How to Make Potato Chips

Crispy, salty, crunchy — potato chips are this and so much more. Cooking chips at home allows you to tweak what you put in them, meaning you know exactly what you're eating. What's more, there are plenty of different ways to make potato chips, depending on your taste preference and time. You can make baked, fried, or microwaved potato chips.

Prep time (Baking): 20 minutes
Cook time: 15-20 minutes
Total time: 35-40 minutes

Ingredients

Baking

4 russet (baking) potatoes
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) of butter, melted
Coarse sea salt to taste

Frying

4 russet potatoes
1 quart oil
3 tablespoons sea salt
Any additional seasonings, such as cayenne pepper, curry powder, etc.

Microwaving

Potato(es)
Salt and other seasonings (optional)
Olive oil (optional)

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Baking Potato Chips

1
Preheat oven to 500° F (260° C).
2
Cut your potatoes using a mandoline or a food processor for best results. Mandolines and food processors deliver even, consistent results, but if you're absolutely in a pinch, using a knife to cut by hand is acceptable.

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3
After cutting, dry your potato slices in between paper towels to absorb some of the moisture.
4
Lightly butter or oil a baking tray and arrange potato slices in one layer along tray.
5
Brush potato slices with melted butter.
6
Place baking tray into the center rack of oven and cook for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown at the edges.
7
Remove from the oven and sprinkle lightly with sea salt.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Frying Potato Chips

1
Slice your potatoes to your desired thickness. You can cut your potatoes by hand if you want, but a far more efficient — and probably more effective — way of slicing them would be to use:
- A food processor slicing attachment
- A mandoline slicer (be very careful!)
2
Add 3 tablespoons of salt to a large bowl of water and soak your sliced potatoes in the salt water for half an hour. After they've soaked for 30 minutes, rinse them in a colander, then rinse them again and let dry.
3
Choose an oil you'd like to fry with. While vegetable, safflower, corn, or peanut oil are all perfectly viable options, many people are increasingly turning to olive oil because it contains no trans fats.^{[1]
X
Research source} Since deep-frying is already the least healthy method of cooking potato chips, it might be a good idea to use the healthiest oil you can get.
4
Heat your oil in a deep fryer or a large frying pan until it reaches about 350° to 375° F (177° to 190° C). Optimally, use about a quart of oil. At the bare minimum, cover the bottom of your pan with an inch of oil.
- Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature of your oil. If you need to eyeball things because you don't own a candy thermometer, stick the end of a wooden spoon into the oil and wait for bubbles to start forming at the end of the spoon.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
- Another way to check the temperature of oil without a thermometer is by frying a small cube of bread. Bread will turn a golden hue at 320° F after 30 seconds; 355° F after 15 seconds; and 375° F after 10 seconds.^{[3]
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  Research source}
5
Cook your potatoes in small batches, removing when they start to turn golden brown. Cooking your potatoes all at once can drop the temperature of the oil too far too quickly.
6
Once removed, put the chips on a plate with a paper towel over it to absorb the oil. If desired, season immediately.
7
Finished.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Microwaving Potato Chips

1
Slice your potatoes using a mandoline or a food processor to achieve an even thickness. Cut your potato slices anywhere from 1/4" to 1/8" thick for best results.
2
Soak your potato slices in water to remove excess starch.^{[4]
X
Research source} Alternately, run potato slice through running water until the runoff created is no longer cloudy. Start to let air dry.
- If you want to salt your potato chips, adding about 3 tablespoons of sea salt to the water you use to soak the potatoes in creates enough saltiness in the final product.
3
Remove any excess moisture by placing the potato slices between clean cloths or paper towels and lightly pressing. Water is the enemy in this process, so be sure to remove as much as possible before microwaving.
4
Place potatoes underneath a paper towel on a plate. Make sure that potato slices are not touching one another.
5
On full power, microwave potato slices for 3 minutes.
6
Remove from the microwave, flip the slices, and microwave at 50% for 3 minutes.
7
Remove from the microwave, flip the slices, and cook in 1 minute intervals at 50% power.^{[5]
X
Research source} Cook until deliciously crispy and golden brown in the middle.
8
Season with any additional herbs or flavors, if desired.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I make the chips taste better after going stale?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

If the chips were not stored properly and have a stale taste to them, try this easy trick: Place the chips inside a freezer bag. Pop the bag into the freezer and leave there for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove and tip into a serving bowl. The chips will not longer taste stale but will be crispy and tasty again.
Question

When I make my potato chips they are not a uniform golden brown. What am I doing wrong?

Community Answer

You might be trying to cook too many at one time, preventing the heat from distributing evenly. Try making smaller batches. It will take a little longer, but it's worth it!
Question

How can I store them?

Community Answer

Keep in an airtight container. They should last up to a week, provided that they don't get eaten first!

Warnings

Chips will be hot, so use caution when eating.

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Use safety while frying.

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