Crispy Oven-Baked Potato Chips

These Crispy Oven-Baked Potato Chips are a simple and healthy alternative to store-bought chips. Made with fresh russet potatoes and a touch of salt, they’re baked to perfect crispness for a satisfying snack.

Ingredients for Potato Chips

• Potatoes: Opt for russet potatoes due to their high starch content, which is ideal for achieving that desired crispy texture. Yukon Gold or red potatoes are suitable alternatives.
• Olive Oil: Helps in crisping the potato slices during baking.
• Salt: Enhances the flavor of the chips.

Oven-Baked Potato Chips: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Preparation: Begin by thoroughly rinsing and scrubbing the potatoes. Peeling is optional depending on your preference for skin-on or skinless chips.
2. Slicing: For uniform thin slices, use a mandoline slicer. This ensures even cooking and crispiness.
3. Soaking: Soak the sliced potatoes in ice water for about 30 minutes to remove excess starch, which helps in achieving a crisper chip.
4. Drying: After soaking, drain the potatoes and pat them dry thoroughly to ensure they crisp up in the oven.
5. Seasoning: Toss the dried potato slices in olive oil and salt to evenly coat them before baking.
6. Baking: Arrange the potato slices in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 450°F (230°C) for 30-35 minutes until golden and crispy.

Alternative Cooking Method: Air Frying

For those who own an air fryer, you can achieve a similar crisp texture:

• Setup: Place the seasoned potato slices in the air fryer basket in batches to avoid overcrowding.
• Cooking: Air fry at 360°F (182°C) for about 20 minutes, flipping every five minutes to ensure even crispiness.

Tips and Tricks

• Cold Pan Start: For a flatter and denser result, ensure your pan is hot by heating it in the oven as it preheats.
• Butter Amount: Generously coat the pan with butter for a fluffy pancake.
• Batter Consistency: Avoid overmixing to prevent the gluten in the flour from developing, which can make the pancake dense.
• Ingredient Temperature: Ingredients should be at room temperature to help the batter mix smoothly and puff up nicely when baked.
• Appropriate Pan Size: Use a 9-10 inch (23-25 cm) diameter pan to ensure there is enough room for the pancake to expand and puff up.

Serving Suggestions

Dutch Baby Pancakes are versatile and can be enjoyed with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar, syrup, fresh fruit, or your favorite sweet toppings.

Ingredients:

• 4 medium russet potatoes
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (15 ml)
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions:

Preparation:

• Rinse and scrub the potatoes thoroughly under cold water. You can peel them if you prefer your chips without skins.

Slicing:

• Use a mandoline slicer to cut the potatoes into thin, even slices. This ensures they cook evenly and become crispy.

Soaking:

• Place the potato slices in a large bowl and cover them with ice water. Let them soak for about 30 minutes. This step is crucial as it removes excess starch from the potatoes, helping them crisp up during baking.

Drying:

• After soaking, drain the potatoes and pat them dry thoroughly with a clean towel. Removing as much moisture as possible is key to achieving crispy chips.

Seasoning:

• Toss the dried potato slices in a bowl with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to coat them evenly. Sprinkle with ½ teaspoon of kosher salt and toss again to distribute the salt evenly.

Baking:

• Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C).
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the potato slices in a single layer, ensuring they do not overlap.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, flipping the slices halfway through the cooking time to ensure they brown evenly on both sides.

Cooling:

• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the chips to cool on the sheet for a few minutes; they will continue to crisp up as they cool.

Serving:

• Serve your crispy potato chips immediately for the best texture, or store them in an airtight container once they’ve cooled completely to maintain their crispness.

Enjoy your homemade potato chips as a standalone snack or pair them with your favorite dip for an extra treat!