Air-Fried Chips: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Cooking chips in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a delicious snack or side dish. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can create crispy, golden, and fluffy chips that are perfect for any occasion. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about making chips in an air fryer, from choosing the right potatoes to seasoning and cooking techniques, so you can enjoy perfectly cooked chips every time.

Characteristics and Values Table for Air Fryer Chips

Potato types and preparation

The type of potato you use is important when making chips in an air fryer. Medium-sized, starchy potatoes, such as Russets, are a good option. Yukon Gold potatoes will also work, but their crunch will be slightly harder. If you want a deeper golden color, go for Yukon Gold or Yellow Potatoes due to their lower starch and higher sugar content. For an even darker golden brown, use red potatoes, which have an even higher sugar and lower starch content.

Baby potatoes or new potatoes are also a good choice for air frying, as they have a high sugar content and hold their shape well. However, they can be hard to find in grocery stores as they are somewhat seasonal. If you want to add a rustic feel to your chips, you can leave the skin on. The oiled skin will give a crispy bite to your potatoes.

Before placing the potatoes in the air fryer, they should be sliced thinly, ideally using a mandoline slicer. The recommended thickness is 1/16 of an inch (or 2 mm). Rinsing or soaking the potato slices in water helps to remove starch and enable the potatoes to crisp. However, some sources suggest that this step is not necessary and can be replaced by simply rinsing the slices until the water runs clear.

After slicing and rinsing, it is important to dry the potatoes thoroughly before cooking. You can use paper towels or clean kitchen towels for this step. Once the potatoes are dry, you can add oil, salt, and pepper, or other seasonings of your choice.

Oil and seasoning

Air fryer chips require very little oil. You can use any type of cooking spray, such as olive oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil. You can also use a vegetable oil or corn oil if you don't have a spray. The oil is important as it helps the chips become crispy and flavorful.

Before adding the oil, you should rinse the potato slices with water to remove the starch, which will enable the chips to crisp. You can then dry the potatoes with paper towels or clean kitchen towels.

Once the potatoes are dry, add the oil, and ensure all slices are evenly coated by tossing or spraying. You can then add salt and pepper, or any other seasoning.

There are many different seasoning options to try. A simple combination is salt and pepper, or you could try ranch seasoning, barbecue, or spicy seasoning. For a ranch flavor, add 1-1/2 teaspoons of ranch seasoning mix to the potatoes. For barbecue chips, stir together 1 teaspoon each of brown sugar and smoked paprika, 1/4 teaspoon each of onion powder, garlic powder, and salt, and 1/4 teaspoon chili powder for added spice. For a spicy option, season your potato chips with 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. You can also add fresh herbs, such as parsley, dill, or chives, after air frying.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for your air fryer chips will depend on the type of potatoes you use and your desired crispiness. For example, skinny chips will take a few minutes less, while chunky chips will take a few minutes more.

Most recipes recommend cooking your chips at 325°F (162°C) for 20 minutes, tossing them every 5 to 7 minutes to ensure even cooking. However, some recipes suggest cooking at 350°F (180°C) for 15 minutes, flipping the chips halfway through.

If you are using an air fryer with a paddle, you can program it to cook for 30 minutes, checking the chips and adding an additional 5 minutes if needed.

It is important to note that cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer brand, so adjust the cooking time as needed.

To achieve the perfect crispiness, it is recommended to soak the potato slices in ice water for 5 to 10 minutes before cooking to remove excess starch. After soaking, pat the potatoes dry and ensure they are completely dry before placing them in the air fryer.

Crispy chips

Ingredients

• Potatoes
• Oil (vegetable, olive, or another cooking oil)
• Salt
• Pepper (optional)
• Cornflour (optional)
• Other seasonings (optional)

Method

• Cut the potatoes into thin slices, ideally using a mandoline slicer. The slices should be around 1/16 of an inch (2 mm) thick.
• Rinse the potato slices with cold water to remove the starch, which will help the chips crisp up. You can also soak the slices in a bowl of ice water for 5-10 minutes, then rinse and drain again.
• Place the potatoes on paper towels or clean kitchen towels and ensure they are completely dry before cooking.
• Add the potato slices to a large bowl and toss them with oil, salt, and pepper (if desired). You can also add other seasonings or spices, such as cornflour, for extra flavour and crispness.
• Preheat your air fryer to 325°F (or 180°C/350°F if your air fryer uses Celsius).
• Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single or staggered layer. Avoid overcrowding the basket, as this can affect crispness.
• Air fry the potatoes for 15-20 minutes, tossing them every 5-7 minutes to ensure even cooking.
• The chips are done when they are golden brown and crispy. If some chips are done earlier than others, remove them to a plate and continue cooking the rest.
• Season the chips with additional salt and pepper, or other seasonings, to taste.
• Serve the chips immediately for the best texture and flavour.

Tips

• Russet potatoes are a good option for crispy chips due to their high starch content.
• You can freeze cooked chips in an airtight container or bag for up to 3 months.
• You can reheat chips in the air fryer at 400°F for 2-3 minutes to restore crispness.

Serving suggestions

Air fryer chips are a versatile side dish and can be served with a variety of meals. They go well with a comforting classic like grilled cheese or a grilled cheese sandwich. They are also great with lasagne or steak pie. For a more indulgent option, try them with chicken wings or chicken thighs, adding your favourite seasoning or sauce.

If you are serving the chips as a snack, they can be enjoyed on their own or with some homemade bread or brioche buns for a chip butty. For a more indulgent snack, try dipping them in spicy bang bang sauce, BBQ sauce, or classic burger sauce, or smothering them in homemade gravy. You could even upgrade to poutine, salt and pepper chips, or pizza fries!

For seasoning, a simple combination of salt and pepper is always a good option, but you can also get creative with other seasonings and flavour combinations. For example, you could try ranch seasoning, barbecue chips, or sour cream and onion chips. If you want to add some spice, season your chips with chilli powder, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. Fresh herbs, such as parsley, dill, or chives, can also be sprinkled over the chips after air frying.

If you are making the chips in advance, they can be stored in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to a week. They will start to lose their crispness over time, but you can pop them back in the air fryer for a few minutes to re-crisp them.

Frequently asked questions