Homemade Banana Chips Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why my banana chips are not crispy? ›

A common reason behind dehydrated bananas not being crispy enough has to do with the ripeness of the fruit before the drying process. Starting off with bananas that are a bit firm is best, as overripe bananas can take longer to dry and, as a result, become sticky rather than crispy.

The process generally includes deep-frying of thin raw banana slices of about 1–2 mm thickness in suitable cooking medium and salting them. Slicing can be done so as to have required shapes such as wholes, quarters, long cut or slivers, and fine brokens.

The Double-Fry Method

The first round is at a lower temperature to cook the inside of the potato and the second time you'll use a higher temperature to make the fries golden brown and crispy. You can use a home deep-fryer or just heat the oil in a Dutch oven.

The difference lies in their starch content and structure. Waxy potatoes are amazing for boiling as they keep their shape, but floury potatoes fry up crisper. Use a floury (also called mealy) potato such as Russet or Shepody for your chips and you'll have better success.

Bananas should be leathery when they are completely dried. To test, remove a slice and let it cool. It may have some bend but if you tear one in half and squeeze it, there should be no moisture that seeps out. If they have any signs of remaining moisture, put them back into the dehydrator or oven to dry longer.

If you want your dehydrated bananas to have a light colour, you will have to pre-treat them with a solution that helps prevent browning before you dehydrate them. We use a simple mixture of lemon juice and water. The juice will not affect the taste of the bananas and bonus, it acts as a preservative.

Dehydrated Banana Slices | Commercial Dehydrators

Soak the slices in the lemon juice solution for about 10 minutes. This is to prevent them from turning brown. Drain the banana slices for about 10 minutes then arrange in a single layer on the dehydrator trays. Dehydrate at 130°F for 6 - 10 hours.

Can you over dry bananas? Once you get to the stage where bananas are 28% of their starting weight, any additional time in the dehydrator will yield miniscule additional water evaporation. The dried bananas might get a little harder, but you can still enjoy them, even if you over dry them by an hour or two.

It will take 6 hours to to make air fryer dehydrated bananas. Just arrange the banana slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, select the dehydrate function and set your time to 6 hours. Personally, I think actually air frying the chips is the way to go because it's so fast, but dehydrating will work as well!

Which oil is used for banana chips? ›

We are used coconut oil to prepare this Banana Chips. Coconut oil or velichanna as it is known here in Kerala, has been the preferred oil for centuries. It has a very smoky, distinct flavor that has long been associated with Malayali food.

Nendran, a variety of banana growing in some parts of South India is the most suitable variety for making chips. Traditionally, raw Nendran bananas are skinned, made in to thin slices and then deep fried in coconut oil.

While they may seem healthy at first glance, banana chips can be loaded with calories, saturated fat, and added sugar. For a healthier alternative, look for dehydrated, non-fried banana chips made without added sugar. Better yet, choose a whole banana. If you decide to eat banana chips, be mindful of your portion size.

Making banana chips in a dehydrator is even easier, but takes longer (it's hands off time). Slice the bananas thin, just like above, and toss with an acidic juice if desired. Spray your dehydrator trays with oil, then place the bananas on the trays, and dehydrate at around 135° F for 8-24 hours.

Make sure your oil is at the right temperature

If your oil is not hot enough, the plantain chips will be too limp or they become chewy and hard; if your oil is too hot, the plantain simply burns fast.