Description
These air fryer banana chips are crispy, naturally sweet, and made without oil using a low-temperature dehydrating method in under 30 minutes. They dry evenly and crisp up as they cool—perfect plain or tossed in cinnamon sugar, and much faster than oven-baked banana chips.
Ingredients
Banana Chips
- 2 medium ripe bananas, some brown spots, but still firm
- 1 – 2 tablespoon lemon juice, for brushing
- Pinch of salt
Cinnamon Sugar Option
- 1 – 2 teaspoon cinnamon sugar (batch made with ¼ cup sugar—white or coconut sugar + 1 tablespoon cinnamon)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer: Preheat to the lowest temperature setting, about 250°F, to prepare for slow drying of the banana slices.
- Slice the bananas: Cut the bananas into thin, even rounds about ⅛–¼ inch thick for consistent cooking and crispiness.
- Arrange in the basket: Place the banana slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each slice. Avoid overlapping to ensure proper airflow and drying; work in batches if necessary.
- Brush with lemon juice: Lightly brush each slice with lemon juice to help prevent browning and enhance flavor.
- Air fry low and slow: Cook the banana slices at 250°F for 20–30 minutes until they are dried out and lightly golden. Starting at 20 minutes, check every few minutes to remove any chips that are done, as smaller slices may finish earlier.
- Cool to crisp: Remove the banana chips and let them cool completely for about 10 minutes. They will crisp up as they sit.
- Add cinnamon sugar (optional): For a sweeter version, toss the cooled chips with cinnamon sugar. Alternatively, sprinkle cinnamon alone after cooling for a lightly spiced version.
Notes
- Don’t skip the cooling step: Banana chips may feel soft immediately out of the air fryer but will firm up as they cool.
- Slice evenly: Aim for ⅛–¼ inch thickness. Thinner slices result in crispier chips, while thicker slices might remain slightly chewy.
- Don’t overcrowd: Arrange banana slices in a single layer with space between each slice to ensure proper drying and crisping.
- Adding cinnamon before air frying can cause it to burn, so it’s best sprinkled after cooking.
