The Best Way to Slice Potatoes for Homemade Potato Chips

For a delicious and crispy homemade potato chip snack, slicing your potatoes is the key to success. Let's dive into the best methods to get the perfect thin slices every time.

Introduction to Potato Chips

It's important to note that potato chips in the UK are known as crisps, while regular chips are more commonly French fries or thick cuts. Whether you want to make delicious crisps or home-made potato chips, the process is quite similar, with the only difference being the final thickness of the potato slices.

Traditional Slicing Methods

To make homemade potato chips, you'll need a large pan for cooking, paper towels, and potatoes. Follow these steps to prepare your potatoes for frying:

Wash and peel your potatoes. Adjust your mandolin to 1.5mm or 1/8th inch approximately. Slice carefully with the mandolin, making sure to avoid the sharp blade. Place the sliced potatoes in a bowl of cold water with salt and 1/2 cups of white vinegar. Let them soak for 30 minutes to remove some of their starch. Dry well and place flat on a clean kitchen towel to remove excess water. Cook the slices in small batches in a pan heated to 190°C (350°F).

Alternatively, you can use a KitchenAid stand mixer attachment, a chip cutter, a cheese grater, or a mandoline for slicing. Each tool has its advantages and can produce excellent results.

Alternative Slicing Tools

Chip Cutter: This device can cut two sizes, perfect for both French fries and thick chips. For homemade potato chips, opt for the thinner cutter for that crispy texture. Mandolin: Mandolin provides the simplest and most uniform slicing. It is a versatile tool that speeds up the process and ensures all your slices are the same size and thickness. Cheese Grater: Use the long slicer on a cheese grater for uniform slices. Adjust the pressure to get the thickness you desire; for super thin chips, use the potato peeler itself. Fine Slicer Attachment for Food Processor: There's a cool attachment for a food processor that makes ripple slices from any vegetable. You can use them in salads or deep fry them for chips.

The easiest way to achieve the perfect slices is by using a mandolin. It's both easy and efficient, ensuring that all your slices are consistent in size and thickness.

Conclusion

Homemade potato chips can be a mouth-watering experience, and the quality of the slices is crucial. Whether you use a mandoline, a chip cutter, a cheese grater, or a food processor attachment, the key is to achieve a uniform and thin slice. Enjoy making your own crispy potatoes and savor the delicious results!