Don’t toss those potato peels! Air fryer potato peels are the perfect hot and crispy snack. Nosh on them while you wait for dinner to finish. A tasty way to make sure food doesn’t go to waste!
Around the winter holidays, my potato peeler gets a serious workout.
I used to just throw the peels into the trash, but when I got my air fryer way back in 2017, I started air frying them instead. One batch, and I was hooked!
Now I make air fryer potato peels any time mashed potatoes or vegan baked potato soup are on the menu. And of course, they’re ideal for noshing on when holiday dinner prep won’t be done for a while.
I have a feeling these crispy air fried potato peels will become a favorite snack for you too!
In this post:
Why readers love this recipe
“These were so tasty! I normally don't peel potatoes, but sometimes I need to make smooth mashed potatoes. I've always hated throwing away the peels. This is a great way to use them, and so easy!” – Cassie
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this recipe.
Russet potato peels: Choose medium-sized Russet potatoes that are firm, smooth, and free of sprouts. Since you’ll be eating the peels, I recommend opting for organic potatoes when possible.
Russets are my go-to for vegan mashed potatoes and mustard mashed potatoes, which makes them the obvious choice for air fryer potato peels. Plus, the weighty skin gets wonderfully chewy and crisp.
Oil: Avocado oil spray is my preferred option, because of its neutral flavor and high smoke point. However, you can use any neutral-flavored cooking oil or spray that you like.
Salt: A pinch of salt heightens the flavors. (Table salt can be replaced with the seasoning salt of your choice.)
Remember: The potato peels shrink as they cook, so be careful not to go overboard on salt. You can always add more later.
How to make air fryer potato peels
This section shows how to make this recipe at a glance with process photos of the steps. For complete ingredient amounts & instructions, keep scrolling to the recipe card below.
1. Scrub your potatoes well under running water to remove any dirt. Pat them dry. Then use a potato peeler to peel the skin from a Russet potato in long, thin strips.
2. Continue with the remaining potatoes.
3. Put the potato peels into the air fryer basket in an even layer. Spray with oil, and add a pinch of salt.
Air fry until crispy, stopping once or twice to toss with a spatula, and add more oil spray, if desired. (Check the recipe card below for exact amounts and cooking times.)
4. Transfer potato peels to a plate and eat while hot. If you like, serve potato peel crisps with your favorite dipping sauces or toppings.
Dipping sauces & topping ideas
Potato peel chips are terrific on their own or dipped in a delicious sauce. Here are some of my favorite dipping sauce options:
- Ketchup
- Onion & garlic salad dressing
- Vegan ranch dressing
- Spicy chili crisp dipping sauce
- Vegan sriracha mayonnaise
- Barbecue sauce
- Vegan honey mustard
To make crispy potato peelings a bigger snack, top them with any of your favorite potato toppings like:
- A clove of garlic, minced and sautéed in oil until fragrant
- Chopped & browned seitan bacon
- Grated non-dairy cheese
- Non-dairy cream cheese (This is good for dipping too!)
- Green onions
FAQ
No. Simply scrub the potatoes well, peel, blot dry, and pop them into the air fryer. (If the peels are still wet, they won’t crisp as nicely.)
Absolutely, you can use any type of potato skins, even sweet potato skins!
Russet potato peels are a little thicker than some other potato varieties. So if your potatoes have a thinner skin, they may cook in less time. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
If you try this recipe and love it, let me know! Leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comment section below. It truly makes my day and is such a help!
📖 Recipe
Air fried potato peels
Ingredients
- Peels from 2 pounds Russet potatoes about 4 medium-sized potatoes
- Spritz of avocado oil spray or your preferred neutral-flavored oil
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Put potato peels into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spritz them with oil and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.*
- Air fry at 400 degrees for 6 to 9 minutes. Stop once or twice to toss the peels with a spatula and give them another spritz of oil. Check on them during the last few minutes of cooking to make sure they get brown and crisp, but not burned.
- Serve right away with your favorite dipping sauces or toppings.
Maria McNaee
Loved these!
Cadry Nelson
I’m so glad to hear it, Maria!
Cassie
These were so tasty! I normally don’t peel potatoes, but sometimes I need to make smooth mashed potatoes. I’ve always hated throwing away the peels. This is a great way to use them, and so easy!
I made a double batch (8 potatoes worth of peels), so my total cook time was about 11 minutes. but they still came out crispy and delicious. I used garlic salt and pepper as my seasonings.
Cadry Nelson
Thank you for the great feedback, Cassie! I’m glad you enjoyed the crispy potato peels! Garlic salt & pepper sound like delicious additions.
claudia baskerville
I made these and they were so good , A great healthy snack 🙂
Cadry Nelson
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Claudia!
Sally
I had same idea when I made my boys potato soup after long cold morning cutting and stacking wood. sprayed with vegatanle oil, salted and put in air fryer, used french fry setting(400degrees for 20 mins!) pulled basket out and shook them like ever 5 mins or do. What a hit! Next going to try blotting dry with paper towels and freezing to see how the do. Boys want me to try using dry ranch or bbq seasoning.
Cadry
That’s a great idea to add dry ranch or BBQ seasoning. Sounds delicious!
Whoevaur
Do you think this could work with other peelings, like carrot?
Cadry
That’s a great question! I’ve never tried it, but it seems like it would be delicious with carrot peels. Carrots have more moisture than potato peels, and so they may not get quite as crisp. However, there’s one way to find out! Let me know if you try it. I’m intrigued!
Shell
Another fabulous use of the air fryer! I don’t ever peel potatoes, but I need to find a reason to do so. ASAP.
Cadry
Let me know if you try it, Shell!
Susan
This is a super fun idea!
Cadry
Thanks, Susan!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
Ha! I love the bowl story. I can imagine these are addicting!
Cadry
I don’t know if you can really tell just how tiny that bowl is! It’s like the size you’d use for ketchup. Haha! They are too tasty for their own good. 😀
Dianne
I actually never peel potatoes, but now I want to so I can try this!
Cadry
I rarely peel them either. The first time I made my potato soup, I just started chopping the potatoes with peels on by habit, even though I wanted to air fry the peels. I only remembered once it was too late! So when I made it a second time, I had to keep reminding myself, so that it didn’t happen again. 😀
Jennifer Bliss
LOVING this! Loving this!!!!! YUM!
Cadry
Thanks, Jennifer!
Becky Striepe
Oh my gosh, this is so smart! I avoid peeling potatoes, because I don’t like to waste food, and now I can peel with reckless abandon!
Cadry
Haha! Peel away! Then you get two, two, two snacks in one! 😉
Beverlee
The sacrifices one goes through to benefit us fellow vegans. 😉
Cadry
The depths of my own selflessness amaze me too. 😉
David Busch
Mmmmm, these look really good!
Cadry
Play your cards right, and I’ll make them for you sometime! 😀