How to Make Banana Chips Quickly and Easily?

If you are wondering what to do with the ripe bananas on your counter, banana chips are the answer! This tasty, sweet-salty snack is perfect for use in place of regular chips and is much healthier. Making banana chips at home with an oven, air fryer, or dehydrator is much easier and cheaper than buying them ready-made.

After some research and trial, here are our tips on how to make banana chips quickly and easily in many different ways that will surely please your taste buds.

Selecting the Right Bananas

Selecting the right bananas is crucial to achieving the best results when making banana chips. Here are some tips:

Ripeness

The ripeness of the bananas is a crucial factor in determining how crunchy or sweet the banana chips are.

Bananas that are too green may be difficult to slice, resulting in harsh and bitter-tasting chips. On the other hand, bananas that are too ripe may be overly sweet and soft, making them difficult to slice and resulting in chips that are too thin and crispy.

The ideal ripeness for making banana chips is when the bananas are just starting to turn yellow with a few brown spots, which indicates that they are ripe but still firm enough to slice easily.

Variety

Banana varieties will make a difference in how long your chips stay crunchy, but all types of bananas can be used for this recipe.

The main thing is to choose one with thick skin and a large size so your slices don’t fall apart while baking in the oven. Bananas with more moisture are better than drier ones since they won’t turn brown quickly once cooked.

Quality

Selecting high-quality bananas is essential in achieving the best results when making banana chips.

Look for bananas free from bruises, blemishes, and other signs of damage. The skin should be firm and without any soft spots. Additionally, choose bananas that are uniform in size to ensure even cooking.

Preparing the Bananas

Washing and peeling: Start by washing the bananas thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris. Then, peel the skin off the bananas using a sharp knife or your hands.

Slicing techniques: Depending on how thick or thin you want your banana chips, you can use different techniques. One popular technique is to slice the bananas diagonally, creating oval-shaped chips. Another technique is to use a mandoline slicer to get evenly thin slices.

Soaking in lemon juice or honey: Once you have sliced the bananas, you can soak them in lemon juice or honey to add flavor and prevent them from turning brown.

Lemon juice will give the chips a tangy flavor, while honey will make them slightly sweeter. Soak the slices for 10-15 minutes before placing them on a baking sheet.

Making banana chips is a fun, easy, and healthy way to enjoy your favorite fruit! These tasty snacks are perfect for snacking on while you watch movies or television shows. They also make great party food or even a healthy dessert option.

In this section, we’ll show you 6 different ways to make banana chips quickly. Let’s get started!

How to Make Baked Banana Chips

Ingredients needed:

• Ripe bananas
• Lemon juice (optional)
• Salt (optional)

Steps for making banana chips:

1. Preheat the oven reaching 200°F (93°C) and place the baking sheet in it.
2. Peel the bananas and slice them evenly into about 1/8-inch thick rounds.
3. If desired, brush the banana slices with lemon juice to prevent browning and sprinkle them with salt for added flavor.
4. Place the banana slices on a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are not touching.
5. Bake the banana chips in the oven for 2-3 hours or until they are dry and crispy.
6. Once done, remove the banana chips from the outside and let them cool completely before serving.

Baking tips for optimal crispiness

• Choose the right bananas: Use firm and ripe bananas for making banana chips. Overripe bananas will be too soft and won’t hold their shape during slicing.
• Space out the slices: Arrange a single layer of banana slices on the baking sheet so they do not touch or overlap. It allows proper air circulation and even baking.
• Let them cool completely: Once the banana chips are done, let them cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. It will make chips fresh and crispy for longer.

A Sweet Way to Make Banana Chips with Sugar

If you’re a fan of banana chips, try making them with a sprinkle of sugar for an extra dose of sweetness.

Steps for making banana chips with sugar:

• Preparing the sugar mixture: Mix 1 cup of white granulated sugar and two tablespoons of water in a large bowl. Mix well until all of the sugar has dissolved. Add cinnamon and vanilla extract and stir to combine. Set aside.
• Coating the bananas with the sugar mixture: Peel the banana and slice it into thin slices (about 1/16th inch thick). Try to make them all approximately the same size so they cook evenly.
• Place banana slices in a large bowl and pour cooled syrup over them; coat them well so that all sides get coated evenly. Use your hands to help coat each piece evenly if needed!
• Baking the banana chips: Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (122 Celsius) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicon baking mat if desired (recommended). Spread your coated banana slices onto baking pans and bake for 30 minutes on one side, then flip over onto another (this will give them a nice golden color). Bake for another 20 minutes.

Tips for making sweet and crunchy banana chips:

• After baking, you can put sugar powder on the surface of the banana slices to decorate the chips and enhance the taste.
• Watch the banana chips during baking as the sugar mixture is scorched and changes color.

How to Make Banana Chips with an Air Fryer

That is the quickest method for making super crispy banana chips. Besides, an air fryer is the perfect device to make delicious and healthy banana chips. Its rapid air circulation technology ensures even cooking, resulting in crispy and golden chips without the need for excessive oil.

By using an air fryer, you can enjoy guilt-free, homemade banana chips while preserving their natural flavors and nutrients.

