Air Fryer Chips: Homemade, Healthy, And Delicious

how to cook home made chips in a air fryer

There's nothing quite like a plate of hot, crispy chips. If you're looking to make some homemade chips in your air fryer, you're in luck! Air fryers are a healthier alternative to deep frying, using less oil to create irresistibly crispy potatoes that are fluffy on the inside and golden on the outside. You can use a variety of potatoes, such as Russet, Maris Piper, or Rooster, and cut them into your desired shape and thickness. You can also experiment with different seasonings like garlic granules, paprika, parmesan, or dried herbs to add extra flavour to your chips. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your chips, but on average, they should be ready in about 20 minutes. So, get your mandoline slicer or sharp knife ready and let's get started!

How to cook homemade chips in an air fryer

Characteristics Values
Potato type Russet potatoes are good as they are starchy, which helps the chips crisp up
Potato preparation Peel the potatoes and trim away all the rounded edges so they become rectangular blocks. Cut the blocks into batons – they should be somewhere between fries and thick chips.
Soaking Soaking the sliced potatoes in water is an important step to remove excess starch and add crispness. However, some sources say that this is not necessary.
Drying After soaking, dry the potatoes completely.
Oil Toss the potatoes in oil so they are evenly coated. Olive oil cooking spray can help the chips crisp up.
Seasoning Add salt, and any other seasonings of your choice, such as Cajun spice, dried herbs, garlic salt, chilli flakes or curry powder.
Air fryer preparation Grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
Cooking time Air fry for 15–30 minutes at 180–320°C, flipping or tossing every so often to prevent sticking.
Storage Leftover chips should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

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Preparing the potatoes: peel, trim, and cut into batons

Preparing the potatoes is a simple process, but it requires a bit of care to ensure your chips are straight and neat. First, peel the potatoes. Next, trim away all the rounded edges so that what remains are rectangular blocks. If you don't mind uneven chips, you can skip the peeling and trimming steps and cut the potatoes into chips.

Once you have your rectangular blocks, cut them into batons. These should be somewhere between the size of fries and thick chips. If they're too thin, they might break; if they're too thick, they won't cook through. Aim for slices around 1/8- to 1/16-inch thick. You should be able to see your fingers through the slices if they're thin enough.

If you're preparing the potatoes in advance, place the sliced potatoes in a bowl of cold water to cover them. Soaking the potatoes will help remove excess starch, which can make them crispy. It also prevents the slices from sticking together during cooking. However, if you're planning to cook the potatoes right away, there's no need to soak or parboil them.

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Soaking the potatoes: some recommend soaking in water to remove starch and add crispness

Soaking the potatoes in cold water before cooking is a technique recommended by some sources to achieve crispier air-fried potatoes. While it is not a mandatory step, it can help improve the texture of your homemade chips.

The potatoes can be soaked in cold water for around 30 minutes, or even for two 15-minute sessions, depending on your preference and convenience. This process helps to remove excess starch from the potatoes, which can otherwise make them mushy during cooking. By soaking the potatoes, you are effectively reducing the starch content, which in turn helps to add crispness to the final product.

After soaking, it is crucial to thoroughly pat the potatoes dry with a clean towel or paper towel. This step is essential, as it ensures that the potatoes are completely dry before proceeding to the next steps of preparation. If the potatoes are not dried properly, the oil and seasonings will not adhere well, potentially resulting in uneven cooking and a less-than-ideal texture.

While some people choose to soak their potatoes, others opt for a quicker approach by simply tossing the potatoes with a small amount of cornflour, oil, and seasoning before placing them in the air fryer. This alternative method can still yield crispy potatoes without the additional soaking step. Ultimately, the decision to soak or not soak the potatoes depends on your time constraints and personal preferences.

