How to Make Homemade Potato Chips

Surely, we can all agree the sound of crispy, crunchy, and salty potato chips is super addicting. Potato chips are among the most popular snacks worldwide because of their savory, snackable nature. Although store-bought potato chips are delicious, there is nothing like some fresh, piping-hot homemade potato chips – they are much better! 

Growing up, my mom would make homemade potato chips later in the evening when we got hungry. It was the perfect snack. Back then, ketchup didn’t exist in Jordan, but my siblings and I would love eating them with some salt sprinkled. Within no time, the hungry kids would devour the bowl of hot potato chips. 

Most people would think potato chips are hard to make but easy! Simply slice the potatoes to be super thin and fry them in hot oil. Once golden brown and crispy, sprinkle them with lots of salt. 

If you have read my previous blog on making the perfect french fries, you will find that this recipe is similar. This is because chips and french fries are prepared nearly the same way. They are just cut into different shapes! 

Ingredients for your homemade potato chips

• Yukon Gold Potatoes (Washed and Peeled): The choice of Yukon Gold brings a buttery richness to the chips, ensuring a flavorful and golden result.
• Cold Water (for Soaking): Soaking the potatoes removes excess starch, contributing to a crispier texture when fried.
• Salt (for Soaking): Infusing the soaking water with salt enhances the initial seasoning of the potatoes, laying the foundation for flavor.
• Water (for Boiling): Parboiling the potatoes before frying ensures a perfect balance between a crispy exterior and a tender interior.
• Vinegar: Adding a touch of vinegar to the boiling water enhances the chips’ tanginess and overall flavor complexity.
• Oil for Frying (about 48 oz, like Canola or Vegetable Oil): The choice of oil affects the chips’ flavor and texture, with Canola or Vegetable Oil offering a neutral taste and ideal frying properties.
• Salt (to Sprinkle): Sprinkling salt immediately after frying adheres to the chips, providing savory goodness in every crispy bite.

How to Season Potato Chips?

There is nothing wrong with a batch of classic salted potato chips, but there are also many other ways to season your chips! You can make whatever your favorite seasoning is at home and add anything you want to it. To make spicy potato chips seasoning, you may want to mix some combination of chili powder, brown sugar, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, and cumin. By adjusting the amount of each of these seasonings, you can make yourself the perfect BBQ chips seasoning. 

Why Do You Soak Potatoes Before Frying? 

Soaking the potatoes before frying them will quickly remove the starch from the potatoes. This will help them become super crispy and prevent them from sticking together. You should soak them for at least 20 minutes for the best results. 

Tips for the Best Homemade Potato Chips 

Now that I have made plenty of homemade potato chips, here are my top tips for getting the best results. 

• I used Yukon potatoes, but use whatever potato you like. A russet potato works great, too. 
• Make sure to wash the potatoes thoroughly. If you are keeping the skin on, scrub them. If you don’t want the skin, you can peel the potatoes. 
• I fry medium-sized potatoes since they seem to be a perfect size. I typically count one for each person when deciding how many potatoes I need. If you use a large russet potato, use one for two people as the serving size. 
• I have good knife skills, so I usually cut potatoes with a knife. If you are worried about using a knife to thinly cut the potatoes, use a mandolin slicer to slice the potatoes. Using a mandolin will also make each potato slice come out to be the same size. This will help keep the same cooking time for each chip. The chips should be cut to about ⅛ of an inch thin.  
• Before frying the potatoes, wash the sliced potatoes under cold water a few times, then soak them in salted cold water for 20 minutes.
• Bring a pot of water to boil, and add a tablespoon of vinegar. Then, drain the potatoes from the salty water and add them to the boiling water. Boil for 4 minutes. 
• Ensure you pat dry the boiled potato well and bring it to room temperature before frying. 
• Get the frying oil to 375F using a thermometer. Once you add the dry-boiled potatoes, the temperature will drop to 350. This will be the perfect temperature for frying potato chips.