Air Fryer Potato Chips: A Healthy, Homemade Treat

Air fryers are a great alternative to deep-fat frying, and you can use them to make healthier, crispier versions of your favourite snacks. But can you make potato chips in an air fryer?

Potato types and preparation

To make potato chips in an air fryer, you'll need to start by selecting the right type of potatoes. The best potatoes for air-frying are Idaho and Russet potatoes, as their high starch content helps them crisp up perfectly. That said, Yukon Gold potatoes are also a good option, as they have a creamy flavour and crisp up nicely as well.

Once you have your potatoes, you'll need to slice them into thin, even 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 slicer, you can also use a sharp knife or a vegetable peeler, but it may be more difficult to get uniform slices.

After slicing, it's important to soak the potatoes in ice water for 10-15 minutes. This helps to remove excess starch, which will give the potatoes a great crunch when they cook. It also prevents the potatoes from sticking together in the air fryer basket. Drain the potatoes and make sure to pat them completely dry before moving on to the next step.

At this point, you can add your desired seasonings. Olive oil or cooking spray will help the chips become crispy and prevent burning, while salt is a classic seasoning that can be added before air-frying. You can also experiment with other seasonings like black pepper, barbecue seasoning, ranch seasoning, or fresh herbs like dill or parsley.

Finally, it's time to load the potato slices into the air fryer. Place a single layer of slices in the basket, making sure they don't overlap too much. Preheat the air fryer to between 325°F and 360°F, and cook the potatoes for 15-20 minutes, stirring and turning the slices every 5-7 minutes to ensure even cooking.

Oil and seasoning

Oil is an important ingredient in making potato chips in an air fryer. It helps the chips become crispy and prevents them from burning. You only need a small amount of oil for this recipe. A cooking spray can be used to reduce the grease factor. The spray lightly coats the potato slices and helps them crisp up without burning.

Neutral-tasting oils with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil, canola oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, or vegetable oil, are good choices for air frying. Olive oil is also a popular choice and can add a nice flavour to the chips.

For seasoning, salt is a classic choice and helps to bring out the flavour of the potatoes. Sea salt or smoked Cheddar salt are great options. You can also experiment with different types of salt, such as truffle salt or garlic salt. Black pepper is another popular seasoning that can add a kick to your chips.

Other seasonings you can try include:

• BBQ seasoning or a mix of smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, salt, and chilli powder.
• Ranch seasoning or dry ranch dressing mix.
• Spicy seasoning with chilli powder, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder.
• Sour cream and onion seasoning with buttermilk powder and onion powder.
• Dill, onion powder, and garlic powder for a dill pickle flavour.
• Cajun spice, curry powder, dried herbs (such as rosemary), chilli flakes, or garlic salt.
• Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.

Air fryer settings

To make potato chips in an air fryer, you will need to follow these steps:

• Slice the potatoes: Use a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife to cut the potatoes into thin slices. The recommended thickness is 1/16 of an inch or 2 mm. You can slice the potatoes lengthwise for longer chips or crosswise for a more classic chip shape.
• Soak the potatoes: Place the potato slices in a bowl of cold water to remove excess starch. This step is optional, but it helps to make the chips crispier. If you choose to soak the potatoes, the recommended soaking time is around 15-20 minutes.
• Dry the potatoes: After soaking, remove the potatoes from the water and dry them thoroughly with paper towels or clean kitchen towels. It is important to remove as much moisture as possible to ensure crispy chips.
• Season the potatoes: Drizzle or spritz the potatoes with olive oil or cooking spray, and sprinkle with salt. You can also add other seasonings of your choice, such as black pepper, ranch seasoning, BBQ seasoning, or garlic powder.
• Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to a temperature between 325°F and 400°F. The recommended temperature varies depending on the source, but most recipes suggest a range between 350°F and 400°F.
• Arrange the potatoes in the air fryer: Place the potato slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer or two layers at most. Avoid overcrowding the basket to ensure even cooking.
• Air fry the potatoes: Air fry the potatoes for 15-20 minutes at the chosen temperature, flipping or tossing them halfway through to ensure even cooking. Keep a close eye on the potatoes to prevent burning. If needed, adjust the temperature or cooking time based on the thickness of your potato slices and the performance of your air fryer.
• Cool and serve: Remove the potato chips from the air fryer and place them in a large bowl to cool to room temperature. Enjoy your homemade potato chips!

