Food
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What are Apple Chips?

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

Apple chips are quite simply dried apple slices. They are usually round, having been sliced horizontally from a cored apple. Apple chips can be purchased pre-made or they can be made at home in an oven or a food dehydrator.

Some apple chips are quite crispy, much like a chip. Others, which still retain a bit of the original moisture from the fruit, are less brittle and more chewy. The texture of the chip depends on the method by which it was dried and how long it was left in the oven or food dehydrator.

Some apple chips are made from Fuji apples.
Some apple chips are made from Fuji apples.

People who like apples usually like apple chips. They can be eaten alone or chopped up and added to cereal, granola, trail mix, or salads. Some people like to enjoy the crispy variety of apple chips as an alternative to potato chips. Although the chips made from apples have a similar crunch, they have much less fat and sodium and are therefore a healthy alternative. In fact, many varieties are completely fat free.

Red Delicious apple chips tend to be slightly sweeter than some other varieties.
Red Delicious apple chips tend to be slightly sweeter than some other varieties.

This is a great snack to give to kids who are picky eaters and turn their noses up at fruits and vegetables. Apple chips look similar to other sorts of chips and also have a sweet flavor, but are also a good source of vitamin C. Some of them even come in a few flavors such as cinnamon. In addition to using these snacks to entice kids to enjoy fruits, they can also be used to improve the diet and eating habits of adults who aren't as good as they should be about consuming fruits and vegetables.

Apple chips are often added to granola.
Apple chips are often added to granola.

There are a number of companies that sell packaged fruit chips. In addition to being able to choose between a few different flavors of chips, there is also a variety in the kinds of apples that are used. Some are made from Fuji apples, others from the red delicious variety, and others still made from Granny Smith variety. No matter what the flavor or the kind of apple, these chips are usually more expensive than potato chips.

Apple chips are a healthier alternative to starchy potato chips that are cooked in fat.
Apple chips are a healthier alternative to starchy potato chips that are cooked in fat.

A great way to enjoy apple chips is to make them at home. It is best to make them in the fall during the harvest season when you can purchase apples locally and the prices are low. Simply follow the instructions on your food dehydrator or find a recipe for making the chips in your oven. The chips can be kept for months if they are stored correctly.

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

Learn more...
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Rotergirl

Apple chips are great, but I have to be careful. Since I'm diabetic, I have to watch dried fruit. The sugar is concentrated and some dried fruit is as carbohydrate-heavy as a candy bar! Plus, since there's not any protein or fat creating a "buffer," it hits my blood sugar full throttle.

Apple chips are a little better, since they still have some fiber, which does act as that aforementioned "buffer." Raisins and dates are the worst. Might as well be drinking glucose.

Pippinwhite

I love apple chips. They are great in granola, on oatmeal and as a yogurt topping. I will eat them whether they are crispy or chewy.

Chewy apple chips are good for making fried apple pies, or apple crisps. You just soak them in some juice or even lightly sweetened water to soften them a little, and then use them as you would any kind of sliced apples for cooking. But I think fried apple pies with dried apples is one of my favorites. They are only eclipsed by fried pies made with dried peaches.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Some apple chips are made from Fuji apples.
      Some apple chips are made from Fuji apples.
    • Red Delicious apple chips tend to be slightly sweeter than some other varieties.
      By: denphumi
      Red Delicious apple chips tend to be slightly sweeter than some other varieties.
    • Apple chips are often added to granola.
      By: nito
      Apple chips are often added to granola.
    • Apple chips are a healthier alternative to starchy potato chips that are cooked in fat.
      By: anjelagr
      Apple chips are a healthier alternative to starchy potato chips that are cooked in fat.