How to Make Crisp Banana Chips In an Air Fryer
Are you longing for something yummy to munch when you are chilling in front of the TV in the evenings? Or, do you really need something to nibble on mid-morning, to get you through until your lunch break at work?
Your head tells you to eat something healthy and nutritious, like a banana. Your tastebuds tell you to eat something scrumptious, like chips. But what would you say if I told you that you can have the best of both worlds, and snack on something that is both healthy and nutritious, as well as utterly scrumptious?
Banana chips are the ideal combination of healthy and yummy. But this mouth-watering snack is not only healthy and yummy. It is also super easy to make. You are about to discover a marvelous new skill: how to make banana chips in an air fryer.
Banana chips are a delicious snack. It is fantastic to have something that you can nibble on while remaining guilt-free. The wonderful thing about making banana chips in an air fryer is that they retain all of the nutritional value and health benefits of bananas, but contain none of the unhealthy, fattening elements of traditional chips.
You will need an air fryer, some basic kitchen utensils, bananas, a few drops of oil, and some seasonings. Keep reading to get some fabulous suggestions for seasonings, as well as a step-by-step guide for how to actually make banana chips in an air fryer.
Let’s talk about bananas for a minute. The humble banana is probably one of the most popular fruits on earth. In fact, I don’t think I even know anyone who doesn’t like bananas.
Readily available all over the world, it is known to be one of the healthiest fruits.
What Are The Benefits Of Eating Bananas?
It is so convenient to grab a banana for a quick bite when you are feeling peckish. A banana will certainly fill that hole in your stomach that is making your belly rumble.
Bananas are not only delicious and readily available. They are also extremely healthy and are very good for you. You can either eat them raw, or you can make banana chips in your air fryer, for a quick and healthy snack. This is a great way to get all the benefits of this amazing fruit.
There are many scientifically proven benefits to eating bananas. Here are a few reasons to make bananas a part of your daily diet.
- They contain multiple nutrients, such as fiber and antioxidants. They are rich in vitamins as well as other essential elements. A banana contains Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese, and copper, among other nutritional elements.
- They are beneficial for those who are trying to lose weight. One medium-sized banana contains about 110 calories but is very filling. The less ripe a banana is, the more resistant starch it contains, which will keep you feeling full for longer.
- Bananas are good for your digestion. They contain high levels of fiber, which helps to regulate your digestive system.
- Bananas provide your body with a lot of the potassium that it needs. Potassium is an essential mineral that helps to maintain a healthy heart, and also helps to control blood pressure. Studies have shown that an adequate potassium intake helps to prevent heart disease.
- The antioxidants in bananas help to promote general health and well-being. They are also known to offer some protection against certain degenerative conditions.
- Bananas that are still on the greenish side and are not fully ripe contain high levels of resistant starch. This is known to improve insulin sensitivity and may be beneficial in maintaining a healthy blood glucose level.
- Because the carbohydrates in bananas are very easy for the body to digest, they are known to be an excellent source of nutrition and energy. For this reason, they are highly popular among athletes and sportsmen. Many cyclists, for example, are known to keep a banana handy in the pocket at the back of their cycling shirt, for a quick pick-me-up while on the road.
- Bananas are very easy to include in your daily diet. They can be eaten whole, or chopped up and added to other dishes. Many people like adding a sliced banana to their bowl of cereal, or yogurt.
Once you have made banana chips in your air fryer, you will see how easy and delicious it is to add these to your breakfast bowl, for crunch and yum all at the same time.
Why use an Air Fryer To Make Banana Chips?
The air fryer has become one of the most popular small appliances in the kitchen in recent years. I am rapidly discovering that mine is becoming my best friend in my kitchen! There are numerous reasons for this.
- An air fryer is not a hugely expensive item. You can get a fairly decent one for less than $300, and it will serve you well. Of course, there are also many high-end, luxury models that cost a lot more, but I have found that you don’t really need all of the fancy features to make everyday stuff. A budget model will work just as well.
- Cooking in an air fryer is a very healthy way to prepare food. Unlike traditional frying, where you need a pan full of oil, for most dishes, no oil is required. If a recipe does call for oil, it will only be a tiny quantity, to help the surface crisp up nicely. This is an excellent tool for those who are trying to watch their weight.
- Using your air fryer is an economical method of cooking. Preparing a dish in the air fryer will use a lot less energy than cooking in a traditional oven, or on your stovetop. Because cooking times are much quicker than other methods, it does not consume much electricity.
