Air Fryer Potato Chips: How Long Do They Take?

Air fryers are a great way to make potato chips with less oil and fat than traditional frying methods. The cooking time depends on the air fryer model and the desired crispiness of the chips. On average, it takes around 15-20 minutes to cook potato chips in an air fryer.

The process of making potato chips in an air fryer involves thinly slicing potatoes, soaking them in water to remove excess starch, drying them, seasoning, and then air-frying in a single or double layer for the desired time.

How to prepare potatoes for air frying

Preparing potatoes for air frying is a simple process, but there are a few key steps to ensure your potatoes turn out crispy and delicious. Here's a guide on how to prepare potatoes for air frying:

Selecting the Right Potatoes:

• Choose the right type of potatoes. Russet, Yukon Gold, or red potatoes are great options for air frying. Russets will give you a pale golden colour and a soft, fluffy texture. Yukon Golds or Yellow Potatoes will crisp up perfectly and have a deeper golden colour. Red potatoes will turn an even darker golden brown.
• Look for potatoes that are uniform in size, free from eyes and blemishes.
• If you're making potato chips, opt for Idaho or Russet potatoes as they contain less moisture and are starchier, resulting in crispier chips.

Preparing the Potatoes:

• Wash the potatoes thoroughly, especially if you plan to leave the skins on. The skins provide extra crispiness and nutrients.
• Cut the potatoes into uniform pieces. For roasted potatoes, cut them into 1-inch pieces. For potato chips, use a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife to slice the potatoes as thinly as possible (about 1/16 of an inch thick).
• Soaking the potatoes in cold water for 10-15 minutes can help remove excess starch and prevent them from sticking together in the air fryer. This step is optional but recommended for crispier results.
• Dry the potatoes thoroughly after soaking. Removing excess moisture is crucial for achieving a crunchy texture.

Seasoning the Potatoes:

• In a medium-sized bowl, combine the potatoes with olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, and pepper. You can also add Parmesan cheese for extra flavour.
• For roasted potatoes, you can use various seasonings like Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, or Italian seasoning.
• For potato chips, you can experiment with different flavours like ranch, barbecue, sour cream and onion, or dill.

Cooking the Potatoes:

• Preheat your air fryer to 380-400°F (195-200°C) for 5-10 minutes. Preheating ensures maximum crispiness.
• Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer to ensure even cooking.
• For roasted potatoes, cook at 400°F for 10 minutes, then toss or flip the potatoes and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes, or until tender and crispy.
• For potato chips, air fry at 325°F for 20 minutes, tossing the potatoes every 5-7 minutes to ensure even cooking.
• Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the potatoes in batches to avoid overcrowding.

With these steps, you'll be well on your way to enjoying delicious, crispy potatoes from your air fryer!

Air fryer temperature and timing

The temperature and timing for making potato chips in an air fryer depend on several factors, including the type of potato, the thickness of the slices, and the specific air fryer being used. Here are some general guidelines and tips to help you achieve the perfect crispy potato chips:

Temperature

The ideal temperature for cooking potato chips in an air fryer is between 320°F and 400°F (160°C to 200°C). However, it's important to note that not all air fryers can reach these temperatures, so adjust accordingly. A lower temperature of 200°F (93°C) can be used initially to dehydrate the potatoes and ensure even cooking, but this step is optional.

Timing

The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your potato slices. For thin slices (about 1/16 inch or 2 mm thick), the total cooking time at 325°F (163°C) should be around 20 minutes. For thicker slices, you may need to increase the cooking time. It's important to keep an eye on the chips and toss or flip them periodically to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.

Soaking and Drying

Soaking the potato slices in cold water before cooking helps remove excess starch and prevents them from sticking together. This step is optional, as some recipes suggest rinsing and drying the potatoes without soaking. However, if you do soak the potatoes, aim for about 15 to 20 minutes, changing the water halfway through. After soaking, make sure to dry the potatoes thoroughly before placing them in the air fryer. Blotting them with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel will help ensure they are dry.

Preheating

Preheating your air fryer is not mandatory but is recommended for optimal results. Preheat the air fryer to the desired temperature, usually between 320°F and 400°F, for about 10 minutes before adding the potato slices.