Step-by-step instructions:

• Slice your bananas into thin rounds.
• Preheat: Set the temperature of your air fryer to 350 degrees F.
• Prepare: Mix lemon juice and oil and coat your banana slices.
• Arrange: Place the banana slices in one layer in your air fryer basket or tray and ensure they aren’t touching or overlapping.
• Cook: Air fry for 10-12 minutes until they start to turn brown and become crispy
• Turn off the heat and let them sit inside the air fryer for 2–3 minutes to finish cooking through.

Air frying tips for even cooking:

Ensure your banana slices are dry before putting them into your air fryer. Moisture prevents even cooking because it creates steam which can cause moisture buildup inside your air fryer chamber, resulting in uneven results.

How to Make Dehydrated Banana Chips

This method is a set-it-and-forget-it process. It takes several hours, but you don’t need to worry about your chips while drying—no constant supervision is required!

If you want to create these banana chips, be sure to read our review of the best food dehydrators.

Step-by-step instructions:

• Slice: First, slice your bananas and place them in a bowl.
• Prepare: Put the water and lemon juice in a bowl, then gently stir your bananas to expose each to the mixture.
• Arrange: Place the bananas on your dehydrator trays, arranging them in a single layer. Put the trays into your dehydrator and close it up with its lid.
• Dry: There are two ways to dehydrate your slices: sun-drying or using an electric dehydrator (recommended).
• Place them on a sheet lined with parchment or waxed paper to dry them in the sun and set the tray on a sunny windowsill. Leave the slices for about 24 hours until they are completely dried out and hard (this may take longer, depending on the weather).
• To dry them with an electric dehydrator, set them to 135 degrees F. Depending on the dehydrator you own and how thick your banana slices are, they will take 6 – 8 hours to dry out enough that they won’t spoil prematurely in their packaging. Check your banana chips after 6 hours to see whether they are ready.

Dehydrating tips for chewy or crispy results:

• For crispy chips: Set a high temperature, about 150° – 170°F, and cut the bananas into thin slices as much as possible.
• For chewy chips: Set the temperature to about 130° – 140°F and cut the banana into thicker pieces and add the syrup before dehydrating.

Without Lemon Juice, How to Make Banana Chips

• Use vinegar instead of lemon juice: Mix one tablespoon of vinegar with a cup of water and soak the banana slices in the mixture for a few minutes before frying.
• Use lime juice: If you have lime juice, use it instead of lemon juice. Lime juice has a similar acidity level to lemon juice and will help prevent the banana slices from turning brown.
• Use salt water: Another alternative to lemon juice is salt water. Mix a tablespoon of white salt with a cup of water and soak the banana slices in this mixture for a few minutes before frying.
• Fry them immediately: If you are not using any of the above substitutes, it’s important to fry the banana slices immediately after slicing them. That will prevent them from turning brown due to oxidation.
• Use honey or sugar: You can soak banana slices in the honey to prevent the bananas from turning brown. However, remember that this method will add more sweetness to the finished banana chips.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Commercial Banana Chips

The commercial production process for banana chips is nearly identical to traditional homemade banana chips, including: peeling and slicing (The raw materials are often peeled and then cut with a banana slicer) – blanching and color protection – frying – degreasing – seasoning – packaging and selling.

Besides, according to local requirements, you must be registered as a commercial entity to produce banana chips. After obtaining permission for production and operation, you may make the product.

It is vital to have established sales channels to make good banana chips:

1. Selling directly to people

2. Providing the product to local shops and supermarkets

3. Making online sales.

Banana chips are a healthy and delicious snack that can provide energy throughout the day. However, to maintain their freshness and crispiness, it is vital to store them correctly.

One of the best ways to store banana chips is in an airtight container. That will prevent air from getting in and keep the chips fresh for extended periods. The best container for storing banana chips is made of glass or plastic and has a tight-fitting lid. Before sealing the lid on your chip container, remove as much air as possible.

Another option for storing banana chips is to use a ziplock bag. This way is very convenient and easy to store banana chips, especially on the go. Place the chips in the bag and seal it tightly. You also should remove all air from the bag using a vacuum sealer, which will help keep the chips fresh and crispy.

To store banana chips for an extended amount of time, remove the air and seal the chips in an airtight bag using a vacuum sealer. This method preserves freshness and prevents moisture from affecting the chips’ crispiness. Before purchasing a vacuum sealer, be sure to check out HomeTopPicks’ reviews and recommendations to find the perfect machine for your needs.

Keeping banana chips away from moisture and heat is crucial when storing them. Moisture can cause the chips to become soft and stale, while heat can cause them to lose their crispiness. Store the banana chips in a cool, dry place like a pantry or cupboard.

Before storing the banana chips, make sure to check the expiration date. If the chips are past their expiration date, they aren’t safe to eat and should be discarded.

Banana chips are a fun and tasty snack. In addition to being delicious, banana chips can be a healthy snack. They’re low in calories and fat, contain a lot of potassium (essential for heart health), and are suitable for reducing muscle cramps.

I hope you like this article on how to make banana chips quickly and easily. With this list of numerous approaches, you can pick the best for your situation. Try now!

Karyn

Karyn is an IIN Health Coach certified by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition since 2021, with a passion for cooking and exercise, especially yoga. She brings her expertise in Nutrition and Fitness to Hometoppicks, leading both the Kitchen and Home Gym sections to provide credible product recommendations. Karyn is committed to guiding readers on their healthy living journey with her expert tips and trusted product suggestions. You can find more about her here.