The Core Components of Proper Chips
The term "proper chips" or "proper crisps" can refer to two main categories of high-quality snacks that prioritize ingredients and cooking methods over mass production. The first are innovative, legume-based products like Properchips (UK), and the second are premium, hand-cooked potato crisps, such as Proper Crisps (NZ). Both are defined by a departure from the cheap, highly processed ingredients found in many standard snack brands. Understanding the core components is key to appreciating their distinct taste and texture.
Properchips (Lentil-Based)
Properchips, a popular UK snack, are notable for their primary ingredient: lentil flour. This gives them a distinct texture and nutritional profile compared to traditional potato crisps.
Key ingredients in Properchips
The ingredients list for a flavour like Sea Salt Properchips is relatively simple and transparent, reflecting a "no compromise" approach to snacking. The foundational elements include:
- Lentil Flour: Making up a significant portion of the base (around 30%), lentil flour provides protein, fibre, and a unique creamy flavor.
- Potato Starch and Corn Flour: These starches are combined with the lentil flour to achieve the desired chip consistency, shape, and crispness.
- High-Quality Oils: Sunflower oil is a common choice for frying Properchips, favoured over cheaper industrial seed oils.
- Natural Seasonings: Instead of artificial flavours, brands like Properchips use natural seasonings, such as sea salt, to enhance the taste. For other varieties, this includes ingredients like spices, onion, and garlic.
Unlike many conventional snack foods that use high-temperature deep-frying, Properchips are often baked, which results in a product with less fat than leading crisp brands.
Proper Crisps (Hand-Cooked Potato)
Hailing from New Zealand, Proper Crisps are the epitome of the hand-cooked, small-batch approach to crisps. Their philosophy centers on using minimal, high-quality ingredients and traditional cooking methods to create a premium potato snack.
Key ingredients in Proper Crisps
The ingredient list for Proper Crisps is refreshingly short and transparent.
- Potatoes: They begin with locally sourced, non-GMO potatoes, which are hand-sorted and hand-cut.
- High Oleic Sunflower Oil: A significant differentiator is their use of high oleic sunflower oil, known for its healthier fatty acid profile compared to standard commercial seed oils. This oil is also expeller-pressed, avoiding chemical solvents.
- Sea Salt: For seasoning, they use natural sea salt from Marlborough, which contains trace minerals not found in processed table salt.
- Real Herbs & Spices: Flavoured varieties use real ingredients like apple cider vinegar, not artificial flavourings, for their taste.
Proper Crisps are fried by hand in small batches, ensuring a high level of quality control and a perfect texture.
The Difference: Proper vs. Standard Chips
To truly understand what proper chips are made of, it's helpful to compare them directly to their mass-market counterparts. This contrast highlights the core reasons why they are considered a premium or "better for you" snack.
Ingredient comparison: Proper chips vs. standard chips
| Feature | Properchips (Lentil-Based) | Proper Crisps (Potato-Based) | Standard Potato Chips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Ingredient | Lentil Flour, Potato Starch, Corn Flour | Potatoes (e.g., Agria, Golden Wonder) | Potatoes |
| Cooking Oil | Sunflower oil | High Oleic Sunflower Oil | Cheaper seed oils (Canola, Soybean) |
| Processing | Baked (lower fat) | Hand-cooked, small batches | Machine-processed, continuous frying |
| Seasoning | Natural seasonings (sea salt, spices) | Natural seasonings (sea salt, real herbs) | Highly processed salts, MSG, artificial flavours |
| Preservatives | None added | None added | Often contains TBHQ and other additives |
Homemade 'Proper' Chips
For those who prefer a traditional, homemade version, the ingredients and method are just as deliberate. Following a "triple-cooked" technique, often championed by chefs, is a way to make restaurant-quality chips.
Ingredients for triple-cooked chips
- Potatoes: A high-starch potato variety like Agria or Golden Wonder is recommended for a fluffy interior.
- Oil: Use a high-quality vegetable oil with a high smoke point, or for a rich flavor, a combination of vegetable oil and beef fat.
- Salt: Fine salt is best for seasoning while the chips are hot.
Method for perfect homemade chips
- Blanching: The potatoes are first blanched in simmering water until almost cooked.
- First Fry: The par-cooked potatoes are fried at a lower temperature (around 130°C) until tender.
- Second Fry: Finally, the temperature is raised (to around 190°C), and the chips are fried again until golden and crispy.
This meticulous process, while time-consuming, ensures a perfect balance of a fluffy interior and a crisp exterior, fitting the definition of a truly proper chip. For a full recipe, see BBC Food's "The best chips you have ever tasted" guide.
Conclusion
In summary, what are proper chips made of? The answer depends on the context. For branded snacks, it means using higher-quality, often more transparent ingredients like lentil flour or premium potatoes, and employing careful cooking methods like baking or hand-frying. For homemade versions, it means selecting the right type of potato and following a precise cooking process to achieve a superior texture and flavour. In all cases, the defining characteristic is a focus on quality and ingredients, moving away from the mass-produced, chemically-enhanced standard snack. Whether you prefer a lentil-based Properchip, a hand-cooked Proper Crisp, or the classic homemade version, a "proper" chip is fundamentally about better, more deliberate ingredients and craftsmanship.
Authoritative link: The best chips you have ever tasted recipe - BBC Food