Layering

When placing the potato slices in the air fryer basket, it's best to arrange them in a single layer if possible. However, since the slices are thin, you can get away with layering them, but no more than two layers. Make sure to toss or flip the chips during the cooking process to ensure even cooking.

Customization

Feel free to experiment with different types of potatoes, such as russet, Yukon Gold, or sweet potatoes. Each type of potato will have a slightly different cooking time and texture. Additionally, you can customize your chips with various seasonings like sea salt, black pepper, barbecue spice, or even fresh herbs like parsley or dill.

Troubleshooting

If your potato chips are soggy, it could be due to insufficient drying after soaking or inadequate air fryer temperature. Try air frying them for a longer period, ensuring the air fryer is at the recommended temperature. Additionally, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to allow for even cooking.

Potato chip seasoning

There are many ways to season your homemade potato chips, and you can always adjust the spice levels to your taste. Here are some ideas for seasoning blends to add to your chips, as well as some tips for making your own.

BBQ

A BBQ seasoning can be made with a blend of spices, including:

• Chili powder
• Cayenne pepper
• Garlic powder
• Mustard powder
• Onion powder
• Smoked paprika
• Cumin

Salt and Vinegar

For a salt and vinegar flavour, you can use vinegar powder and dendritic salt.

Tangy and Spicy

For a tangy and spicy flavour, you could try a sriracha seasoning.

Sweet

For a sweet flavour, you could use cinnamon sugar. This would go well with yams.

Savory

For a savoury option, you could combine mushroom powder, Parmesan powder, and blue cheese crumbles.

Cheddar Jalapeno

For a Cheddar jalapeno flavour, you could use a blend of cheddar cheese powder and salt flour.

Other ideas

You can also experiment with ranch seasoning, truffle salt, garlic salt, black pepper, and fresh herbs like parsley or dill.

Tips for making your own seasoning

• Start with store-bought potato chips, heat them in the oven, and then toss them with your chosen spice blend.
• You can adjust the spice level to your taste and customise the blend with whatever spices you like.
• Warming the chips in the oven first will help the spices stick to the chips better.
• Low-fat or baked chips don't work as well because the spice mix needs some oil to stick to the chips.

Potato chip serving suggestions

Potato chips are a versatile snack, perfect for any occasion. Here are some ideas on how to serve them:

As a Side Dish

Chips can be the perfect side to a meal, especially if you're looking for something crispy and salty. They go well with a variety of dishes, such as burgers, chicken, seafood, or sandwiches. For a healthier option, serve them with a side of guacamole or Greek yogurt ranch dip.

As an Appetizer or Snack

Chips are a great standalone snack and are perfect for any gathering or party. Serve them in a bowl for sharing, or even pack them for a road trip to keep hunger and crankiness at bay.

Get Creative with Flavours

There are endless possibilities for seasoning your chips. For a classic flavour combination, go for salt and vinegar. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, try something like barbecue, sour cream and onion, spicy, or even dill pickle-flavoured chips. You can also experiment with different types of salt, such as truffle salt or garlic salt.

As an Ingredient

Crushed potato chips can be used as a crunchy coating for chicken strips or nuggets, or even added to casseroles and chicken sliders for some extra texture. They can also be crumbled over soup as a topping or used in sandwiches for a crunchy element.

With a Dip

Chips and dip are a classic combination. Try pairing your chips with a variety of dips such as onion dip, ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, honey-mustard sauce, or even homemade guacamole.

Sweet and Savoury Treats

For a unique twist, combine potato chips with sweet ingredients. For example, potato chip banana bread cookies or potato chip clusters with chocolate are sure to be a hit.

Potato chip storage

Storing Air Fryer Potato Chips

Air fryer potato chips are best stored at room temperature in an airtight container or plastic bag. They will stay fresh for up to two weeks.

If you want to freeze your chips, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put them in the freezer. Once they are frozen, transfer the chips to a freezer bag. To reheat, put them in the air fryer for a few minutes until crispy, then allow them to cool before serving.

Frequently asked questions