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Chatelaine Kitchen

Potato chips in the microwave: A surprisingly good recipe!

The latest at-home food trend had me at potato, so I just had to try it for myself

potato chips masterfile

For some reason, the microwave is experiencing somewhat of a renaissance these days. Once relegated to merely reheating leftovers or making popcorn, cooks and food hobbyists are finding new ways to put this kitchen appliance to work. Not all attempts are winners - a few weeks back I tried the chocolate cake in a mug - which was a little underwhelming. The latest trend is to make potato chips in the microwave. And, well, I just had to test it out.

One of the many irresistible qualities of a good potato chip is its crispiness - and to me, crispiness and the microwave don't go hand in hand. So heading into this test I was particularly skeptical. I armed myself with a russet potato, some vegetable oil, sea salt, and a bag of regular potato chips for comparison. Directions:

1. Slice a russet potato, skin on, into the thinnest slices possible slices. If you have a mandolin, that is ideal. Toss the potato slices with 1 tsp vegetable oil and 1/2 tsp sea salt. Potato chips in the microwave: A surprisingly good recipe!   2. Lightly oil a microwave-safe plate, and place potato slices in a single layer on the plate, they can be very close but shouldn't touch. Microwave the slices on high for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, until they begin to turn golden. 3. Using tongs, flip the slices over and then continue cooking on high for about 2 minutes, until the slices are golden. Keep a close eye, if the slices begin to darken too much they will scorch. 4. Transfer slices to a separate plate and sprinkle lightly with sea salt to desired saltiness. Add more oil to the microwave plate and repeat with remaining slices.

So, how did they turn out? The truth is, they are fantastic! Surprisingly crispy, and really delicious. I ate my whole potato in one sitting (a bit dangerous that way). What's better? They actually get crispier as they cool! You are able to make them as salty (or not) as you want, and they can be flavoured. The slices that are a little thicker put you in mind of a buffalo chip - with the slightest chewyness that doesn't at all take away from them. You can store them for about two days in a sealed container. The only drawback of these chips is that they are a bit tedious to make - one potato took three rounds in the microwave, therefore about 15 minutes, plus the time to slice. However, all in all, these are really fun, and really rewarding to make. Highly recommended. Tips:

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The thinner the slices, the better the chip.

Keep a close eye, different slices will cook at different rates so remove the chips as they brown and continue cooking the rest.

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Keep the plate well oiled, the slices have a tendency to stick.

Use tongs...they come out HOT!

Looking for a dish to accompany your microwave potato chips? Here are two great matches: Herbed roulade with proscuitto and cheese and Asian tuna tartare.

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