Tips and Tricks:

• Use russet or Idaho potatoes for the best results, as these varieties have a higher starch content and will crisp up nicely.
• If using an oven-type air fryer without a basket, you may need to adjust the cooking time or use a different type of tray or rack.
• It is important to dry the potatoes thoroughly after soaking and to ensure they are sliced thinly enough to achieve the desired crispiness.
• Experiment with different seasonings and flavours to find your favourites!

Cooking times and temperatures

The cooking times and temperatures for making potato chips in an air fryer will vary depending on the type and power of your air fryer, the thickness of your potato slices, and your personal preference for crispiness. However, here is a general guide to help you get started:

Soaking the Potatoes:

Before cooking, it is recommended to soak your potato slices in cold water to remove excess starch. This will help them crisp up during cooking. The soaking time can range from 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the recipe. You can also try rinsing the potato slices until the water runs clear instead of soaking them.

Preheating the Air Fryer:

Some recipes suggest preheating your air fryer for about 10 minutes before adding the potatoes. This step is not necessary, but it can help ensure even cooking.

Cooking Temperatures:

The cooking temperature will depend on the type of air fryer you have and the level of crispiness you desire. Most recipes recommend cooking temperatures between 325°F (162°C) and 400°F (204°C). Lower temperatures, such as 325°F to 360°F (162°C to 182°C), are often used for the initial cooking phase to ensure the potatoes cook through without burning. Higher temperatures, such as 375°F to 400°F (190°C to 204°C), are then used to achieve the desired crispiness.

Cooking Times:

The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your potato slices and the power of your air fryer. Thinner slices will cook faster and may only need about 10 to 15 minutes. Thicker slices may take up to 20 minutes or more. It is important to keep an eye on your potato chips during the cooking process and adjust the time as needed.

Stirring and Flipping:

It is important to stir or flip your potato slices every few minutes during the cooking process to ensure even cooking and prevent burning. Most recipes recommend stirring or flipping every 5 to 7 minutes.

Checking for Doneness:

Your potato chips are done when they are golden brown and crispy. Be careful not to overcook them, as they can burn easily. Once they reach the desired level of crispiness and colour, remove them from the air fryer immediately.

Adjustments for Sweet Potatoes:

If you are using sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes, you may need to adjust the cooking time and temperature. Sweet potato chips may not get as crispy as regular potato chips, and they can burn more easily. Check on them frequently during the cooking process and adjust the time and temperature as needed.

Serving suggestions

Air-fried potato chips are a great snack, but they can also be served as a side dish. Here are some ideas for how to serve them:

• As a snack on their own during movie night
• With dips like guacamole, Greek yogurt ranch dip, or avocado hummus
• As a side with a sandwich such as a meatloaf sandwich, steak sandwich, or BLT
• With a burger such as a blue cheese burger, vegan burger, or turkey burger
• As a side with chicken dishes such as chicken tenders, honey garlic chicken wings, or baked BBQ chicken
• With seafood dishes such as salmon croquettes or air-fried shrimp

You can also experiment with different seasonings to create your own unique flavour combinations. For example, you could try:

• BBQ seasoning
• Sea salt and vinegar
• Ranch seasoning
• Truffle salt
• Garlic salt
• Spicy seasoning (chilli powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder)
• Sour cream and onion seasoning
• Dill
• Cheese (finely grated Parmesan or nutritional yeast for a vegan option)

Frequently asked questions