The Great Fish and Chip Debate: Salt or Vinegar First? It’s a debate that has rocked households, hot counters, and social media forums for years, and now Sarson’s has polled the nation, along with some influential fish and chip experts, in search of a definitive answer to the question, when it comes to the perfect chip shop chip, is it salt or vinegar first?
T
he results are in and 56% of Britons* say they
Fish and Chips and Calum Richardson of The Bay in
opt for vinegar first, while 44% choose to
Stonehaven, offered up the alternative method of ‘salt-
reach for the salt. Fifty-three per cent of fish and
vinegar-salt’ – a practice with the potential to blow apart
chip lovers in the south of the UK add vinegar
the entire debate.
before salt, rising to 63% in the north and Scotland. Things
James explained his logic: “We feel we have some
become more closely tied when examining the habits of
authority on this, and my official line would be as follows:
those in the midlands and Wales, where 51% add salt first,
salt, then vinegar, then salt again. If you only ‘vinegar’ first,
compared with 49% opting for vinegar.
the salt sticks to that and doesn’t reach the bottom chips,
Sarson’s took the findings to some influential fish and chip
but if you then add vinegar, it can wash away the first salt,
shop owners for their opinions. Andrew Crook, President
hence re-salting. It is also necessary to shake the box of
of the National Federation of Fish Friers and owner of
chips after the first salt. This is a very scientific process
Skippers of Euxton in Chorley, Lancashire, had this to
not to be messed with!”
say: “I was always taught to add vinegar first then salt, as
Calum also shared concerns that the bottom chips could
if you add them the other way round you can wash the salt
be missing out with the simple vinegar-then-salt method,
off with the vinegar!”
advocating a best of both approach with lashings of
John Molnar of the Cod’s Scallops in Nottingham
Sarson’s: “Salt, vinegar then salt again gives you a real hit
added: “Vinegar should always be applied first to your
of magic and Sarson’s does the job every time.”
fish and chips. This allows the salt to stick evenly to the
Michelle Constantinou, Head of Marketing for Sarson’s
product creating that iconic taste of hot fish and chips with
said: “This is a polarising issue, one which many liken to
lashings of Sarson’s and salt!”
the great ‘cream or jam first’ debate. What’s obvious is that
However, both James Ritchie of Cheltenham’s Simpson’s
much like the ideal scone, the perfect chip is also a very
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Fastfood Professional • August and September 2022
August and September 2022 • Fastfood Professional
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