Now that the chips are down, fries are getting fatter again

SALES of deep fat fryers are rocketing as Britons turn back the clock and treat themselves to traditional meals.

Health-conscious families are fuelling the surge in demand for the latest fryers which manufacturers claim use less oil but still cook chips to perfection.

High Street store chain Debenhams reports that customers say they are fed-up with wafer-thin chips and want to cook their own big thick chips at home once again.

Debenhams spokeswoman Carie Barkhuizen said: "People now feel under siege (in the recession], and they want to use cooking methods which they remember fondly from their youth.

"We're calling it 'Churchill Cuisine' – the chips are down and Britain may be battered but we're certainly not beaten. It's a message of resistance on a plate."

The report says that at one time, few homes in Britain would have been without a chip pan or deep fat fryer.

Nutritional experts used to regard deep fat frying as the greatest enemy of a healthy diet but the report shows that today's new generation of deep fat fryers are safer, healthier and more economical to use than ever before – some models can even be used to cook puddings.

Ms Barkhuizen added: "Nothing can beat home-cooked fish and chips. Even the biggest chips are crisp and golden when they reach your plate, and the batter on fish is light and wonderful to eat.

"Cost is also a big factor. Cooking fish and chips yourself can halve the cost of the same meal from a local fish and chip shop. We believe this trend may mark a substantial return to what used to be the nation's favourite meal."