Air Fryer Homemade Chips: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Homemade chips are a delicious treat, and using an air fryer is a healthier alternative to deep-frying, as it requires less oil. Air-fried chips are also super quick to make, with most recipes taking around 30 minutes in total. To make homemade chips in an air fryer, start by peeling and slicing your potatoes into chip shapes. You can also keep the peel on for a more rustic feel. Next, toss the chips in a little oil and seasoning, such as salt and pepper, or even something more adventurous like Cajun spice or curry powder. Then, place the chips in the air fryer and cook at a temperature of around 180-190°C for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket every so often to ensure they cook evenly. And that's it! Homemade chips with minimal mess and washing up.

Choosing the right potatoes

The type of potatoes you use will determine the texture and taste of your homemade chips. Here are some tips to help you choose the right potatoes for air frying:

Potato Varieties

• Idaho and Russet potatoes are ideal for air frying due to their high starch content, which helps them crisp up perfectly. They are also a good option as they contain less moisture than other types of potatoes.
• Yukon Gold potatoes are a suitable substitute, as they are somewhere in between waxy and starchy. They have a creamy flavour and will also crisp up well.
• For a fluffier chip interior and a crispier exterior, floury potatoes such as Maris Piper or Rooster are a good choice.
• Sweet potatoes can also be used, but keep in mind that they will not be as crispy as russets.

Potato Preparation

• Before air frying, it is important to rinse and dry the potatoes thoroughly. This removes excess starch, which can cause the potatoes to burn before they are fully cooked.
• If you have time, you can soak the potatoes in water for a few minutes to help remove starch. However, this is not essential, and some recipes recommend against it as it can make the potatoes harder to cook through.
• When cutting the potatoes, aim for a thickness of around 1/16 of an inch (or 2 mm). This will ensure even cooking and crispiness.
• If you want straight, neat chips, peel the potatoes and trim away any rounded edges to create rectangular blocks. Then, cut these into batons. Alternatively, leave the skin on for a more rustic look.

In summary, when choosing potatoes for air frying, opt for varieties such as Idaho, Russet, Yukon Gold, Maris Piper, or Rooster. Prepare the potatoes by rinsing, drying, and cutting them to the desired thickness. With the right type of potatoes and proper preparation, you'll be on your way to making delicious homemade chips in your air fryer!

Preparing the potatoes

The first step to making homemade chips in an air fryer is to prepare the potatoes. Here is a detailed guide on how to do this:

Selecting the right potatoes

For air fryer chips, it is best to use potatoes with high starch content, such as Idaho or Russet potatoes. These potatoes will give you crispier chips. Alternatively, you can use floury potatoes such as Maris Piper or Rooster for a fluffier chip interior and a crispier exterior.

Peeling and cutting the potatoes

You can choose to peel the potatoes or leave the skin on for a more rustic feel. If you are peeling the potatoes, use a vegetable peeler or a mandoline to get thin, even slices. Cut the potatoes into chip shapes, about the size of your index finger, or into thin French fries. If you want straight, neat chips, peel the potatoes and trim away the rounded edges to create rectangular blocks, then cut these into batons.

Soaking the potatoes (optional)

Some recipes recommend soaking the potatoes in water before air frying. This helps to remove excess starch so that the potatoes don't burn before they are fully cooked. However, other recipes claim that this step is unnecessary and does not significantly impact the final result. If you choose to soak the potatoes, rinse them in cold water, then drain and pat them dry. You can also add ice to the water for more effective soaking.

Drying the potatoes

Whether you soaked the potatoes or not, it is important to ensure they are completely dry before moving on to the next step. Use paper towels or clean kitchen towels to pat the potatoes dry. This step is crucial to achieving crispy air fryer chips.

Coating the potatoes

Place the dry potatoes in a bowl and add a light coating of oil. You can use olive oil, vegetable oil, or a neutral-tasting frying oil such as rapeseed or sunflower oil. Toss the potatoes in the oil until they are evenly coated. You can also add seasonings at this stage, such as salt, black pepper, paprika, or garlic powder.

Adding flavour

There are many ways to add flavour to your homemade chips. Here are some ideas:

Seasoning

You can season your chips with salt and pepper. You can also add garlic granules, paprika, dried herbs (rosemary is a good option), chilli flakes, curry powder, or Cajun spice. If you're using chilli flakes or dried herbs, it's best to add them halfway through cooking so they don't burn.

Cheese

For a cheesy flavour, you can add finely grated Parmesan to your chips. For a vegan option, you can use nutritional yeast instead.

Ranch

For a ranch flavour, add 1 1/2 teaspoons of ranch seasoning mix to the potatoes. If you prefer a stronger ranch flavour, you can sprinkle additional ranch seasoning over the cooked chips.

Barbecue

For a barbecue flavour, use a combination of paprika, brown sugar, onion powder, smoked paprika, chilli powder, and garlic powder.

Sour Cream and Onion

For a sour cream and onion flavour, toss your chips with buttermilk powder, onion powder, and garlic powder.

Dill

For a dill flavour, add some finely chopped fresh dill, onion powder, and garlic powder to your chips.

Salt and Vinegar

Sprinkle the cooked chips with distilled white vinegar powder for a salt and vinegar flavour.

Cooking times and temperatures

The cooking time and temperature for homemade chips in an air fryer depend on the type of potato used, the thickness of the cut, and the desired crispiness.

For thicker chips, it is recommended to cook them at 180C/350F for 15 minutes, mix them, and then cook for another 15 minutes until golden. For thinner French fries, it is suggested to cook them for only 10 minutes, mix, and then cook for an additional 15 minutes.

Some recipes recommend cooking at 190C/375F for 20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking. For crispier chips, a temperature of 325°F for 20 minutes is suggested, tossing the chips every 5 to 7 minutes.

For the best results, it is important to cut the potatoes into uniform sizes so they cook evenly. Additionally, some recipes recommend soaking the potatoes in water before cooking to remove excess starch and prevent burning. However, others suggest that this step is unnecessary and the potatoes can be cooked without soaking.

It is also worth noting that the cooking time and temperature may vary depending on the brand and model of the air fryer being used.

Serving suggestions

These homemade air fryer chips are a versatile side dish and can be served with a variety of meals. Here are some serving suggestions to make the most of your crispy, golden chips:

As a Side Dish

• Lasagne
• Steak Pie
• Burgers: Blue Cheese Burger, Vegan Burger, or Turkey Burgers
• Chicken: Chicken Tenders, Honey Garlic Chicken Wings, or Baked BBQ Chicken
• Seafood: Salmon Croquettes or Air Fryer Shrimp
• Sandwiches: Meatloaf Sandwich, Steak Sandwich, or BLT
• Classic British dishes: such as a chip butty, or dipped in sauces like spicy bang bang sauce, BBQ sauce, or classic burger sauce

As a Snack

• Dipped in sauces: spicy bang bang sauce, BBQ sauce, or classic burger sauce
• Smothered in homemade gravy, or upgraded into poutine, salt and pepper chips, or pizza fries
• With a variety of toppings: Cajun spice, dried herbs (rosemary), garlic salt, chilli flakes, or curry powder
• As a chip butty, especially if you're from the North of the UK!

For a Special Treat

• Loaded fries: Chilli con carne, smoked cheddar, and soured cream loaded fries
• Poutine: fries, cheese curd, and gravy

Storage and Reheating

If you have any leftover chips, you can store them in an airtight container or bag at room temperature for up to a week. To freeze, place them in an airtight freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. To reheat, pop them back into the air fryer for a few minutes to regain their crispy texture.

Frequently asked questions