Air-Fryer Kettle Chips: Homemade, Healthy, And Crispy

Kettle chips are a popular snack, but they can be greasy and fatty. Air fryers provide a healthier alternative to deep-frying, requiring less oil and resulting in a crispier, crunchier texture. This paragraph will introduce the topic of how to make kettle chips in an air fryer, covering the ingredients, tools, and step-by-step process to achieve the perfect batch of homemade chips.

Thinly slice potatoes

Thinly slicing the potatoes is an important step in making kettle chips in an air fryer. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide to achieving the perfect thin potato slices:

Firstly, select the right type of potatoes. Russet, Idaho, and Yukon Gold potatoes are great options for air-fried chips. These varieties have a higher starch content, which helps them crisp up perfectly in the air fryer.

Next, gather the tools you will need for slicing. You can use a sharp knife, but a mandoline slicer is highly recommended for achieving thin, uniform slices. A mandoline slicer is a small kitchen appliance that allows you to quickly and easily slice foods into thin, even slices. If you don't have a mandoline, a vegetable peeler can also be used.

Now, let's get into the slicing technique. Set your mandoline or vegetable peeler to the thinnest setting, usually around 1/8-inch or 1/16-inch thick. Carefully cut the potatoes into thin slices. If using a knife, take your time and try to make the slices as even as possible.

Once you have your thin potato slices, it's important to soak them in cold water. Soaking removes excess starch from the potatoes, which helps them crisp up nicely in the air fryer. Place the slices in a bowl of cold water and let them soak for at least 15-20 minutes. You may need to change the water and soak for an additional period to ensure all the starch is removed.

After soaking, remove the potatoes from the water and dry them thoroughly. Place them on paper towels or clean kitchen towels and pat them dry. It's important to remove as much moisture as possible to ensure crispy chips.

Finally, once your potatoes are thinly sliced and dried, you can proceed to the next steps in the air fryer chip recipe, such as seasoning and air frying.

Soak potatoes in water

Soaking potatoes in water is an important step in the process of making kettle chips in an air fryer. This is because potatoes contain starch, and soaking them helps to remove this starch. By removing the starch, the potatoes will become crisp on the outside and soft in the middle once fried. Soaking also prevents the potatoes from sticking together in the air fryer.

To soak potatoes, place them in a bowl and cover them with ice-cold water. Allow them to soak for at least 20 minutes, but you can soak them for longer if you prefer, even overnight in the refrigerator. After soaking, be sure to dry the potatoes thoroughly before proceeding to the next step.

It is important to note that if you are short on time, you can simply rinse the potatoes well and then dry them before continuing with the recipe. However, soaking them will yield the best results for crispy kettle chips.

Dry potatoes

To make dry potatoes in an air fryer, start by rinsing the potatoes in water. This step is important as it removes the starch, which will enable the potatoes to crisp. Repeat the rinsing process until the water runs clear.

Next, dry the potatoes thoroughly. This step is crucial as it ensures that the oil will coat the potatoes evenly. You can use paper towels or a clean dishcloth to pat them dry.

Once the potatoes are dry, return them to a bowl and add olive oil, salt, and any other desired seasonings. Toss the potatoes to ensure they are evenly coated.

Now, you can arrange the potatoes in the air fryer basket. Make sure they are in a single layer and not overcrowded, as this will affect their crispiness. Preheat your air fryer to around 325-400°F, and cook the potatoes for about 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.

For optimal crispiness, shake or stir the potatoes every 5-7 minutes during the cooking process. If some chips are done before others, remove them from the air fryer to prevent burning.

By following these steps, you will end up with perfectly dry and crispy potatoes cooked in your air fryer!

Season potatoes

To season the potatoes, you can use a variety of seasonings, including salt, pepper, ranch seasoning, truffle salt, garlic salt, barbecue seasoning, sea salt and vinegar, and more.

Firstly, slice the potatoes as thinly as possible using a mandoline, a vegetable peeler, or a sharp knife. The potatoes can be sliced lengthwise for long chips or crosswise for a more classic chip shape. Soak the sliced potatoes in cold water for at least 15-20 minutes to remove excess starch and prevent the chips from sticking together. Drain the potatoes and ensure they are as dry as possible before adding any seasonings.

You can season the potatoes with a tiny bit of olive oil, a sprinkle of salt, and a few grinds of pepper, ensuring all slices are evenly coated. You can also add a sprinkle of minced parsley for a fresh finish. For a more flavorful option, you can use 1 teaspoon of smoked Cheddar salt instead of regular salt.

If you want to experiment with different flavors, you can try making barbecue chips by tossing the cooked chips with barbecue seasoning or dry rub. You can also make salt and vinegar chips by sprinkling distilled white vinegar powder or actual vinegar on the chips after cooking. For a sour cream and onion flavor, dust the chips with a mixture of buttermilk powder and onion powder, or use ranch dressing and dip mix for a more assertive flavor. For a dill flavor, swap the parsley with chopped fresh dill.

There are endless possibilities for seasoning your air fryer potato chips, so feel free to get creative and experiment with different combinations!

Air fry potatoes

Ingredients:

• 2 large russet potatoes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, or canola or olive oil cooking spray
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper (optional)

Method:

• Wash the potatoes thoroughly. There is no need to peel the potatoes.
• Using a mandoline, slice the potatoes into very thin rounds, about 1/8-inch thick. You can also use a vegetable peeler or a sharp knife to slice them.
• As you slice the potatoes, immediately place them in a bowl of very cold water to remove excess starch and prevent oxidation. Let them sit for at least 20 minutes.
• Remove the potatoes from the cold water and rinse again with cold water. Then, place them on a paper towel-lined baking sheet and pat them dry thoroughly.
• Place the dried potato slices in a large bowl and drizzle with oil or cooking spray. Toss to coat evenly.
• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F.
• Arrange the potato slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring not to overcrowd the basket.
• Air fry the potatoes at 350°F for 10 minutes.
• Flip the potato slices and separate them if needed. Continue air frying at 350°F until they are golden and crisp, for about 3-5 minutes.
• If the potatoes are not fully crisp, increase the temperature to 400°F and air fry for a few more minutes.
• Remove the potatoes from the air fryer and immediately sprinkle with salt.
• Enjoy your homemade potato chips!

Tips:

• It is important to ensure that the potatoes are as dry as possible before placing them in the air fryer.
• Heating at a lower temperature first helps to properly cook the potatoes and achieve a crisp texture.
• The second stage of air frying at a higher temperature may be needed to brown the potatoes and make them extra crispy.
• You can experiment with different types of potatoes, such as Yukon Gold, Idaho, or sweet potatoes.
• Feel free to get creative with seasonings! Try adding black pepper, smoked cheddar salt, barbecue seasoning, or even a sprinkle of vinegar.
• For an extra crispy texture, slice the potatoes as thinly as possible, ideally using a mandoline slicer.

Frequently asked questions