Make Cavernous Cheese Chips in the Air Fryer

People who hate American cheese either don’t understand it or have let classism ruin it for themselves. I wouldn’t serve it on an assiette de fromage , but I do prefer burgers, sausage sandwiches, and plain grilled cheeses (especially when paired with tomato soup). Designed by nutrition scientists to melt and stretch, it won’t smudge or pull focus when applied to a beef patty. True food connoisseurs appreciate it for its optimized product. If American cheese has no more fans, then I’m done.

But even I, America’s number one cheese lover, didn’t expect it to hit me as hard as a cheese crisp. My favorite tiktoker and sorority chef, Kevin Ashton, first gave me this intriguing idea , and I’ve been frying American cheese slices with and without pickles ever since. Frying American cheese in a non-stick pan works well, but you can get a slightly different, aerated, super crispy cheesy crust if you move the food into the fryer.

What’s so special about cheese chips in a deep fryer?

While your standard frico frico is lacy and flat, your air fried cheesy frico is crunchy and cavernous. Wind gusts in the fryer cause the cheese to bulge violently, creating a network of large cheese bubbles that shatter under light pressure. Depending on how long you toast the cheese, a layer of chewy, melted cheese often remains in the center of the crisp, providing a delicious texture contrast. It’s kind of like cheese chicharon.

How to make a cheese crust in a deep fryer

Sorry to those with toaster models; This is a recipe for basket fryers. Set the fryer to 400℉, then place a slice of American cheese (or a few slices of cheese) in the bottom of the basket (remove the small baking sheet). You can try it with other cheese slices, but you’ll need to experiment with cooking times. Cook for about 8 minutes. (There’s a chance your cheese could shatter. This happens sometimes in my large fryer, but not in my small one. Take a peak after a minute and check.) Once your crispy crust is browned on top, use a small silicone spatula to gently pry off fryer bottom cheese. Serve on a plate and garnish with smoked paprika and/or a dash of honey.