A comprehensive guide to preparing delicious corn chips at home, the necessary steps, required ingredients, and important tips to get crispy corn chips and great taste
Corn chips are a delicious snack loved by many around the world. They are thin and crunchy slices made from corn grains. Corn chips are a quick meal that is suitable for eating at any time of the day, whether it is for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack during the day.
The corn chips that are converted into chips are distinguished by their wonderful taste and crunchy texture. Corn chips are available in a variety of flavors and seasonings, which makes them suit all tastes and tastes. It is also characterized as a light and low-calorie meal, which makes it suitable for people who seek to maintain their weight and who want to eat healthy meals.
Corn chips are among the popular food products that families prefer at home, and they are widely found in markets and stores with a wide range of different types, sizes, and flavors. Sweetened and salty corn chips mixed with different spices and seasonings are also available, which makes them suit all tastes and offers various options for people who want to try different types.
Corn chips can be found in many places, from supermarkets to small groceries and online stores. Although corn chips are tasty and delicious, eating them in excess can lead to weight gain and other health problems, so it is advised to eat them in moderation and eat them as part of a healthy and balanced diet.
To watch a video on how to make corn chips, click here
Basic steps in the method of making corn chips:
There are different methods of producing corn chips and they differ between manufacturers and geographic regions. However, the basic process of producing corn chips includes several basic steps, which are as follows:
1- Drying corn grains:
Corn grain drying is an essential process in the manufacture of corn chips where corn grains are collected, cleaned and dried after harvesting, in order to remove moisture and preserve its quality.
Corn grains are dried after harvesting in several different ways, the most popular of which are:
1- Drying in the open air: corn grains are left in the open air for up to several days, until the moisture evaporates from them and they dry completely.
2- Drying with heat: special ovens are used to dry corn grains, where the grains are placed in the oven at a certain temperature for a specific period, until the moisture evaporates from them and dries completely.
3- Freeze-drying: Corn grains are placed in special freezer rooms, where they are frozen and moisture is gradually removed, to preserve their quality and taste.
The choice of drying method depends on several factors, such as the surrounding environment, available technology and financial resources, but the ultimate goal is to obtain completely dry and moisture-free corn grains, and this helps to improve the quality of corn chips and prevent the formation of mold and bacteria.
It should be noted that drying corn grains can affect the quality and taste of corn chips, so the appropriate method is chosen to achieve the best possible quality. Care must also be taken to purchase corn grains from reliable sources and to ensure their quality and purity before using them in the manufacture of corn chips
2- Turn corn kernels into thin slices:
After the corn grains are dried, they are turned into thin slices to be used in the manufacture of corn chips. This is done using a special machine called the “mincer” or “crusher”. This machine enables the corn grains to be converted into thin and equal slices.
The grinder works by passing corn grains through a set of cylinders inside, which chop the grains into thin and even slices. The sizes of the cylinders and accessories used in the mincer vary according to the size and shape of the grains used in the manufacture of corn chips that are converted into thin slices, including yellow, white, wild and other corn. The thickness of the slices produced using the mincer varies and can be adjusted by adjusting the rollers and accessories used in the mincer. The thickness of the slices is usually between 0.3 to 1.5 mm.
It should be noted that the process of converting corn grains into thin slices can affect the quality of the final corn chips. Therefore, high-quality equipment and tools and advanced technologies are used to achieve the best possible quality. Care must also be taken to use high-quality, pure corn, free from impurities and defects, and to ensure compliance with the health and environmental standards required in the food industry. Appropriate safety procedures and instructions for operation and maintenance must also be followed to ensure the safety of operators and the high quality of the final product.
3- Browning the slices:
After converting the corn grains into thin slices, they are fried in hot oil at a high temperature to become golden and crunchy. This step is the basic step in making corn chips.
The thin slices are placed in hot oil at a temperature ranging from 170 to 190 degrees Celsius, until browned and crispy. Different types of oils can be used in the frying process, including corn oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, and other oils.
The browning process is controlled using special equipment, such as a deep fryer or an automatic browning machine, which allows control of temperature, browning time and proper movement of the slices. The fried slices are filtered from the oil after the end of the frying process to remove excess oil and preserve the quality of the final product.
4- Add spices and salt:
After the browning process, spices and salt are added to the fried slices to give the corn chips a distinctive flavor. Seasonings and salt are added while the fried slices are still hot to facilitate the absorption of flavors and spices. Often a mixture of spices and salt is used to achieve n
