Air-Fried Potato Skins: Crispy, Cheesy, And Loaded!

Loaded potato skins are a quick and easy snack that can be made in an air fryer. They are perfect as an appetizer, a side dish, or even as a snack for game day. The process is simple: cut baked potatoes in half, scoop out some of the insides, add cheese and bacon, and then air fry for a few minutes. You can also add toppings like sour cream, chives, or green onions. This is a versatile dish that can be made vegetarian or loaded with extra meat.

Choosing the right potatoes

Go for Russet Potatoes: Russet potatoes, also known as baking potatoes, are the ideal choice for making potato skins. They have thick, tough skins that can withstand the preparation process. Their large size also makes them perfect for stuffing and loading up with your favourite toppings.

Look for Thick-Skinned Potatoes: The key to successful potato skins is choosing potatoes with thick skins. This ensures that the skins don't tear or break during the cooking process and provide a sturdy base for all your toppings.

Consider the Size: Opt for medium to large-sized potatoes, depending on the number of servings you need. Larger potatoes will take longer to bake, but they will give you more real estate for loading up with cheese, bacon, and other tasty ingredients.

Check for Freshness: Always select fresh potatoes that are firm to the touch. Avoid any potatoes with sprouting eyes or those that feel soft or shrivelled. Fresh potatoes will yield the best results in terms of taste and texture.

Prepare the Potatoes Properly: Before baking your potatoes, be sure to scrub them clean and dry them thoroughly. Poke holes in the potatoes using a fork to prevent explosions and allow moisture to escape. You can also rub the skins with oil and sprinkle them with kosher salt to enhance the flavour and promote crispiness.

By choosing the right potatoes and following these simple preparation tips, you'll be well on your way to creating delicious loaded potato skins that will impress your family and friends.

Preparing the potatoes

Once your potatoes are cooked, cut them in half lengthwise. Be sure not to scoop out too much of the potato flesh, as you still want to eat some of the potato. Drizzle and brush the insides of the potatoes with olive oil, and then sprinkle with salt and pepper. If desired, you can also add ranch dressing seasoning.

Now you are ready to place the potatoes in the air fryer. Place them cut-side up in the air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.

Cooking the potato skins

Once your potatoes are prepared, it's time to brush them with oil. Drizzle a little olive oil over the flesh of the potatoes and brush it around to coat evenly. You only need a small amount of oil, as a little goes a long way. After the potatoes are coated, it's time to season them. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the potato skins, and you can also add other seasonings like ranch dressing, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, or garlic powder to taste.

Now it's time to cook the potato skins in your air fryer. Place the potatoes into the air fryer basket with the cut side up. If you want to make sure your potato skins don't stick to the basket, you can brush the basket with a light coating of olive oil or spray it with olive oil or air fryer-safe non-stick cooking spray before adding the potatoes. Cook the potato skins at 375-400°F for 5-6 minutes.

Once the potato skins are cooked, it's time to add your toppings. Open the air fryer basket and sprinkle cheese inside each potato skin, then add any other desired toppings like bacon, sour cream, green onions, or jalapeños. Close the basket and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

Adding toppings

Once you have cooked your potatoes, it's time to get creative with your toppings. The classic combination of flavours is potato, bacon, cheddar cheese, and green onion, but you can easily make this vegetarian and add peppers, onions, or whatever you like.

• Shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
• Crumbled bacon
• Sour cream
• Ranch dressing
• Jalapeños
• Buffalo sauce
• Awesome sauce
• Blue cheese crumbles
• Shredded buffalo chicken
• Green onions
• Southwestern vegetable mix
• Tender broccoli with a cheesy sauce
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Chives
• Salsa
• Guacamole
• Jalapenos
• Shredded pepper jack or cotija cheese
• Chopped steamed veggies with cheddar or mozzarella cheese
• Chili
• Shredded BBQ chicken
• Ground hamburger meat
• Low-fat Greek yogurt
• Turkey bacon
• Shredded mozzarella cheese

You can also change up the flavours by adding a variety of sauces or dressings to the fillings. Try ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, or ketchup to change the flavour and texture of these air-fried potato skins.

Storing and reheating

Storing loaded potato skins in the refrigerator is a great way to preserve them for 3-4 days. However, it is important to remove any wet toppings, such as sour cream or salsa, and let the potato skins reach room temperature before placing them in an airtight container. This will prevent condensation from building up and turning the potato skins soggy.

If you plan to store just the shells without fillings, freezing them is a better option if you intend to keep them for more than two days. To freeze loaded potato skins, follow these steps:

• Allow the potato skins to cool to room temperature and remove cold toppings like sour cream or salsa.
• Place the potato skins on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and freeze them for 2-3 hours.
• Transfer the frozen potato skins into a freezer bag, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
• Label the bag with the date of freezing and store them in the freezer without anything heavy placed on top.

Frozen potato skins can be stored for up to three months, although their quality may start to deteriorate after this period.

Reheating in the Air Fryer

To reheat frozen or refrigerated loaded potato skins in the air fryer, follow these steps:

• Set the air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
• Remove cold toppings like sour cream, salsa, or ranch dressing.
• Place the potato skins in the air fryer basket and heat for 4-5 minutes, adding extra cheese or toppings in the last minute or two.
• Keep a close eye on the potato skins to prevent burning.

Reheating in the Oven

The oven is a reliable and consistent method for reheating loaded potato skins, especially if you have a large quantity to reheat. Here's how to do it:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Remove any toppings you want to remain cool, such as sour cream, salsa, or ranch dressing.
• Place the loaded potato skins on a wire rack or a lightly greased baking tray. A wire rack is preferable as it allows for better air circulation, resulting in crispier skins.
• Add extra toppings like cheese, bacon bits, or fresh herbs if desired.
• Heat in the oven for 10-15 minutes, using the broiler for the last 2 minutes to crisp the tops, if needed.

Reheating in the Microwave

The microwave is a quick option for reheating one or two loaded potato skins, but it won't produce crispy results. Here's how to do it:

• Remove cold toppings like sour cream, salsa, or ranch dressing.
• Place one or two potato skins on a microwave-safe dish. If the skins seem dry, cover them with a damp paper towel to re-moisturize.
• Heat the potato skins for 30 seconds, then check on them and continue heating in 30-second intervals until they are hot throughout.
• Let the potato skins rest for one minute before serving.

Reheating in a Skillet

Reheating loaded potato skins in a skillet can give them a nice crispy bottom. Here's how to do it:

• Heat a small amount of oil or butter in a skillet over medium heat.
• Remove cold toppings from the potato skins.
• Place the potato skins in the skillet and press them down as flat as possible.
• Add any extra toppings and cover the skillet with a lid to keep the heat in and warm the fillings.
• Heat the potato skins for 4-5 minutes. Be careful not to use too much oil or butter, as this can make the skins greasy.

Frequently asked questions