Do I need a tool for microwave potato chips?
Read my post below to see if using a kitchen gadget for microwave potato chips is worth it!
Like most people, I love a good potato chip. A bag of crispy, salty, melt-in your mouth potato chips is easy to devour in a matter of minutes. As quickly as I can eat them, I feel guilty for consuming a not so healthy snack. This is why I love finding ways to make a snack of this nature, more satisfying and less guilty. Luckily, there are so many recipes online for healthier versions of a potato chip! Many of these recipes use the microwave instead of an oven or fryer.
The microwave method is quick and easy, but it left me thinking, is there a kitchen gadget that can make this process even easier? I set out to find a budget friendly tool that was easy to clean, store, and make delicious microwave potato chips.
After some online research, I was led to purchase the Mastrad Top Chips kit. I decided to make a batch of chips using this kit and compare its effectiveness to at-home supplies. Below I will break down the cost, ease, and taste of each method.
Price Point
The Mastrad Top Chips kit can be purchased on Amazon for $16.88. This kit includes a silicone microwavable tray and a chip slicer (mandolin).
Using at home supplies, you will need a plate, knife, and parchment paper. Assuming one has these items at home, there would be no cost for these supplies.
For each method, you will have to purchase a potato, which usually costs less than a dollar.
Ease of Use
The first step in microwave potato chips is thinly slicing your potato.
The Top Chips kit comes with a small mandolin. The mandolin blade was extremely sharp, and cut the potato with ease. It took me less than 2 minutes to slice through the entire potato. Each slice came out perfectly thin and even. PLEASE BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHEN USING A MANDOLIN SLICER.
Using a sharp knife took me a few minutes longer. I tried to make my slices as thin and even as possible. The slices did not come out perfect, but they were even and thin enough to get the job done.
The second step is drying off the potato slices. You can put the slices between two layers of paper towels and pat dry.
The third step is microwaving.
As per the kit instructions, I placed the potato slices on the silicone tray, making sure not to overlap each slice.
The Mastrad Top Chip instructions call for a cook time of 3 minutes. I cooked the chips on one side for two minutes and flipped them over for another minute in the microwave. The chips still seemed slightly soft, so I cooked them for an additional 30 seconds for a total of 3 minutes and 30 seconds in the microwave.
For the at-home supplies method, I placed the chips on a layer of parchment paper that covered a plate. Again, making sure not to overlap the slices. I microwaved the slices for two minutes, then flipped each slice over. I microwaved for another minute and a half.
With both methods, I topped the chips with salt immediately after microwaving, and let cool for at least 1 minute before eating.
Taste/ Texture
I was not expecting either option to taste exactly like bagged potato chips, but the results were surprisingly delicious!
The Mastrad kit chips browned unevenly, with one half of the tray being more brown than the other. The browned parts were the most crispy, while the lighter parts were on the chewier side. The silicone tray did not make the chips taste like plastic or silicone at all.
With the at-home supplies method, the chips came out a light brown color, with a crispy yet slightly chewy texture. The chips browned evenly in the middle, while the outer edges remained lighter in color.
Both methods supplied the satisfying crunch I was looking for, although the plate method seemed to cook more evenly.
Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, the Mastrad Top Chips kit made the microwaved potato chips process faster and more simplified than the at-home supplies method. The potato slicer allowed for a very even slice and was quicker than slicing with a knife. With that being said, the chips microwaved on a plate with parchment paper seemed to crisp up more evenly and cooked for about the same time.
Each microwave is different, so one with a large more powerful microwave may see different results than one with a smaller, less powerful microwave. Another thing to note, the Mastrad silicone tray is quite wide, so if you own a very small microwave, the tray may not fit.
If you find yourself making microwave potato chips often, I would say the Mastrad Top Chips is an effective, affordable kitchen gadget. If you are one who would make these chips every once in a while, this tool may not be worth it to you.