Healthy Air Fryer Potato Skins - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

Can air fried potatoes be healthy? ›

It cuts calories by 70% to 80% and has a lot less fat. This cooking method might also cut down on some of the other harmful effects of oil frying. The reaction that happens when you fry potatoes or other starchy foods makes the chemical acrylamide, which research links to greater chances of getting cancer.

Most of your vitamins and nutrients are in the potato skin. So, yes, eat the skin. Rub a little EVOO on it before you bake and make it crispy.

Baked potatoes offer more nutritional value than fries because they still have skin. Potato skins are the most nutrient-dense part of a baked potato. Another benefit of heart-healthy baked potatoes is that they are not deep-fried in oil and grease like french fries.

Preheat air fryer to 360°F. Arrange product in a single layer in basket. Air fry pieces for 7-8 minutes.

Air fryer health risks

COPs are linked to an increase in heart disease, cancer and other medical conditions. You may have also heard about polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are carcinogens that are produced as fumes when foods are cooked at a high temperature.

Households are shelving their air fryers in favour of another kitchen appliance that is cheaper to run, and just as healthy.

Glycoalkaloids occur naturally in potatoes and are toxic to humans at high levels. Glycoalkaloids are concentrated in the peel and prolonged exposure of tubers to light will stimulate the formation of glycoalkaloids near the surface of the potato tuber. Glycoalkaloids are not broken down by cooking or frying.

Potato skins are generally safe to eat and actually contain beneficial nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. However, they can also contain trace amounts of natural compounds like solanine and glycoalkaloids, especially in green or sprouted areas, which might be harmful in large quantities.

To get the most antioxidants, leave the skins on and choose colorful varieties like red and purple potatoes. The more color, the more antioxidants. Plus, the skin of some potatoes can have up to 12 times more antioxidants than the flesh. Baked potato skin is a great source of potassium and magnesium.

Yes. Eat the skin to capture all the russet potatoes nutrition. The potato skin has more nutrients than the interior of the potato. It has lots of fiber, about half of a medium potato's fiber is from the skin.

What should I eat if I crave fries? ›

But you can mitigate these risks by seeking healthier ways to satisfy your cravings. Oven-baked sweet potato fries pack just as much flavor as French fries, but without the extra calories. You could also try roasted parsnip fries, kale chips, air-popped popcorn, or roasted chickpeas.

Raw potatoes are safe to eat, just a little hard to digest in quantity. The skin is loaded with nutrients, so be sure to eat that too.

While it may seem like a pain, soaking the potatoes in hot water for 10 minutes prior to cooking them in the air fryer is essential. The water removes excess starch, allowing the fries to be their crispiest. Instead of soaking them in large bowl of cold water, I like to use hot water to cook the potatoes slightly.

Potatoes can come out soggy in an air fryer if you don't dry them after washing. Once you've washed your spuds you need to dry them thoroughly.

Which is better between air frying vs. oven baking? Air-frying is a healthier alternative to deep-fried foods, but oven-baking often preserves good nutrients while filtering out the bad ones, making oven-baked foods even healthier than most air-fried foods.

Some of the smartest cooking methods for potatoes include baking, roasting, air-frying and boiling. These methods require little to no added fats. It's important to leave the skin on potatoes, if possible.

Because an air fryer keeps the surface of the food dry and cooks with circulating hot air, the process is likely to help the food preserve more of its nutrients.

One batch of my Air Fryer Potatoes makes 4 servings at 4 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green WW plans and 130 calories each. Enjoy! Wash potatoes and wrap them in a damp paper towel.