Today is National Potato Chip Day! So in honor of this prestigious holiday…today’s post is re-introducing you all to the miracle of….
Microwave Potato Chips!
But first, I think a little potato chip trivia is in order!
- In 1853 a customer at the Saratoga Springs Resort in New York sent his fried potatoes back to the kitchen, complaining they were too thick. George Crum, the chef, a bit irritated, sliced up a batch of potatoes, fried them to a crisp and then salted them. The guest loved them and the “Saratoga chip” became a big hit.
- Potato chips are the #1 snack food in America! We eat 1.2 billion pounds ($6 billion in product) a year!
- It takes 1,000 pounds of potatoes to make 350 pounds of potato chips.
- The most popular potato chips flavors in the US are sour cream and onion and barbecue.
- Overseas, potato chips are often called “crisps”.
Of course most of us purchase our potato chips in bags…but making your own is a fun, healthy, and delicious alternative…especially if it’s as easy as this!
But what is REALLY amazing is how CRISPY and CRUNCHY they are! Out of the microwave! Still scratching my head on that one.
How To Make Microwave Potato Chips:
- Slice 1 to 2 potatoes, depending on size, VERY thin! (I used small, red potatoes and was able to fit two of them on a plate)
- Put the slices in a small bowl and drizzle with some olive oil (or whatever oil you prefer)
- Sprinkle on some salt to taste (this is where you could get really creative and try all sorts of different seasonings!)
- Arrange potato slices in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate.
- Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes (timing will vary depending on the power of the microwave and the thickness of the slices).
- Turn the slices over (careful…they’re HOT!)
- Microwave again for another 2-3 minutes or until they start to brown and get crispy on the edges.
- Remove from microwave and allow to cool completely. (They will continue to crisp up as they cool).
- Repeat process for as many potatoes as you like!
Since I cut my potato chips with a knife…they varied slightly in thickness, which I think added to their rustic appeal. Using a mandolin would ensure thinner, more uniform slices.
The first time I made these I ate the whole bowl of potato chips by myself in one sitting. So beware…they are addicting. :-) I didn’t even have any Onion Dip to go with them…which is actually my favorite way to eat chips.
Here’s a quick and easy recipe from Good, Cheap, Eats:
Sour Cream Onion Dip
Ingredients
1 cup sour cream
1 Tablespoon onion flakes
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Better Than Bouillion beef base (you could probably use dry beef bouillion, crumbled fine)
In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Chill for one hour.
So what are you waiting for?? Get out there and start snacking people! It’s the one day of the year it’s OK to eat potato chips for breakfast, lunch and dinner! :-)
What a great idea and post. You never cease to amaze. I love chips! Keep up the great work.
I make these but don’t turn them over and they come out great!!!
Thanks! Just got 10 pound bag and wasn’t sure how to use them up timely…I definitely need to try this …I’m wondering if it would also work in a convection oven (dry heated air cooking)….?
I have made these in the microwave before. Pampered Chef sells a product to cook chips WITHOUT oil in the micro. They are really good. My husband even said they were good. I LOVE the sweet potatoe chips, too.
I got something from Bed Bath and Beyond that is call TOPCHIPS and it makes a huge batch at one time. The trays layer on top of each other. Love these. No oil needed. Mix and match your seasonings!
CHIPS! Jillee, I just frigging love you!
Where do you get Better than Beef bouillion base?
In the grocery store, right next to the bouillion cubes & broth. Comes in a small glass jar, in chicken, ham, turkey and beef flavors. HTH!!
Thanks Gwen!
I have found it in the grocery store in the same section you buy chicken bouillon cubes or granules.
Here is an Amazon link so you can see what it looks like:
Better Than Bouillon Beef base
I love these! Just don’t try it on a paper plate like I did. Caught it just before it started a fire! BWAHAHAHA
Wow, I had no idea!! Thanks for this! I would love if you would come share this, or another recipe at my link party today! http://domesticsuperhero.com/2013/03/14/sharing-with-domestic-superhero-thursday-link-party-2/ Hope to see you!
