1. Clean the Kale: Rinse the kale leaves thoroughly under cold water. To ensure they’re completely dirt-free, you can soak them in a mix of water and a bit of vinegar before rinsing.

2. Dry the Kale: Shake off excess water and use a salad spinner or pat dry with towels. It’s crucial that the kale is fully dry to achieve crispiness.

3. Remove Stems and Tear Leaves: Strip the tough stems from the kale and tear the leaves into large pieces. They shrink when cooked, so start a bit bigger than your desired chip size.

4. Choose Your Seasoning: For basic seasoning, use just olive oil and salt. For gourmet kale chips seasoning options, consider adding garlic powder, paprika, and nutritional yeast for enhanced flavoring kale chips.

5. Mix and Coat: Drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle your chosen seasonings over the kale. Toss well to evenly coat all pieces. This ensures every bite is flavorful.

6. Preheat the Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Preheating helps start the crisping process as soon as kale hits the basket.

7. Arrange in Basket: Place kale in a single layer in the basket. For best results, don’t overcrowd; cook in batches if needed.

8. Cooking Time: Air fry for 4-5 minutes. At halfway through, gently shake the basket or use tongs to flip the kale, promoting even cooking.

9. Check for Crispiness: Keep an eye on the kale during the last minute. They should be crispy but not burnt. Adjust time if needed based on your air fryer model.