How to Make Homemade Potato Chips (Without Oil) Recipe in 40 Minutes

I believe there is no human being on this planet who doesn’t like homemade potato chips. I mean, what is not to like? They’re crispy and crunchy and tasty and delicious. And go with practically anything, from burgers to roasted veggies, grilled meats and fish fingers.

Just like all the other foods cooked at home, homemade potato chips are no different: it is clear that they are much better than the store-bought ones. Not to mention they don’t have any additives or other not so healthy flavors. Conventional chips contain a lot of fat and most of it is saturated fat. Consuming large amounts of potato chips can definitely lead to weight gain.

However, this snack is one of the most popular in United States. It is made of thin potato slices, vegetable oil and salt. Many time, producers add flavors and other additives such as monosodium glutamate. Although the downsides of frying foods at high temperatures are well known, many people still eat these treats every day. That happens because, despite the fact that they’re not so healthy, chips remain delicious. So why not try an alternative which is healthy too?

What are the Health Benefits of Potatoes?

You should know that potatoes are packed with lot of nutrients so it’s nothing wrong in eating them. They contain a lot of vitamins and minerals. Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional information of a medium baked potato, with skin on:

Looks pretty impressive, right? That should change the way you look at potatoes. The skin contains a large amount of minerals and vitamins. Peeling the potatoes significantly decreases the volume of nutrients but still we can’t say that this vegetable is devoid of any nutritional value. The way we cook them is also important because frying adds a lot of fat, for example.

Another thing you should know about potatoes is that they also contain plenty of compounds which act like antioxidants: carotenoids, flavonoids and phenolic acids. Scientists say that these compounds can neutralize the potential harmful effect of the molecules known as free radicals. In case the last start to accumulate, we may face an increased risk of diabetes, heart diseases or cancer. There are studies which showed that the compounds with antioxidant effect from potatoes may inhibit the growth of colon and liver cancer cells.

You probably know by now that dark colored fruits and veggies (like blueberries, for example) have a lot of antioxidants. It’s the same with the potatoes: the purple ones contain up to three or four times more antioxidants than the white ones. This means that they could be more effective in neutralizing those nasty free radicals.

Yet it is thought that we need to do more human-based researching in order to make health recommendations because by now most of the studies are test-tube, meaning “in vitro”.

The starch contained in potatoes is known as resistant starch. This means it is not fully absorbed by the body. It travels to the large intestine and feeds the beneficial bacteria from the gut with valuable nutrients. Many studies, including animal ones, state that this type of starch has multiple health benefits, such as decreasing insulin resistance. This is very important because it helps in improving blood sugar control, making the body more efficient in ditching the excess sugar. Even studies made with people with type 2 diabetes showed that after eating a meal which contained resistant starch, their bodies were able to better remove the excess blood sugar. By consuming 30 grams of resistant starch every day for four weeks other people, subject to a different study, had their insulin resistance reduced by 33%.

From my point of view, the best thing about potatoes is that they can improve digestive health. Being good for the beneficial bacteria in the gut, resistant starch helps in reducing the colon inflammation, aid with inflammatory bowel disorders or colitis. I have noticed that myself: whenever I have some stomach ache, eating a baked potato helps me.

That being said, there is no wonder that people invented chips. Not that they knew much about these benefits back then but I’m pretty sure that at least the digestive health improvements were noticed. 

Who Invented Potato Chips?

There are many stories about who and where were the chips invented. The most famous one says they were created in 1853, in Saratoga Springs NY.

It is said that Cornelius Vanderbilt, a very rich steamship owner, was waiting for his dinner in a large dining room of Moon’s Lake House, located in Saratoga Springs, New York. This story takes place in 1853. His cook, George Crum, prepared some meat (probably partridge or woodcock) and added French fries as a side dish. But Vanderbilt was not content with the fries under the pretext that they were too thick.

These criticizing words made Crum very angry. He shaved the potatoes in really thins slices and fried them in hot oil, making the slices crispy. He wanted to insult Vanderbilt and sent those rounds to the table. Contrary to the cook’s expectations, the ship owner was delighted. So was the owner of the Moon property, Harriet Moon. She declared that the chips would be served in stacks and become a signature dish of the Lake House.

In the following years, Crum even opened a restaurant named “Crum’s Place” and sold these potatoes as “Saratoga chips”. As time went by, his chips gained more and more fame.

In theory, as previously stated, chips contain only three ingredients: potato slices, vegetable oil and salt. What about cooking oil free potato chips? This will remove the fat from this snack, making it healthier. 

How to Make Homemade Baked Potato Chips in the Oven?

It is actually easier than you think. You just need a sharp knife, a mandoline slicer or a food processor which has this accessory attached. I personally used the food processor because my hand is not so steady and I would have end up with something more like fries than chips.

You will also need some salt and maybe herbs to flavor your homemade potato chips.

Preheat the oven to 350F. It is better to leave the potatoes inside for a little longer than to burn them, that’s why a lower baking temperature is recommended. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the slices on the sheets, one next to each other, making sure you don’t stack them. If you do this, they won’t have that crispy texture. 

Transfer the baking sheets to the oven and let them cook for about 20 minutes. You should check them from time to time because ovens can be different and even if you set the right temperature, the chips may burn. After 20 minutes, switch the place of the sheets so everything will get evenly cooked. Leave in the oven for another 20 minutes. Keep checking after 7-10 minutes. 

Preparing this healthy potato chips recipe will get you a pile of goodies for your snack time so don’t be afraid to try it.

One other way to cook fat free potato chips is to microwave them. I prefer baking (I like the taste better) but if you are in a hurry, this might be a solution because it will take only 5 minutes.

What Flavors Can You Make?

Now, that is a great question. You can make… any flavor you want. You may add anything you want to baked potato chips no oil right after placing them on the baking sheet

It really doesn’t matter which flavor you choose and that’s the great thing about it. You can cook this healthy potato chips recipe according to your own preferences.

How to Keep Homemade Potato Chips Crispy?

First of all, if you want some real crispy chips, I strongly advise you to not remove them for 40-45 minutes in the oven. This way all the moisture will evaporate and you will have the perfect degree of crunchiness.

Second, keep them in a ziplock bag or airtight container after they are completely cold. This way they will not soften.

How Long Do Homemade Potato Chips Last?

I will be extremely honest with you: they don’t. I mean, how could this happen? When you bring a bowl with these goodies and place it on table surrounded by people, every single person in that room turns into a vulture. Or any other bird of prey you prefer. In five minutes there is nothing left. Because, as I said before, no human being on this planet can honestly say: “I don’t like oil free potato chips!”

So I don’t know exactly the answer to this question, but I’m guessing that they will keep their crispy texture for about three to five days when stored properly.