Religion, politics and postcodes may divide us, but if there’s one thing 99.99 per cent of the country can get on board with, it is chips.
Not to be confused with Stateside chips (which are, in fact, crisps), the humble potato chip or fry is one of the things that make Britain great.
We have one Sir Walter Raleigh to thank for bringing home the potato after exploring the New World in the 17th century. When the French chimed in and fried sticks of spuds in hot oil, a global love affair began - and it never really stopped.
A fried potato snack of some description can be found in virtually every corner of the world, from spiralised around a stick to form a potato tornado and crisscrossed waffle fries loaded with cheese and bacon to the student favourite, curly chips, to be consumed by the bowl load to lift the haze of hangover.
We’d argue that a pack of oven chips in the freezer is a household essential, as crucial as spare lightbulbs, loo roll and broadband. It can rescue lacklustre meals when inspiration or time isn’t on your side and barely needs any prep, save being laid out on an oven tray, or increasingly, slung into an air fryer.
But which pack to choose? Ah, and so we arrive at the crux of the matter.
One trip down any supermarket frozen aisle will show you that there is an endless banquet of frozen oven chips for the spud-hungry customer. Supermarkets make excellent own-brand versions but big business is also there in the form of McCain, the biggest buyer of British potato crop forking out for 15 per cent of the market. Per Statista, some 5.8m people ate McCain’s Home Fries in 2022.
Does that make McCain the best? We’ve put the brand head-to-head with some other superb oven chip contenders to find out, once and for all, who does Britain’s best oven chip.
How we tested
We have been testing oven chips for years and paid keen attention to new developments in the field. Our findings are based on long-established products as well as newcomers. Where relevant, we have also tested oven chips in an air fryer to determine if the method results in a tastier fry.
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McCain Home Chips Straight, 2.1 kg
One of the nation’s best-loved oven chips McCain has nailed its chip formula in its Home Chip variety. Lengths of potato are sliced into a medium width and height - this is certainly not a fry - before being covered in a crispy coating that comes into its own when slung into an oven. The result is crispy straight-cut chips that are fluffy inside but with enough integrity to scoop condiments without collapsing.
Buy now £4.50, Amazon
McCain Thin and Crispy French Fries, Frozen
When you’re in the mood for frites but don’t have the patience or skill to start julienning whole raw potatoes, turn to McCain. This red bag has saved our skin more times than we can count, from pairing with steak for a fancy homecooked meal to cooking a portion for a snack when peckishness struck.
The slimmer profile makes it a better bet for an air fryer - too long in an oven can dry the inside out. Luckily the crispy coating carries more than enough oil, so just preheat your machine and hit start.
Buy now £4.00, Amazon
McCain Frozen Triple Cooked Gastro Chips
Before we move on from McCain, one last entry. For those looking for a solid fakeaway solution comes these gastropub-inspired chips, triple cooked with beef dripping for rich, satisfying flavour. It’s best to cook these straight from frozen, layered in a deep, solid baking tray so as not to lose any of the fat. Of course, you can air fry these too - just adjust the cooking time until you reach that golden colour.
Buy now £3.70, Asda
ASDA Golden Waffle Fries 750g
For the most part, the waffle chip has failed to launch properly in the UK, a fact we consider a crying shame. This crisscross aesthetic may be the most elite style of chip there is, with more surface area to crisp up and ridges for ketchup or mayo to settle into.
Asda’s version is sprinkled with lightly spiced paprika seasoning, meaning you can skip the salt once done. Oven bake them if you like, but the air fryer will cook them like nothing else.
Buy now £2.60, Asda
Tesco Hot & Spicy Zig Zag Fries 750g
Crinkle-cut chips have an amateurish quality about them - you won’t see them served at Hawksmoor - but for home cooking, they’ll add some interest and flavour to your plate. Tesco has gone one further, drizzling the cut potato strips with a hot and spicy sprinkling that will tickle flavour-loving diners.
Buy now £2.30, Tesco
M&S Curly Fries Frozen
A school dining room favourite, M&S gives the curly fry an upgrade by dunking them in a lightly seasoned batter before freezing. Garlicky with a hint of warming spice, these are the comfort chips to make for kids and adults alike. Ready in 20 minutes in the oven, and around half the time in an air fryer.
Buy now £2.30, Ocado
Harry Ramsden’s Chip Shop Chips 1kg
If you’re making fish and chips at home in a bid to save cash and watch your waistline, a good oven chip can be as satisfying as a deep-fried one. Harry Ramsden’s, the well-known purveyor of a fish supper, serves up its chip shop-style batons. Far thicker than a fry but more uniform-looking than anything you’d find down the chippy, these have oven and air fryer instructions. However you cook them, there’s just one serving up must-do: plenty of salt and vinegar.
Buy now £3.00, Iceland
ASDA Curly Fries
Cheaper and with slightly more for your money than M&S’s curly fries, Asda’s offering is a taste-tested dupe of the high street store. The seasoned swirls cook well when turned halfway through and are a condiment-lover’s dream with plenty of surface area to carry the sauce. A fun chip alternative to pair with burgers or pizza.
Buy now £1.80, ASDA
Albert Bartlett Deep Crinkle Cut Chips
This crinkle-cut chip can be ready in as little as 16 minutes, making it a must for busy weeknight dinners. Ridges are swathed in a light batter and paprika extract for flavour before being frozen. If it’s crunch you’re looking for, these crisp up nicely and are made from British-grown potatoes, helping to support local farmers.
Buy now £3.20, Waitrose
Harry Ramsden's Battered Potato Slices 600g
Crunch is important, but so is decent potato content. For a departure from a traditional chip, Harry Ramsden dishes up potato discs, or slices. Like the fishy BFF it is designed to be served with, these slices come battered to ensure a golden colour and a satisfying crunch once cooked.
Buy now £3.00, Asda
