Air Fryer Potato Chips: Homemade, Healthy, And Crispy!

Homemade potato chips are a great snack, but they can be time-consuming to make. An air fryer can speed up the process and produce a tasty, crispy treat with less fat than deep-fried chips. Soaking the potatoes before air frying helps to remove excess starch, ensuring crispier chips. However, some recipes suggest this step is unnecessary and can be replaced by a simple rinse. The type of potato you use will also affect the crispiness of your chips, with starchy varieties like Russets recommended over waxy ones.

How to make homemade potato chips in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• 2 large potatoes (Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes are recommended)
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil or cooking spray
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• Optional: black pepper, paprika, BBQ seasoning, ranch seasoning, or any other seasoning of your choice

Utensils:

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

Method:

Step 1: Cut the Potatoes

Using a mandolin slicer or a sharp knife, cut the potatoes into thin slices. The thinner the slices, the crispier the chips will be.

Step 2: Soak the Potatoes (optional)

Place the potato slices in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Soaking the potatoes helps to remove excess starch, which will make the chips crispier. However, some recipes suggest that this step is not necessary. If you choose to soak your potatoes, do so for around 10-20 minutes, then drain the water and pat the potatoes dry with paper towels.

Step 3: Season the Potatoes

Drizzle the potatoes with olive oil or cooking spray and sprinkle with salt, and any other desired seasonings. Toss the potatoes to ensure they are evenly coated.

Step 4: Air Fry the Potatoes

Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, or two layers at most. Set the air fryer to 325-400°F and cook for 15-20 minutes, tossing the potatoes every 5-7 minutes to ensure even cooking. For some air fryers, you may need to preheat the air fryer for 10 minutes before adding the potatoes.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Remove the potato chips from the air fryer and place them in a bowl to cool to room temperature. Enjoy your homemade potato chips!

Tips:

• For the crispiest chips, ensure your potatoes are sliced as thinly as possible, and pat them dry very well after soaking.
• Experiment with different seasonings to find your favorite flavors!
• If your chips are soggy, air fry them for a little longer to dry them out.
• You can store leftover chips in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks, or freeze them for up to three months.

The best type of potatoes to use for air fryer chips

The best potatoes for air fryer chips are those with a high starch content, such as Idaho and Russet potatoes. This is because their high starch content helps them crisp up perfectly.

However, you can also use Yukon Gold potatoes, which are a good balance of starchy and waxy. They have a creamy flavour and crisp up just as well.

When making air fryer chips, it is important to slice the potatoes as thinly and evenly as possible. A mandoline slicer is the best tool for this, as it can achieve super-thin slices with a uniform thickness. This ensures that all the chips will cook evenly.

Once sliced, the potatoes should be soaked in water to remove excess starch, which will help them get extra crispy. They should then be dried thoroughly before being placed in the air fryer.

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 for this is a mandoline slicer, which will help you achieve 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 knife, but it will be difficult to get the slices to be the same thickness.

Some recipes recommend using a vegetable peeler to cut the potatoes into thin slices. However, the slices may not be as uniform as those made with a mandoline.

When cutting the potatoes, it's important to wear a cut-resistant glove to keep your fingers safe.

After cutting the potatoes, the next step is to soak them in water to remove excess starch and prevent them from sticking together in the air fryer.

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 require minimal ingredients.

Steps to Seasoning Air Fryer Potato Chips:

Step 1: Choose Your Potato Variety

The best potatoes for air fryer chips are those with high starch content, such as Idaho or Russet potatoes. These varieties crisp up perfectly due to their low moisture content. Yukon Gold potatoes are also a good option, as they fall somewhere between waxy and starchy.

Step 2: Prepare the Potatoes

Slice the potatoes into thin, uniform slices using a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife. Aim for a thickness of about 1/16 of an inch (2 mm). The even thickness ensures that all the chips cook evenly.

Step 3: Rinse and Soak the Potatoes

Rinse and drain the potato slices repeatedly with cold water until the water runs clear, removing excess starch. This step is crucial for achieving crispy chips. You can also choose to soak the potato slices in ice water for 10-15 minutes to draw out the starch, then rinse and drain.

Step 4: Dry the Potatoes

After rinsing and/or soaking, spread the potatoes on paper towels or clean kitchen towels and pat them dry. Removing excess moisture is essential for achieving a crunchy texture.

Step 5: Add Oil and Seasonings

Return the dry potatoes to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil or a cooking spray. Toss to ensure all slices are coated. Then, add your desired seasonings.

Step 6: Air Fry the Chips

Preheat your air fryer to 325°F-360°F. Place the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap too much. Air fry for 15-20 minutes, tossing the chips every 5-7 minutes for even cooking.

Seasoning Ideas:

• Salt and Pepper Chips: Sprinkle the chips with salt and add a few grinds of coarsely ground black pepper for a kick.
• Ranch Chips: Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of ranch seasoning mix to the potatoes before air frying. For a stronger flavour, sprinkle additional ranch seasoning on the cooked chips.
• Spicy Chips: Season the chips with 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
• Sour Cream and Onion Chips: Toss the chips with 1 tablespoon buttermilk powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
• Barbecue Chips: Use BBQ seasoning or a mix of smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, salt, and chili powder.
• Dill Chips: Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of finely chopped fresh dill, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder for a pickle-inspired flavour.
• Sea Salt and Vinegar Chips: Lightly spritz the chips with white vinegar before air frying.

Experiment with different seasonings and flavours to find your favourite combinations!

How to store air fryer potato chips

Storing your air fryer potato chips is a simple process. If you're planning to eat them within a week, you can store them in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag at room temperature.

If you want to keep them for longer, you can freeze them in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to three months. When you're ready to eat them, just thaw them on the counter and pop them in the air fryer for a few minutes to warm them through.

Frequently asked questions