Jillee,
Don’t you know my diet started Monday? Ill have to wait until my free day Saturday to try these! Can’t wait!
Just an FYI–I’ve done this with sweet potatoes (and placed a brown lunch bag underneath them while they cook) and they are delicious.
Love the new email link format! I love reading your blog, keep up the good work :)
To make microwave potatoe chips even healthier I use sweet potatoe or purple/ blue potatoes I get at my farmers’ market. Yummy!
Fantastic- I have a huge bag of potatoes just begging to be used. Thanks!!
It’s interesting that National Potato Chip Day is the same day as Pi(e) Day. Pi Day is a celebration of the mathematical constant, pi, and is celebrated on March 14 (3.14).
So I guess in celebration of these two things I should have chips and pie for dinner tonight. Yum!
Ding, ding, ding; Folks we have another winner here!
These would go great with yesterday’s BBQ Chicken Lettuce Wraps post.
I have no mandolin (sigh) –but I have used a potato peeler for super thin chips :)
Brilliant idea! Never would have thought to try this. Thanks!
I always see this on Pinterest, but thought it was a hoax. Thanks Jillee, for experimenting and showing me it can be done. No more expensive chips from the shop.
Jillee,
These look great. Just wanted you to know I love your blog and I get your emails but I didn’t get the email today and I missed getting it so I came looking anyway.
Hi Debbi! You might need to reregister. I just changed my email provider and some emails got lost in the shuffle.
neat!!! and potatoes just went on sale here at my food store—-
Jillee, I’d made these chips when you first posted the recipe & my hubby LOVES them ! It was very timely too, because he’d stopped having potato chips for many months due to their high salt & fat content. But with your recipe, I can make them with minimal salt & olive oil ! We remember & thank you Every time I make a plate.
I re-registered, yet am not receiving the posts. Been a week now & after re-registering I got One post & then that discontinued as well ;-)
I’ll try again…
Meenakshi, I have been having trouble getting the emails too. Then when I try to get the post something comes up from dns.com Comodo that blocks the post. Does anyone know what this is? Extremely frustrating. I tried unsubscribing then resubscribing and that didn’t help either. When I think things are straightened out it happens again. Love getting the daily emails from Jillee.
Hi Chris
Yes, its so frustrating ! When I subscribe, it tells me that I’m already registered & they have my email address. When I click on subscribe again, I do not get the confirmation email in my box ! I’ve re-typed my address & am still waiting for the confirmation email to complete formalities.
I wonder whether there’s some glitch between Yahoo!Mail (yahoo.com) & some of these services – my newsletters/mailers from favecrafts & it’s sister blogs have gone AWOL too !
Life seems so quiet without the daily dose ;-))
I had my son who is a highly function autistic teen make these and they were absolutely delicious!!!! Thank you for this incredible recipe!!!! Plus he had fun making them too. :-)
Love, love, love potatoes. Hate the price of potato chips, so we never buy them. I had a little problem with them sticking to the microwave-safe plate, so I ended up rubbing the plate down with butter, and that seems to do the trick to avoid sticking. I couldn’t wait the hour for the onion dip to be in the fridge. I love that stuff. I haven’t had onion dip in probably 20 years, and now I can make my own without having to worry about all those pesky additives and preservatives !!!!!
I followed you directions and All mine stuck to the plate, what did I do wrong?
Hmmm…I know microwaves tend to vary on how much power they have. If yours is more powerful than mine you might not need to cook them as long. That might have been the cause…
Made these for Hubby and he LOVED them….
I make them about 3 times a week now…….I use my oval serving tray for the MW. I can cook more @ a time…… Thank You ,Jilliee……………….from DH.
These look so good and thedip sounds great! I enjoy all your posts so much! I look forward to them every day.