Air Fryer Potato Chips: Is It Possible?

Potato chips are a popular snack food, but they can be unhealthy when deep-fried in oil. Air fryers provide a healthier alternative to deep-frying, as they require less oil and can still produce crispy, crunchy chips. Air-fried chips can be made from a variety of potatoes, including Russet, Yukon Gold, and sweet potatoes, and can be seasoned with salt, vinegar, BBQ spice, or other flavours for a tasty treat.

How to make potato chips in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• 2 large potatoes (Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes are recommended)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cooking spray (olive oil or a similar cooking oil can be used instead)
• Additional seasonings of your choice (e.g. black pepper, BBQ seasoning, ranch seasoning, dill, etc.)

Utensils:

• Air fryer
• Mandoline slicer or sharp knife
• Large bowl
• Paper towels
• Colander (optional)

Method:

• Cut the potatoes into thin slices using a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife.
• Soak the potato slices in a large bowl of cold water for 5-20 minutes. This removes excess starch, which helps the potatoes crisp up.
• Drain the potatoes and place them on paper towels. Blot the potatoes to remove excess moisture. The drier the potatoes are, the crispier they will be.
• Grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray and place a single layer of potato slices on top. Spritz with more oil and add salt and any other desired seasonings.
• Air fry the potatoes for 15-20 minutes at 325-360°F, flipping halfway through. For best results, air fry in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket.
• Once the potatoes are dark golden and crisp, remove them from the air fryer and allow them to cool.

Tips:

• It is important to ensure that the potato slices are very thin, dry, and evenly cut so that they crisp up properly.
• Experiment with different seasonings to find your favorite flavors.
• If your air fryer does not have a greasing function, you can manually grease the basket using cooking spray or oil.
• If you do not have an air fryer, you can also make these chips in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F and follow the same preparation steps. Bake the chips for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway through.

The benefits of making potato chips in an air fryer

Benefits of Making Potato Chips in an Air Fryer

Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. They offer a quick, easy, and convenient way to cook a variety of foods, including potato chips. Here are some benefits of making potato chips in an air fryer:

Healthier Option

One of the main benefits of using an air fryer is that it requires less oil than traditional deep frying. Air-fried potato chips have a fraction of the fat and grease of their deep-fried counterparts, making them a healthier option. This is because air fryers use hot air circulation to cook food, reducing the need for large amounts of oil.

Crispy and Crunchy Texture

Air fryers are known for producing crispy and crunchy food, and potato chips are no exception. The high heat and air circulation of the air fryer create the perfect environment for achieving that desired crispy texture. The even circulation of hot air ensures that the potato chips cook evenly, resulting in a crunchy snack.

Customizable Flavors

Making potato chips in an air fryer allows for endless flavor customizations. While traditional potato chips often come in limited flavors, making them at home gives you the freedom to experiment. You can season your chips with anything from BBQ seasoning to sea salt and vinegar, or even fresh herbs like dill or parsley.

Quick and Convenient

Air fryers significantly reduce the time and effort required to make potato chips compared to traditional deep frying. There is no need for soaking or par-boiling the potatoes, and the cooking time is relatively short. Most recipes suggest a cooking time of around 15-20 minutes, making it a quick and convenient option for a snack or side dish.

No Messy Cleanup

Deep frying can be a messy and time-consuming task, requiring large pots of oil and dealing with splatters. Air fryers, on the other hand, are much easier to clean. There are no pots of oil to deal with, and any mess is usually contained within the air fryer basket. This makes cleanup a breeze, especially compared to the cleanup required after deep frying.

Making potato chips in an air fryer offers a convenient, healthy, and delicious alternative to traditional deep-fried chips. With customizable flavors, a quick cooking time, and a crispy texture, it's no wonder air fryers have become a popular choice for those looking to enjoy their favorite snacks with less guilt.

The best potatoes to use for air fryer chips

To make the best air fryer chips, you should use starchy potatoes such as Idaho, Russet, or Yukon Gold potatoes. These types of potatoes have a high starch content, which helps them crisp up perfectly in the air fryer.

Russet potatoes are a popular choice for air fryer chips because they are starchy and contain less moisture, resulting in a crispy texture. Idaho potatoes are also a good option, as they are dry and starchy, making them ideal for frying. Yukon Gold potatoes are an all-purpose potato that falls somewhere between waxy and starchy. They will work for air fryer chips, but may result in a slightly harder crunch.

It is best to avoid waxy potatoes, such as red potatoes, as they tend to turn chewy instead of crisp.

How to cut potatoes for air fryer chips

To make potato chips in an air fryer, you'll want to cut your potatoes into very thin slices. The recommended tool to achieve this is a mandoline slicer, which can cut the potatoes into super-thin slices with a uniform thickness. This ensures that all the chips will cook evenly. If you don't have a mandoline, you can try using a sharp knife and cut the slices to a similar thickness (around 1/16 of an inch or 2 mm).

Some recipes recommend rinsing the potato slices with water after slicing, which removes starch and enables the chips to crisp up. You can also soak the potato slices in water for 10-15 minutes to draw out the potato's natural starches, which will give them a great crunch when they cook. After rinsing or soaking, be sure to dry the potatoes thoroughly before cooking.

How to season air fryer potato chips

Air fryer potato chips are a healthier alternative to traditional deep-fried chips. They are also easy to make and can be seasoned in a variety of ways. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to season your air fryer potato chips:

Step 1: Prepare the Potatoes

Start by preheating your air fryer to 325°F-360°F. While the air fryer is heating up, cut your potatoes into very thin slices using a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife. Aim for a thickness of about 1/16 of an inch (2 mm). The thinner the slices, the crispier your chips will be. Place the potato slices in a large bowl and fill it with cold water or ice water. Soak the potatoes for 5-15 minutes. Soaking helps remove excess starch, which will give the chips a better crunch.

Step 2: Rinse and Dry

After soaking, drain the potatoes and rinse them with fresh water. Keep rinsing and draining until the water runs clear, not cloudy or white. This step ensures that the excess starch is removed. Spread the potatoes on paper towels or clean kitchen towels and pat them dry. It is important to remove as much moisture as possible to prevent sogginess.

Step 3: Season the Potatoes

Return the dry potatoes to the bowl and add your desired seasonings. For classic salted chips, sprinkle sea salt over the potatoes. You can also add ground black pepper for a kick. Toss the potatoes to ensure all slices are evenly coated. Alternatively, you can use olive oil or cooking spray and a sprinkle of salt for a more traditional chip flavour.

If you want to get creative, try one of these seasoning combinations:

• BBQ chips: Toss the chips in BBQ seasoning or a mix of smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, salt, and chilli powder.
• Ranch chips: Sprinkle dry ranch seasoning mix over the potatoes.
• Salt and vinegar chips: Spritz the chips with white vinegar before air frying.
• Sour cream and onion chips: Toss the chips with buttermilk powder, onion powder, and garlic powder.
• Spicy chips: Season with chilli powder, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder.
• Dill pickle chips: Add fresh dill, onion powder, and garlic powder. Optionally, spritz with vinegar.

Step 4: Air Fry

Grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the seasoned potato slices in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they are not overlapping. Spritz with more oil or cooking spray if desired. Air fry for 15-20 minutes at 325°F-360°F, flipping the chips halfway through. Depending on your air fryer, you may need to cook the chips in batches to ensure even cooking.

And that's it! You now have delicious, crispy, and seasoned air fryer potato chips to enjoy. Feel free to experiment with different seasonings and flavours to find your favourite combinations.

Frequently asked questions