| Method | Appliance and mode | Setting | Duration | Oil per 1 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air fry | Oven, air fry mode (perforated or dedicated tray) | 200 to 220 °C, shelf 2 or 3 | 20 to 30 min | 1 to 2 tbsp |
| Conventional oven | Fan oven, baking paper | 220 °C, shelf 2 or 3 | 30 to 35 min | 2 tbsp |
| Belgian, 1st fry | Deep fryer, or a pan on the hob with a thermometer | 150 to 160 °C | 5 to 7 min | 2-litre bath |
| Belgian, 2nd fry | Deep fryer, or a pan on the hob | 175 to 180 °C | 2 to 3 min | Same bath |
| Frozen chips | Oven, air fry mode | 200 °C | According to the pack, often 15 to 20 min | None |
Some induction hobs have a frying sensor (PerfectFry at Bosch, fryingSensor at Siemens) that maintains the pan's temperature. For a deep-frying bath, a thermostat-controlled deep fryer remains safer.
Our comparison, no waffling
| Criterion | Air fry mode | Fan oven | Belgian chips (double-fried) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crispy | Very good | Fair, drier | Excellent |
| Fluffy inside | Good | Medium | Excellent |
| Taste | Roast potato | Baked potato | The real chip, especially with beef tallow |
| Fat | Very little | Little | A lot (partly absorbed) |
| Smell in the house | Light | Light | Strong |
| Quantity per batch | About 500 g per tray | About 500 g per tray | Small amounts, several batches |
Our verdict: air fry mode makes very good weekday chips, crispy and light. For Sunday, with a carbonnade or meatballs, the double-fried Belgian chip remains unbeatable.
Variations
- Potatoes : quartered unpeeled potatoes, oil, paprika and herbs, 30 minutes in air fry mode at 200 °C.
- Sweet potato chips : sweeter, they brown quickly: 190 °C and close monitoring.
- Celeriac or parsnip chips : an autumn alternative, to cook in air fry mode for 20 to 25 minutes.
Storage
Chips are eaten straight away. You can, however, prepare the first fry in advance : precooked chips keep for a day in the fridge, or can be frozen flat on a tray and then bagged, for about 3 months. They then go straight into the second fry, or into the oven on air fry mode. Strained frying fat can be reused a few times if it hasn't burnt.
On air fry mode, never overload the tray. It's the number one mistake: the chips touch, the moisture can't escape and they steam instead. One layer, with space between them, and you'll see the difference. And salt them as they come out of the oven, never before: salt draws out water.
Which appliance?
Air fry mode is appearing on more and more built-in ovens, with a perforated or dedicated tray. Here are the ones in our range that list it on their product page.
The most complete
Bosch HQG572BB3F (Air Fry and steam), Bosch HBA572BW3F (Air Fry tray supplied, white finish), Whirlpool WOI68PT1SXAF (AirFry, 6th Sense), Hisense HO66F (23 modes including AirFry, Wi-Fi).
From €829.99 to €1,049.99
Air fry for under €700
Hisense BI64211EPX and O64213EPBG (AirFry, pyrolysis, 77 litres), LG WS5D7230S (AirFry programme, pyrolysis).
€449.99 to €699.99
Public prices checked on 15 October 2026: the product page prevails, and Nimesclub members often get a reduced price. The name and operation of air fry mode vary by brand (dedicated mode, automatic programme or special tray): ask the shop for a demonstration.
Ovens with air fry mode in store
BOSCH HBA572BW3F Built-in Oven€829.00
Built-in oven BOSCH HQG572BB3F€929.00
Built-in oven WHIRLPOOL WOI68PT1SXAF€1,049.00
Built-in oven HISENSE BI64211EPX€449.00
Built-in oven HISENSE HO66F€849.00
Built-in oven LG WS5D7230S€699.00
Built-in oven HISENSE O64213EPBG€549.00To find out how air fry mode differs from conventional fan cooking, read our guide to oven functions.
Frequently asked questions
Can the air fry mode on an oven replace a deep fryer?
For crispy, golden chips with very little oil, yes, it's very convincing. For the real Belgian frite, crispy outside and fluffy inside, with the taste of beef dripping, no: nothing replaces the two fries.
How many chips in the oven on air fry mode?
One layer, without the chips overlapping: about 500 g per tray. Beyond that, they steam and go soggy. For four people, do two batches or use two shelves if your oven allows it.
Why rinse chips?
Rinsing removes the surface starch, which makes chips stick together and brown too quickly. Drying is even more important: water on the chip prevents crispiness and, on contact with hot oil, causes spitting.
The right oven makes all the difference
Steam ovens, pyrolytic ovens, induction hobs: come and see them at our Temploux store, or ask our expert salesperson for advice.
Read next
RecipeFlemish beef carbonnade in the oven: grandmother's recipe, in a casserole dishMeat that falls apart at the touch of a fork, a brown sauce, sweet and tangy, smelling of beer and gingerbread: carbonnade is Belgian autumn in a casserole dish. Grandma's secret comes down to two words: sear hard, then let the oven work gently for three hours.3 h 30 · Easy · 6 servings
RecipeLiège-style meatballs: the real sauce lapin, with Liège syrupWell-browned meatballs, soft at the centre, simmering in a brown, sweet-and-sour sauce with onions and Liège syrup: the quintessential Walloon brasserie dish. Make them on the hob, with an oven option for browning without splatters.1 h 20 · Easy · Serves 4
Cooking tipOven modes explained: fan, bottom heat, grill, steam, air fry… when to use whatA fan, two lines, a drop, a little grid: the symbols on your oven aren't there just for decoration. Each mode heats differently and suits particular dishes. Here is the complete guide, mode by mode, with a large chart so you can finally know what to choose.7 min read