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Chunky chips or skinny fries? What makes the perfect chip?

Chunky chips or skinny fries? The nation has spoken. (Getty Images)
Chunky chips or skinny fries? The nation has spoken. (Getty Images)

Bigger isn't always better when it comes to chips. Brits have revealed their perfect chip is two inches long with a crispy edge and should be served perfectly golden, according to new research.

A study of 2,000 adults found the ideal fries should be fluffy on the inside, but crunchy on the outside.

Chunky chips are still a firm favourite (43%), but 22% opt for a skinny fry – while 5% choose a wedge.

Brits have been eating fish and chips for almost 200 years. (Getty Images)
Brits have been eating fish and chips for almost 200 years. (Getty Images)

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A quarter prefer them cooked from frozen. Half like them fluffy, while 48% prefer them with a crunch.

And when it comes to condiments, 53% consider ketchup to be the perfect dip to their chip, while 31% prefer mayo.

“You can’t deny everyone loves a fry, but clearly people are very particular about what type of chip they have," said a spokesperson for STRONG ROOTS who commissioned the research.

"It’s always a topic that’s up for discussion and a lot of the time can cause friendly friction.”

Ketchup is our favourite chip dip. (Getty Images)
Ketchup is our favourite chip dip. (Getty Images)

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Brits have been eating chips for almost 200 years. First of all came the fish – the tradition of eating fish that had been coated with flour and fried in oil can be traced back to the early 1800s. It's thought that it was bought to Britain by Jewish immigrants from Spain and Portugal, where fish was cooked in this way.

Then came the chips with the earliest record of chips being served in the UK being in Oldham in 1860.

Over the years we Brits have become chip connoisseurs, with even the type of potato used making a difference.

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The Maris Piper was voted the best spud for making chips, but the average adult only scored themselves a four out of 10 when it came to making them from scratch.

Fish (57%), burger (38%) and steak (27%) were the top chip accompanied meals, according to the OnePoll study.

But meat-free options also had a say, with 14% voting for veggie burger and chips, and 12% preferring vegan fish and chips as a plant-based preference to the nation’s favourite.

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Burger and chips was the second most popular combo. (Getty Images)
Burger and chips was the second most popular combo. (Getty Images)

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Curry sauce 30%, grated cheese 29% and gravy 26% were named the favourite chip toppings.

When it comes to dips, 46% think it should always be served on the side, while a sixth like their chips to be ‘smothered in it’.

It also emerged Friday is the most popular night for eating chips, but 27% would happily eat them every day of the week.

The average adult will eat chips twice a week, with 53% claiming they will never leave any uneaten on their plate.

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Brits say the ideal chip should be crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. (SWNS)
Brits say the ideal chip should be crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. (SWNS)

Additional reporting by SWNS