Are you regretting the handfuls of oily chips you consumed during your Super Bowl party Sunday? Maybe next year you can serve an oil-free option using Mastrad TopChips chip maker.

How it works: Slice potatoes, other root vegetables or fruit using the enclosed mandoline, place slices on the silicone tray, microwave for three to seven minutes (depending on type of produce) and wait a little — the chips get crisp as they cool. The instructions also suggest dabbing off excess moisture before cooking to get a crispier chip.

Does it work?: Depends on the item. I tried a russet potato, sweet potato, Fuji apple and kabocha (the directions say “only cook with slices of potato, carrot, sweet potato, apple, pear and mango,” but I like to live dangerously).

I was pleasantly surprised at how well the potato chips turned out. I sliced the potato the long way (to maximize surface area for layering cheese, bacon, sour cream, etc.) and placed the slices between paper towels to press out any liquid. Cooking time was four minutes in a 1,250-watt microwave. The chips were delicious, all potato taste without the oil.

The other items were more challenging. The sweet potato, after three minutes of cooking, turned out “hard crispy,” as one person noted. I couldn’t get the timing right for the kabocha — the results were either burned or only slightly crisp — and the Fuji apple tasted pretty good in one test, but I couldn’t replicate that result.

Pros: Produces a pretty crisp and healthy russet potato chip with no oil; easy to wash, dishwasher safe; and you get a mandoline that produces thin slices, plus two dip recipes: artichoke-tomato and guacamole.

Cons: Only a few slices can fit on the tray, which may be a plus for those watching their carbs, but to get more than a dozen chips at a time, there will be a waiting period between handfuls. Also, from the third round on, the silicone gets too hot to handle with bare hands, and cooking time might change because the tray is so hot. Dry seasonings, such as salt and pepper, don’t stick to cooked chips (preseasoning before microwaving does work).

Cost and availability: I bought one at Bed Bath & Beyond in December, but when I called back to check on the stock, I was told the item was carried only for Christmas. It can be purchased on the store’s website for $14.99, as well as on amazon.com ($12.99) and walmart.com ($17.95 for a one-tray set, $24.95 for two trays).

Worth it?: Yes. Especially because you get a mandoline as part of the deal, even if it’s just a small one.

Got a gadget that you love? Or are you curious about one you’d like us to test? Email crave@staradvertiser.com or write Crave, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza Suite 210, Honolulu 96813.