Air Fryer Potato Skins: The Perfect Crunchy Bite

Air fryer potato skins are a quick and easy snack, appetiser or side dish. They are made with crispy baked potato skins, filled with melted cheese, and loaded with toppings like bacon, sour cream, and green onions. This dish can be made in under 10 minutes and is a healthier alternative to the fried version.

Choosing the right potatoes

Potato Variety

Russet potatoes are the most recommended variety for making potato skins. They are thicker and have stronger skins, which makes them ideal for holding their shape during the cooking process. Russet potatoes also have a heartier structure that can support lots of toppings without falling apart. Their thicker skins become super crispy when baked or air-fried, making them the perfect choice for this recipe.

Potato Size

When selecting your russet potatoes, it's best to choose larger potatoes. Bigger potatoes will provide a greater surface area for toppings and are also easier to handle when scooping out the flesh. Additionally, larger potatoes tend to have thicker skins, which contributes to that desirable crispy texture.

However, keep in mind that the size of your potatoes will determine the cooking time. Smaller potatoes, around 6 ounces each, will take about 30 minutes to bake in the air fryer. Larger potatoes may require a longer cooking time, so adjust your recipe accordingly.

Potato Condition

Always opt for firm potatoes with smooth, unblemished skins. Avoid potatoes that have sprouted or have a greenish tint, as these indications suggest that they are past their prime. Also, make sure the potatoes are dry before adding them to the air fryer. Patting them dry with a clean dish towel can help ensure crispiness.

Quantity

The number of potatoes you need will depend on the size of your air fryer basket and the number of servings you want to make. For a typical air fryer basket, four to five large russet potatoes should be sufficient to make eight potato skins, which can serve four people as a side dish or appetizer.

Preparation

Before cooking your potatoes in the air fryer, wash and dry them thoroughly to avoid any dirt or bacteria transferring to the skins. Then, pierce each potato a few times with a fork to allow steam to escape during the cooking process. You can also rub the potatoes with olive oil and season them with salt and pepper before placing them in the air fryer.

Preparing the potatoes

Firstly, select the right type of potatoes. Russet potatoes are ideal for this recipe due to their thicker skins, which become super crispy when baked or air-fried, and their heartier structure, which can support lots of toppings. If you're using large potatoes, keep in mind that they will take longer to cook. For potato skins, it's recommended to use smaller 6-ounce potatoes, which take about 30 minutes to bake in the air fryer.

Before cooking the potatoes, wash and dry them thoroughly to avoid any dirt or bacteria transferring to the skins. Then, pierce each potato a few times with a fork to allow steam to escape during the cooking process. This helps prevent the potatoes from bursting open.

Now, you can preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes while you prepare the potatoes. Rub each potato with a light coating of oil, such as avocado oil, olive oil, or coconut oil. You can also season the potatoes with salt and pepper or other seasonings of your choice, such as garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, or onion powder.

Arrange the potatoes in the air fryer basket, making sure they are spaced out and not touching. This arrangement will ensure that the skins get nice and crispy. Depending on the size and shape of your air fryer, you may need to cook the potatoes in batches.

Cook the potatoes at 400°F for about 30 minutes, or until they can be easily pierced in the center with a knife. Then, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool down until they are easy to handle.

Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut each one in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, carefully scoop out the soft middles of the potatoes, leaving a 1/4-inch border of potato next to the skin. Don't discard the potato flesh; you can use it for another recipe, such as mashed potatoes or lazy mashed potatoes.

Finally, brush both sides of the potato halves with oil and season them with salt and pepper, or other seasonings of your choice. Your potatoes are now ready to be placed back into the air fryer to cook for a few more minutes before adding your desired toppings!

Adding toppings

Once you've cooked your potato skins in the air fryer, it's time to add toppings. The classic combination is cheese, bacon, sour cream, and green onions, but you can get creative with your toppings. Here are some ideas:

• Shredded buffalo chicken, green onions, blue cheese crumbles, and sour cream or ranch dressing
• Southwestern vegetable mix
• Cheesy sauce and tender broccoli
• Jalapeños, ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, awesome sauce, or blue cheese crumbles
• Chilli powder, paprika, and onion powder
• Greek seasoning, Old Bay, or Cajun seasoning
• Shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
• Crumbled bacon
• Sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes
• Dried ranch powder for a tangy flavour
• Homemade sour cream and onion seasoning by mixing salt, onion powder, and powdered buttermilk
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Colby jack cheese
• Monterey jack cheese
• American cheese
• Cooked sausage instead of bacon
• Beans, veggies, and salsa
• Dollops of sour cream or plain Greek yoghurt

Cooking method

Ingredients

• Russet potatoes
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Cheese (Colby jack, cheddar, or a mix of both)
• Bacon, cooked and crumbled
• Sour cream
• Green onions, chopped
• Ranch dressing (optional)

Method

First, you'll need to cook your potatoes. You can bake them in the oven, or cook them in the microwave or air fryer. If baking, rub the potatoes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper before placing in the oven at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 45-55 minutes. If cooking in the microwave, pierce the potatoes with a fork, then place on a microwave-safe dish and cook for 5 minutes. Flip the potatoes and cook for another 7-8 minutes, or until tender.

Once your potatoes are cooked, cut them in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, leaving around 1/4 inch of potato along the skin. Be careful not to scoop out too much, as you still want to eat some of the potato. Drizzle or brush the insides of the potatoes with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Now it's time to air fry! Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket with the skin side down. Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.

After 5 minutes, remove the potatoes from the air fryer and add your toppings. First, add the cheese and bacon. You can also add the green onions now, or wait until after the cheese has melted. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Once the cheese has melted, remove the potatoes from the air fryer. Top with sour cream and, if desired, ranch dressing. Sprinkle with green onions and serve.

Reheating and Storing

To reheat, place the potato skins back in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-4 minutes. You can also reheat in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warm.

If you have leftover potato skins, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last for 3-4 days.

Reheating and storing

If you have leftover air fryer potato skins, make sure to store them correctly so that you can enjoy them later! Storing leftovers correctly is important, so here are some tips on how to do it:

• In the Refrigerator: After they have cooled, store the potato skins in an airtight container and put them in the fridge. They will last up to 4 days. Just be sure not to add the sour cream, bacon, and green onions until just before serving.
• To Reheat: To reheat the potato skins, add them back into the air fryer and cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-4 minutes. You can also reheat them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warm. Add toppings as desired!
• How to Freeze Potato Skins: You can make a large batch of potato skins and then freeze some to be reheated later. Make the potato skins according to the directions, but do not add sour cream, ranch dressing, or green onions to the top. Allow them to cool completely, then place them into a freezer-safe ziplock bag and remove the air from the bag. Place them into the freezer. The potato skins will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months.
• To Reheat Frozen Potato Skins in the Air Fryer: Add the frozen potato skins to the air fryer basket. Set the temperature to 370 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 5 minutes. If your potatoes are larger, you may need to add 1-3 additional minutes to cook through.

Frequently asked questions