why is it

It happens to me aswell and i use a deep fat fryer todo my chips in.I cut my own chips and they are always the same thickness cooked in the same make of fat and it still happens.I find that when i need food done at a certain time i always end up with cooked potatos and then find the pie is not ready yet other times it is the other way around.

Lol! Doormouse, it's called "sods law"! Sometimes it feels like that though - like everything's conspiring against you. But if you have a bad day, I always think you can look forward to having one absolutely amazing day to make up for it. Let me know if that's what happens!

doormouse, There are a few factors I can think of here. First on the list, would be climatic issues where the kitchen's temperature could affect the cooking time. Cooking times tend to be extended during winter times than summer seasons. Next, your chips may be frozen and as such thawing time needs to be extended for extended frozen chips. Again, thawing during winter times will need to be extended. Last but not least, the oils used to fry these chips. If you use, used cooking oils than fresh ones, you will find the latter much faster to cook. Also, different types of cooking oil does make the difference as far as cooking elapsed time is concern.

hi doormouse no I do not think it happens only to you, its just that the kitchen gremlins creep in sight unseen and slow down the time. no just kidding, but there are times when the same food at the same temperature and same amount in the pan seems to take twice as long, now if you had lots of time it would speed up, I'do not know why things like that happen but they sure do. again with potatoes sometimes they have more water in them than other potatoes and do take a little longer, at least thats my theory.makes more sense at least than kitchen gremlins.