How To Make Apple Chips In The Air Fryer

Raise your hand if you’ve had a “snack attack” in the last few days. Us too!

Getting the munchies is pretty much a common occurrence for us here, and we love being able to try out new recipes with our trusty air fryer.

While we do love our carrot fries and potato chips, we get a hankering for something sweet now and again, and since we’re still looking for that oh-so-satisfying crunch, we decided to make something that’s just as filling and satisfying as potato chips, but without the guilt: apple chips!

For this recipe, we tried using Granny Smith apples, but you can use other varieties as well!

If you have a bunch of old apples sitting around, you can plot their demise with these air fryer apple chips, too.

Not sure what to use? We’ve got you covered.

What other apples can I use?

When trying to choose what kind of apple variety to use for making apple chips, you should consider a few things such as taste (sweet vs. tart), texture (firm vs. soft), and thickness of the skin!

Of course, you should also visit your local grocers to find out which varieties are available to you.

For those of you out there who love sweet apples, we recommend using Honeycrisp apples, as their firm texture and very sweet flavor makes great apple chips.

If you want something a bit tarter with an intense apple flavor, Goldrush is a relatively new variety that’s rapidly becoming popular in the United States.

How to store apple chips

If you’re going to store your apple chips, you should use a large, airtight container to ensure that they retain their crispness.

Remember, moisture is your enemy!

Make sure to cool down the apple chips to room temperature before storing them in an airtight container or sealed baggie.

How long do apple chips last?

Apple chips can last up to a week in the fridge as long as you use an airtight container.

Can you freeze apple chips?

Yes! Freezing works really well for apple chips if you want them to last for a long time.

They can last up to six months in your freezer if you take the proper steps.

As with storing in your fridge, you want to prevent as much moisture as possible from reaching the chips.

Moisture and air can cause freezer burn in your apple chips, leech out nutrients, and cause them to go soft.

If you have a vacuum sealer at home, remove the air in your resealable bag before you place the apple chips in your freezer.

If you don’t have a vacuum sealer, you can use the “water immersion method” to remove excess air.

Are dehydrated apples good for you?

Yes, dehydrated apples are good for you because they are a great source of fiber (both soluble and insoluble), as well as calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C.

However, keep in mind that apples still contain a lot of natural sugar, so you should still snack on apple chips in moderation.

It can be hard to resist, we know!

How to tell when apples are done dehydrating

You can tell when apples are done dehydrating by sight and touch.

Dehydrated apple chips will look darker, smaller, wrinkled, and dry compared to the fresh slices that went in.

They will also feel leathery, but not crispy (be careful, fresh apple chips from your air fryer will be very hot!)

You might need to experiment with a few batches of apple chips before you master the “sight and touch” method, as well as the timing that you need to create the perfect batch of dehydrated chips

Why do people dehydrate fruit?

There are several reasons why people dehydrate fruit, but in the case of apples, dehydration was the main source of preserving the nutrients of the fruit.

Apples are a seasonal fruit in the USA, so during the off-season, it used to be impossible for people to get the taste of apples.

However, dehydrating (or drying) the fruit allowed people to have that delicious apple taste long after apple season was over.

Today, apples are dehydrated because apple chips are considered to be a great alternative snack to potato chips!

They’re sweet, crunchy, and satisfying.

What’s more, dehydrating apple chips allows you to enjoy almost all the nutrients of an apple in chip form.

Dehydrated apples are also less messy, portable, with no waste.

Win-win!

Is dehydrated food considered raw?

It would depend!

If the food was dehydrated between 105-115⁰F, it would still be considered raw.

If the food is dehydrated at higher temperatures, the heat would essentially cook the food during the process.

For this particular recipe, since the apple chips were dehydrated at 380⁰F, you can consider them as cooked.

Air Fryer Apple Chips

This delicious recipe will become your go-to snack choice, especially if you’re looking to cut down on your fat and salt (sorry, potato chips, we still love you).

They’re great for a quick snack on the go, or if you’re craving a sweet apple taste.

Letting the apple chips cool down before eating them will give them that satisfying crunch!

It’s worth the wait, we promise.

Your kids will also love a pack of these apple chips as a fun little addition to their lunch box!

Supplies to gather

• Air fryer
• Tongs
• Drying rack or cooling rack

Get a mandolin slicer

Slicing the applies thinly and uniformly is key to making sure that you get consistent apple chips!

It can be difficult to get that uniform and thin slices using a knife.

Make your life easier and get a mandolin slicer.

This mandolin slicer appears to help keep fingers away from the blade, which is a nice touch.

Always make sure that you are slicing your apples on a flat, stable surface.

Use a rack

While cooling down, make sure to place your apple chips on a drying rack.

This allows the air to properly circulate around the apple chips and dry them on both sides.

Otherwise, you could end up with soggy chips (we did!)

The bottom line

While the flavor of apple chips is already outstanding on its own, you can always make it a little bit more enticing by adding some flavoring on top of the chips.

Cinnamon and nutmeg (half a teaspoon each) are always a great pairing with apples!

Want something a little spicier? Use some tajin.

Savory flavors more up your alley?

A pinch of sea salt and some dried rosemary will work well with the sweet apple!

Apple chips are amazingly versatile!

You can have them straight as a snack, use them to make your own trail mix, or even add them crushed as a topping to your yogurt or oatmeal for a sweet and crispy treat.