- The best benefit of all is that the food that is cooked in an air fryer comes out perfectly every time, and is utterly delicious. The air fryer works by circulating hot air around the food. With most foods, this causes the outside to cook first, so it is amazingly crispy, while the inside will be soft and moist.
When cooking certain foods that are very thin, the entire piece will be firm and crispy. This is why it is so ideal to make banana chips in an air fryer. No-one loves soggy, soft banana chips. They have to be hard and crunchy. The air fryer does this perfectly, every time.
How To Make Banana Chips In The Air Fryer
The beauty of this recipe is that it is so simple that even a child can make it without much supervision. All you need is bananas, oil, and spices. You can use any seasoning that appeals to you.
Some spice suggestions are plain salt and pepper, peri-peri powder, or, my personal favorite, red chili powder mixed with a dash of turmeric.
I find that when I want to make banana chips in my air fryer, it works best with green, unripe bananas. Ripe bananas tend to come out softer and don’t have that delectable crispy crunch.
Remember that these banana chips do not have any preservatives, so they will only keep for 4-5 days, after which they may start to go moldy.
Banana Chips In The Air Fryer
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Sharp knife, or a mandoline slicer
- Cutting board
- Pair of silicone tongs
- Silicone spoon, or wooden spoon
- Spray bottle
- Baking tray
Ingredients
- Green bananas You can use as many you want. You may just have to do them in more than one batch, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- A little oil for spraying
- Seasoning of your choice.
Instructions
- Plug in your air fryer and preheat it to 350° Fahrenheit. ( This step is really important for the best results ).
- While your air fryer is heating up, peel and slice your bananas. I like to slice them very thin. This makes them come out quite hard and very crispy
- Spray the banana slices very lightly with a spritz of oil. This will help them to crisp up really well.
- Season the slices with a spice of your choice.
- Place the banana slices in the basket of the air fryer. It is important to arrange them in a single layer, with no overlapping. If they overlap they will stick together, and will not get crispy.
- Cook for 6 minutes at 350°.
- As soon as the timer goes off, pull out the basket and turn the slices over carefully, using a pair of silicone tongs.
- Put them back into the air fryer, and cook for another 6 minutes.
- Take them out, and remove the slices from the basket, using a silicone or wooden spoon. Spread them out on a baking tray to cool. They should be deliciously crispy once fully cooled.
- When they are completely cold, store them in an airtight container.
Cooking in my air fryer has been a wonderful journey of discovery. I love trying new things in the kitchen, so learning how to utilize a new gadget to its full potential has been a lot of fun for me.
Ever since I got my first air fryer, I keep discovering more and more new things that I can do in it. Not only have I learned how to make banana chips (one of my favorite snacks ) in the air fryer, but I have also learned lots of other useful stuff.
Read Related Topic: How Long To Cook Brats In Air Fryer
Helpful Hints And Tips
Now that you know how to make banana chips in an air fryer, let me give you some useful tips about using this magical invention. These are all things that I have found to be very helpful, and often nobody tells you this stuff!
- You don’t need to spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray. It has a non-stick coating, and often the spray can damage this coating.
- If you want your food to come out really crispy and with a golden glow, use a spray bottle to give the food itself a very light spritz of oil before placing it in the air fryer.
- Preheat your air fryer before placing the food in it. This will help the food to cook more evenly, and it will also take less time.
- Avoid using metal utensils to turn or remove food from the air fryer basket. They may scratch the non-stick surface. It is preferable to use silicone or wooden spoons, tongs, and lifters.
- Food should always be placed in a single layer in the basket, and not stacked. Ensure that air can circulate around the food in the basket. This will ensure that the pieces do not stick to each other, and they won’t be soggy.
- The air fryer basket and pan should be cleaned every time you use it. Wash it in warm water with a mild dish-washing soap, and wipe with a soft cloth. This will help to ensure that your air fryer lasts you many years.
- Position your air fryer in a place where air can circulate around the whole appliance. It emits hot air from behind, which needs to be allowed to escape. It is best to place it in front of a window that can be opened while it is in use.
- You may need to place a board under your air fryer, in order to protect your kitchen surface from the heat, depending on what type of surface you have. The underneath of the appliance gets very hot, and could possibly damage your surface.
- The best tip of all, if you have enough counter space, keep your air fryer out on the countertop, rather than in a cabinet. Then you will find that you use it much more. It is so easy to just pop something in the air fryer if you don’t first have to bother with getting it out of a cupboard.
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