Air fryer fish and chips will be crispy, flaky and delicious if you follow 1 simple method

Fish and chips is one of those dishes people never seem to get tired of. It's a staple at the seaside, a Friday-night favourite, and something many try to make at home. But getting the same crisp batter without deep-frying can be difficult, which is why more cooks are turning to the air fryer.

A simple method shared by Ashlyn who runs the Bell of the Kitchen blog has gained attention because it delivers that crunch without the hassle of traditional frying. The recipe keeps the steps easy, uses far less oil, and still gives you flaky fish with proper golden chips.

The key, according to Ashlyn, is not actually the batter. It's the preparation. The potatoes must be soaked before cooking and the fish must be dried extremely well.

Both steps help the chips crisp up properly and stop the batter from sliding off the fillets.

Once the chips go in the air fryer, they cook in two short rounds. The fish cooks in a single go and doesn't need flipping.

Everything stays contained in the basket, meaning no splashing oil or heavy pans to clean.

The batter itself is simple. It mixes flour, cornstarch and spices with beer for a light texture.

Cod is recommended because it cooks evenly and holds together after coating. Each piece is dipped in flour, then in the batter, and then back into flour again to give it enough grip before it goes into the air fryer.

Ashlyn says the method works so well because it mimics the texture of deep-fried fish, just without the mess.

There's still a crisp outside and soft flakes inside, but you only use oil spray rather than a fryer full of oil.

The chips also come out golden if they have been soaked and dried properly.

The blogger adds that the dish is best eaten right away, as that is when the coating stays at its crispiest.

Leftovers can be stored, but the texture won't stay the same once the food is chilled.

Below is the full list of ingredients and the complete method used in the recipe. The dish takes around 45 minutes to make.

Ingredients

Chips

• 3 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into slices
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper

Fish

• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 8-10 oz beer
• 1 lb cod fillets, dried extremely well

Method

Soak the potato slices in cold water for at least 30 minutes, or up to 3 hours. If soaking longer, change the water once.

Drain and dry the potatoes well. Spray the air fryer basket with oil, add the chips, spray again, and cook at 205C for 7 minutes. Toss, then cook for another 7 minutes until crisp.

Mix 1/2 cup flour with the cornstarch. In another bowl, mix the remaining flour with the spices and baking soda, then whisk in the beer.

Coat each fish fillet in the flour mixture, dip in the batter, then coat again lightly in flour.

Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper and spray it generously. Add the fish.

Spray the tops very well and cook at 200C for 12 minutes, spraying again halfway through.

Serve immediately with lemon and sauces of your choice.

For more air fryer recipes and tips, click here.