Air Fryer Star Fruit Chips

These air fryer star fruit chips are one of those snacks I make as much for how they look as how they taste. The slices turn into perfect little stars, lightly crisp and just slightly sweet, with a gentle citrusy vibe that feels fresh and tropical. They’re delicate, pretty, and surprisingly satisfying for something so simple.

If you enjoy fun fruit snacks like this, you’ll probably also love my Air Fryer Plantain Chips— same light crunch and easy prep, just with a more familiar fruit. I make plantain chips when I want a starchier result, and air fryer star fruit chips when I want something that always gets a wait… what is that? reaction. Here is the recipe as promised:

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Video Instructions
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• Instructions
• How to Cut Star Fruit
• How to Pick a Good Star Fruit
• How People Usually Eat It
• Pro Cooking Tips
• FAQs
• Air Fryer Star Fruit Chips

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Naturally beautiful: You don’t have to do anything fancy — the star shape makes these look special all on its own.
• A lighter snack: No deep frying, no heavy coating — just fruit dried and crisped in the air fryer.
• Minimal ingredients: Lemon juice and optional sweetener are really all you need.
• Perfect for snacking or garnishing: I eat them as-is, but they’re also amazing as a little tropical decoration on desserts and drinks.

Video Instructions

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Star fruit (carambola): I choose ripe but still firm fruit so the slices hold their shape and taste naturally sweet.
• Sweetener: Optional. If the fruit is already sweet, I skip it. If it’s slightly tart, a little sugar or honey helps.
• Lemon juice: Helps prevent browning and makes the flavor taste brighter and fresher.
• Oil spray: Just a light coating to prevent sticking and help even drying.

Instructions

Step 1 - Prepare the Star Fruit

Wash star fruit thoroughly. Slice thinly (about ⅛ inch thick). Remove any seeds.

Step 2 - Season

Place slices in a bowl and gently toss with lemon juice and optional sugar or honey.

Step 3 - Arrange in Air Fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 300°F (150°C). Lightly spray the basket with oil. Arrange slices in a single layer without overlapping.

Step 4 - Air Fry

Air fry for 15 - 20 minutes, flipping halfway, until slices are dried and lightly crisp. Cooking time may vary depending on slice thickness.

Step 5 - Cool & Crisp

Let chips cool completely; they will crisp further as they cool.

How to Cut Star Fruit

Step 1 - Wash it

I rinse it under clean water and gently rub the skin to remove any residue.

Step 2 - Trim the edges (optional)

If the ridges have thin brown edges, I trim them off for a cleaner look (not required, but common).

Step 3 - Slice across

I lay the fruit sideways and slice straight across.

Each slice automatically becomes a star shape

Step 4 - Remove seeds

If I spot small seeds, I just pick them out with the tip of a knife or my fingers.

How to Pick a Good Star Fruit

Color

• Best = bright yellow to golden.
  
• Slight green on edges is okay.
  
• I avoid mostly green fruit because it’s usually underripe.

Firmness

• I want it firm but slightly soft when pressed gently.
• Too hard = underripe.
• Too mushy = overripe.

Skin

• Smooth and shiny is ideal.
• Small brown lines on the edges are normal.
• I avoid big dark bruises or wrinkling.

How People Usually Eat It

This is one of my favorite parts of star fruit — it’s super versatile.

• Eat it raw (the skin is edible)
  
• Add it to fruit salads
  
• Use it for decoration (it looks amazing on platters)
  
• Blend it into smoothies or juice

Pro Cooking Tips

• Slice evenly: I try to keep slices close to the same thickness so they crisp at the same speed.
• Low temperature is key: Higher heat can brown too fast before the moisture dries out, so I keep it low and steady.
• They crisp as they cool: If they feel a little soft at first, I don’t panic — cooling is where the crunch really happens.
• Adjust time by thickness: Thicker slices need longer. If mine aren’t crisp, I add a few extra minutes.