Homemade Baked Banana Chips Recipe | Diethood (2024)

FAQs

Why are my banana chips 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.

Banana chips contain large amounts of fiber. 1.5 ounces of banana chips can provide almost 12 percent of your daily recommended fiber amount. Dietary fiber can treat diabetes and coronary heart disease. It also has the function of reducing blood pressure.

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.

They are crispy and crunchy when dehydrated properly, if not stored correctly they absorb moisture from the air and can become soft and chewy.

The Double-Fry Method

When it comes to the actual cooking, you want to fry the french fries twice. 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.

6-12 hours is a range and you should rely primarily on the feel and texture of the bananas to determine doneness. Bananas should be leathery in texture when properly dried. To test, remove a slice and let it completely cool.

The top fruits for lowering blood pressure include bananas, apples, pears, apricots, grapes, raisins, kiwis, mangoes, watermelon, pomegranate, plums, prunes, avocado, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, tomatoes, citrus fruit, berries, and more.

Bananas and other potassium-rich foods, plus ACE inhibitors. If you take blood pressure-lowering ACE inhibitors with potassium-rich foods, including bananas, avocados, tomatoes and dried apricots, you can get high potassium levels in your body, which can lead to potentially dangerous heart arrhythmias, Brown warns.

They are an excellent energy boosting snack, contain vitamins B6 & C, and provide a healthy dose of dietary fiber. On top of the benefits of the banana chip itself, bananas have antibiotic properties to help fight off infections and viruses.

However, these chips are high in sugar and saturated fat, leading to obesity, high cholesterol, and other health issues. Fried banana chips have a much higher calorie, fat, and sugar content than potato or vegetable chips. So keep track of how many chips you are eating.

Are oven baked chips better for you? ›

The Bottom Line

Baked chips offer less fat overall than regular chips, making them only slightly lower in calories, which will have a minimal impact on your overall calorie intake for the day. Moreover, both contribute very similar amounts of saturated fat and sodium.

Snacking on banana chips or freeze-dried bananas near bedtime is a healthy way to satisfy a case of the munchies and improve the quality of your sleep. Just like bananas, walnuts contain natural levels of tryptophan to help the body produce sleep-regulating hormones when it comes time to go to bed.

Banana chips are best stored in an airtight container or zip bag for up to a week. If they last that long! You can also season them with salt or a dash of cinnamon, making this snack even better.

For domestic production and home cooking, they are made directly by deep-frying fresh sliced bananas. For commercial banana chips for the export market, the main method of production is through osmotic dehydration followed by deep frying at 375 °F (191 °C) in coconut oil for 1 minute.

After the chips have fully dried, let them cool then store in an airtight storage container. I use freezer bags and store the chips in the freezer. The quality of the chips will last longer in a cool/cold dark storage area (freezer). The chips are great for snacking or adding to recipes for a surprise treat.

If the oven isn't hot enough to brown the chips on the 'air-side', or if there's not space for the heat to circulate around each chip, they'll be unevenly crisp. Deep-frying also means the oil can penetrate the craggy, broken edges on all sides to make an extra crisp surface.

Spray your dehydrator trays with oil, then place the bananas on the trays, and dehydrate at around 135° F for 8-24 hours. The length of time will depend on how crispy you want them, so start testing them around 8 hours, and every hour thereafter until they are how you like them.

Banana chips can be either chewy or crispy depending on how long you dehydrate them. A longer cook time will yield crispier chips, and a shorter time will leave them a bit chewy if some of the moisture is left in the chips.