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A hand holding a potato chip ready and seasoned close up showing the crispy texture and seasoning on top

Homemade Potato Chips

Homemade Potato Chips are one of those recipes that you hesitate so much to make at home. But once you make them, you'll know it was worth every bit of work! This tutorial covers everything you need to know about homemade potato chips. Also sharing microwave potato chips and air fryer potato chips!
Course Air Fryer, Appetizer, side, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword chips, homemade potato chips, how to make potato chips, potato chips
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 453 kcal
Author Mahy

Ingredients

Potatoes

  • 4 Russet Potatoes peeled or peel on

Soaking

  • 2 cups ice
  • 2 cups water or vinegar

Frying

  • 1 cup Avocado oil any neutral high smoke point oil

Air Frying

  • 1 Tablespoon oil spray

Seasoning

  • 1 tablespoon sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar powder for vinegar chips
  • 1 tbalespoon ranch powder for ranch

Instructions

  1. You need a mandolin slicer to make the best potato chips. You also need to be SUPER careful because this tool is absolutely more dangerous than a knife in the kitchen. So set up your slicer to the 1/16 or 1/8 inch mark to get nice and thin chips.
    A hand slicing a russet potato using a mandolin slicer
  2. Slice the potatoes all over a board and then prepare the ice bath.
    Thinly sliced potatoes in an ice bowl soaking for potato chips
  3. Soaking the potatoes in ice bath is crucial for crispy chips! Soaking pulls out the excess starch and helps seal the potato surface for a crisp finish.
  4. After the ice bath, it's important to dry the potato slices really well before frying. We do so by spreading them over a kitchen towel in a single layer. Cover them with another towel and rub them well, or leave to dry.
    The potato slices spread in a single layer over a kitchen towel to dry
  5. Once your potatoes are all dried up, now comes the best part --making the homemade potato chips!
  6. Fried Potatoes Chips
  7. Prepare a wok with hot oil. We use a neutral tasting oil, preferable with a high smoking point like avocado oil.
    a few potato slices frying in very hot oil
  8. Add in the sliced potatoes just a few at a time to avoid them clumping or lowering the oil temperature.
    A slotted spoon slipping the chips in the hot oil
  9. Use a slotted spoon to flip the chips around until they’re golden and ready.
  10. Remove the chips on to kitchen paper to drain any excess oil, although we noticed they weren't oily as expected.
    The potato chips removed from the oil and placed on paper towels to drain
  11. At that point they're ready to enjoy with a sprinkle of seasoning!
  12. Microwave Potato Chips
  13. To cook those chips in the micorwave, start by using a microwave safe plate.
    A ceramic plate with a layer of wax paper and then a single layer of potato slices spread over it
  14. Place a layer of wax paper over the plate. Now spread the sliced and dried potatoes in a single layer.
    Microwave potato chips ready and golden
  15. Microwave for about 5-6 minutes depending on your microwave.
  16. They will be done when golden and they will crisp up more as they cool down.
  17. While this method creates crispy potato chips as well, we felt it took longer for large batches. So it's a great method if you're making a small batch only.
  18. Air Fryer Potato Chips
  19. You know we love our air fryer recipes, so naturally we had to test it for potato chips too! You'll need to place the slices in your air fryer basket and give them a good spray of oil.
    The thinly sliced and dried potatoes in the basket of the air fryer sprayed with some oil spray
  20. Shake the basket well and air fry the potatoes for 3-4 minutes depending on how golden you prefer them.
  21. They come out crisp, not oily a bit, yet super golden.
    golden air fried potatoes in a basket of the air fryer
  22. Season the Homemade Potato Chips
  23. No mater which way you choose to cook the chips, they need to be seasoned immediately after cooking. So while they're still hot, sprinkle some seasoning on top and give that a shake.
    close up of crispy fried potato chips showing the crispiness and seasoning and golden color
  24. You can use ranch, spicy, cajun, salt and vinegar powder or however you want. For the record we had trouble finding vinegar powder, only on amazon.  But it was so worth it for those who love that vinegar flavor.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

 

Tips For Homemade Potato Chips

  1. Start with the right type of potatoes. Using Russet or Idaho potatoes with low moisture content makes cirspier chips.
  2. Always use a mandolin slicer for perfectly thin potato chips.
  3. Set the slicer at 1/16 inch for the thinnest possible chips, or 1/8 inch for slightly thicker ones.
  4. Be extra cautious when working with a mandolin slicer as it is SUPER dangerous and sharp.
  5. Soak the potatoes in ice water when sliced. Soaking seals the surface for extra crispness.
  6. If making salt and vinegar chips, soak the potatoes in vinegar and ice instead of water. 
  7. Make sure to dry out the potatoes really well before cooking it. 
  8. Choose frying, microwaving or air frying depending on what you prefer. 
  9. For frying, choose a neutral oil with high smoking point. Avocado oil is our favorite. 
  10. Keep the oil at a good temperature about 375 degrees F. It's best to use an oil thermometer.
  11. Make sure to flip the potatoes around in the oil using a slotted spoon as you cook them. 
  12. Drain the chips in case there’s any extra oil and season while hot for infusing flavor.
  13. To microwave the potato chips, make sure you spread them in a single layer. It's crucial. Also remember the chips will harden as they cool.
  14. As for the air fryer method, you'll need a spray of oil over it. Air fry and keep shaking every minute to distribute the heat. 
  15. When seasoning the chips, make sure you season it right after it has cooked. This infuses the flavor right away!

 

How to Make Folded Chips?

If you love that folded potato chips look, fold over the potatoes in the hot oil as you turn them.

What if I don't have an instant thermometer?

We prefer an electric deep fryer as you can set the temperature and it doesn't change. If not, then use a bread cube and fry it. If the bread takes 50 seconds, then you're at the right temperature. If it takes less 30-40 seconds, then it's too hot. And likewise if it takes longer, it's too cold. 

Can I bake the Chips?

We love the air fryer or microwave as a second option. While the oven works, we prefer the air fryer as it is faster.

Why do we Soak the Potatoes?

Soaking the potatoes creates a seal on the potatoes outer layer, so the result is extra crispy.

What seasoning can I use?

Your favorite seasoning! just sprinkle the seasoning right over the hot chips when ready.

How to Make Salt and Vinegar Chips?

To make homemade salt and vinegar chips, soak the potatoes in PURE vinegar. Use white vinegar and ice. Soak the potatoes and drain as per recipe. When fried and ready sprinkle salt and vinegar powder. We found vinegar powder on Amazon. It was SO HARD to find elsewhere!

What makes Chips Soggy?

Nothing can ruin this homemade potato chips experience like soggy chips. Here's how to avoid them. 

  • Make sure to soak the potatoes for at least 30 minutes.
  • Dry the potatoes thoroughly before frying.
  • Avoid overcrowding the fryer, or air fryer or microwave plate when cooking the potatoes.
  • Make sure the chips are completely dried before storing them.

 

Nutrition Facts
Homemade Potato Chips
Amount Per Serving
Calories 453 Calories from Fat 342
% Daily Value*
Fat 38g58%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g
Monounsaturated Fat 27g
Sodium 1179mg51%
Potassium 592mg17%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 1IU0%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 24mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.