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Seasoning: toss in cornflour, oil, and seasoning of choice

When it comes to seasoning your homemade chips, you have a lot of freedom to get creative and tailor the flavours to your taste. Start by tossing your sliced potatoes in cornflour, ensuring they are evenly coated. Then, add a thin layer of oil – olive oil cooking spray, for example – which will help your chips crisp up beautifully.

Next, it's time to season. You can keep things simple with just a dash of salt, or try something more adventurous. Why not experiment with Cajun spice, dried herbs (rosemary works well), garlic salt, chilli flakes, or curry powder? If you opt for chilli flakes or dried herbs, add them halfway through the cooking process to prevent them from burning.

If you're feeling extra indulgent, you could also add a sauce of your choice after cooking. For example, you could drizzle your air-fried chips with cheese or chilli sauce for an extra punch of flavour.

Remember, the beauty of making homemade chips in an air fryer is that you can customise them to your liking. So, don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with different combinations of seasonings and sauces.

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Cooking time: cook for 20-30 minutes at 180C, tossing regularly

Once you've cut your potatoes, seasoned them, and tossed them in oil, it's time to cook them in the air fryer. Set the temperature to 180C and the timer to 20-30 minutes. Depending on your air fryer, you may need to cook the chips for longer. It's a good idea to keep an eye on them and toss them regularly—about every 10 minutes or so—to prevent them from sticking to the basket and ensure even cooking. If your chips are not crispy and golden after 30 minutes, cook them for another 5 minutes.

Tossing the chips during cooking helps ensure they cook evenly and don't burn. It's important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this can affect how evenly the chips cook. If you're cooking for a large group, you may need to cook the chips in batches to ensure they all get that delicious crispy texture.

You can also par-boil the chips before air frying to reduce the cooking time and make them fluffier. However, this is not necessary, and some prefer to skip this step for a healthier option.

To add extra flavour, you can sprinkle on some seasoning halfway through the cooking process. This way, the herbs or spices won't burn, but they'll still have time to flavour the chips.

With these tips, you'll be able to make delicious, crispy homemade chips in your air fryer!

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Storage: store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week

To store your homemade air-fryer chips, place them in an airtight container. They can be kept at room temperature and will stay fresh and crispy for up to a week.

An airtight container is essential to maintaining the quality of your chips. It prevents moisture from entering and ensures your chips remain crisp and free from spoilage. You can use a glass or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid, or even a resealable bag designed for food storage.

Room temperature storage is ideal for these chips. Keeping them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight will help maintain their freshness. Avoid storing them in places that are humid or exposed to heat sources, as this can affect their texture and taste.

Proper storage will allow you to enjoy your homemade chips for up to a week. After opening the container, it is recommended to consume them within a few days to ensure optimal freshness and taste.

By following these simple storage instructions, you can easily preserve and enjoy your homemade air-fryer chips for a week, as a tasty snack or side dish.

Frequently asked questions

First, cut your potatoes into slices or chips. You can peel the potatoes or leave the skin on for a more rustic feel. If you're making chips, cut the potato into rectangular blocks and then cut those into batons. If you're making slices, use a mandoline or sharp knife to cut them about 1/8-1/16 inch thick. Next, soak the potatoes in ice water for 5-10 minutes to remove excess starch, then drain and pat dry. If you're making chips, you can toss them in cornflour at this stage. Then, add oil and seasoning. You can use a cooking spray or toss the potatoes in a bowl. Finally, place the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer and cook at 320-390°F for 15-30 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally.

To get crispy chips, it's important to remove the excess starch from the potatoes. This can be done by soaking the potatoes in water for 5-10 minutes and then patting them dry. You should also make sure the potatoes are sliced evenly, as uneven slices can lead to uneven cooking. If you're making chips, you can also toss them in cornflour before cooking to add extra crispness.

It's best to use starchy potatoes, such as Russet, Maris Piper, or Rooster, as the edges will get crispy.

The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your chips or slices. Skinny chips will take less time, while chunky chips will take longer. It typically takes around 15-30 minutes to cook chips or slices in an air fryer.

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