Each person has repeatedly heard that potato chips are unhealthy, but they continue to be used for snacking (despite the presence of a large amount of oil, spices and carcinogens). In fact, potato snacks can be replaced with less high-calorie banana chips. They are easy to prepare on their own, while they turn out to be useful and tasty, which adults and children will certainly enjoy.
What are bananas good for?
The fact that potato snacks do not bring health benefits is known to many, but can then talk about the benefits of banana chips? Not only possible, but necessary. They contain carbohydrates that are useful for the body, unsaturated fatty acids, and proteins that contain tryptophan, an essential amino acid for the body. It positively affects the functioning of the brain and rejuvenates the cells of the body. In addition, bananas contain a lot of fiber, which improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, vitamins A, C, E and group B.
Potassium present in slices of dried bananas improves the functioning of the heart and vascular system, and calcium has a beneficial effect on the formation and regeneration of teeth, bones and joints. In addition, chips are rich in magnesium and phosphorus, on which the observance of energy balance and the functioning of the central nervous system depend. In small quantities, they contain trace elements: zinc, copper, manganese, iron, selenium. Banana sweets also contribute to the removal of excess fluid, salts and toxins from the body.
Cooking methods
It should be noted that only chips that were prepared at home from natural products and without the use of preservatives, sweeteners and other chemicals have useful properties. In this regard, many are interested in how to make banana chips yourself? They can be prepared in several ways:
- in the oven;
- in the microwave;
- in an electric dryer for vegetables and fruits;
- in a deep-frying pan;
- in the sun.
When using an electric dryer, the manufacturer's instructions must be followed. Those who will dry the chips in the sun are recommended to do this in dry sunny weather at an air temperature of 27-30 degrees. A baking sheet with slices of bananas needs to be set in the sun and covered with gauze or a mosquito net on top. Periodically, pieces need to be turned over, and brought into the room at night. After 3-4 days, the chips will be ready. You can read more about the other cooking methods.
How to cook banana chips in the oven?
For this method, ripe fruits with dense pulp and a clean skin (without dents or dark spots) are selected. You will also need the juice of one lemon. The selected bananas are washed in water, peeled, cut into slices about 2-3 mm thick and spread on a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet. It is necessary to ensure that the circles do not touch each other. According to the recipe for banana chips in the oven, pierce the pieces with a fork to improve air circulation, lubricate with lemon juice so that they do not turn black.
The oven is heated to 80-90 degrees and a baking sheet is placed there. During drying, the oven door must be ajar, otherwise the bananas will bake. In order for the chips to dry evenly and acquire a golden color, they must be periodically turned over. As soon as ready, slices of bananas are removed from the leaf and, after cooling, they are put into a storage container.
Piquant Microwave Appetizer
To make banana chips in the microwave, you will need bananas and a small amount of vegetable oil. Entire bananas in a peel are put in a pan, poured with water so that it covers the fruits, put on the stove and cook for 10 minutes. The cooled bananas are peeled and cut into thin slices obliquely. It is necessary to try so that the pieces are the same thickness. Prepared slices sprinkled with turmeric and salt to taste. A microwave dish is smeared with a very thin layer of oil and evenly spread banana slices on it (in one layer).
In the microwave, select the maximum power mode and bake the chips for two minutes. Then the dish is taken out, the slices are turned over and returned to the oven for two minutes. The procedure is repeated 3-4 times. When the chips turn golden and crisp, they are pulled out and allowed to harden.
Fried chips
Those who are not afraid of excess calories can fry slices of deep-fried bananas. The recipe is quite simple. For this, you need 2-3 ripe fruits, a quarter of a teaspoon of ground turmeric, and refined vegetable oil is used for frying.
Bananas are peeled and immersed in cold water with ice cubes for 10 minutes, then the fruits are cut obliquely to make long strips. Turmeric is added to the same water, stirred and again placed into it slices of bananas. After 10 minutes, the bananas are removed and dried on a napkin or paper towel.
In a deep fryer or aluminum pan, heat the vegetable oil to a boil and fry slices of bananas in it until they turn golden. To banana chips well fried, they need to be immersed in oil in small portions. Finished slices are laid out on a paper napkin to stack fat, if desired, sprinkled with powdered sugar, cinnamon or other spicy spices.
What do sweet tooths need to know?
Banana chips are high-calorie foods. Depending on the cooking method, 100 grams of the finished product contains from 519 to 540 kcal, so the abuse of such a treat will immediately affect the figure. But not only this factor has a harmful effect. Due to the large amount of carbohydrates, banana chips contribute to the development of diabetes.
It should also be noted that in Ecuador, China and Vietnam, from where these products come to Russia, they are prepared in palm or coconut oil. It contains a large amount of fat and cholesterol harmful to the body, which is deposited on the walls of blood vessels and causes the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease. For this reason, do not abuse sweets bought in the market or in the store. Home-made banana chips contain no unhealthy additives and are reasonably healthy.