Crispy Potato Peels

By Ann Fulton

Instead of tossing the peels when preparing potatoes for mashing, save them. They make a fun snack that's crisp and flavorful--and nothing goes to waste!  
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Instead of tossing the peels when preparing potatoes for mashing, save them. They make a fun snack that’s crisp and flavorful–and nothing goes to waste!  

 

The first time I roasted what were essentially the mashed potato scraps, I did it as an experiment and had low expectations. Little did I know the crispy bites would vanish from the baking sheet before a pot of water on the stove came to a boil. 

Roasted potato peels aren’t particularly pretty, and they certainly aren’t gourmet. They are, however, a reminder that the pieces of veggies we typically discard sometimes have more potential than we give them credit for. 

We know that the skins and peels of many fruits and vegetables can be an excellent source of flavor and texture. Interestingly, they are also typically higher in fiber, antioxidants, and various vitamins and minerals than the flesh of the same fruit or vegetable.

When eating the potato skins, simply be sure to scrub the potatoes well before peeling. I also avoid green peels as well as any eyes or brown spots.

The key to making this humble snack sing is a light coating of olive oil and sufficient seasoning. Use too much oil and the peels will be greasy. Skimp on the salt and the flavor will be unremarkable. Luckily, it’s easy to add an extra spritz of oil if the peels seem dry at the midway point, and you can always add an extra pinch of salt upon serving.

When I have fresh rosemary on hand (fortunately, this hearty backyard herb stands up to frost), I like to mince and add a sprinkle at the end. I find the flavor is fresher and brighter when the herb is added to the potatoes after roasting. A dusting of Parmesan–even a sprinkle in the final few minutes of roasting–offers yet another option. 

When making mashed potatoes, you may not want the bother of simultaneously roasting the peels. In this case, soak the peels in cold water and then store in the fridge to prevent discoloration. Soaking will keep the peels fresh for up to four days.

Thicker-skinned Russet potatoes are my favorite, but I’ve used thin-skinned potatoes, too. I haven’t roasted sweet potato peels, but there’s no reason you couldn’t.

Whichever potato variety you choose, these crisp, lightly salted morsels will make you want to make mashed potatoes more often!

 

Mashed potato recipes:

Other ways to use produce scraps:

  • Homemade Chicken or Turkey Stock
  • Roasted broccoli: You can chop the stems and roast with the florets, although my family loves it when I shred the stems. The thin shards become crispy and add a lovely contrast to the florets…and somehow no one feels like they’re getting the undesirable pieces! 
  • Another way to repurpose broccoli stems is to shred them and add to My Favorite Broccoli Salad, this Brussels Sprouts Salad, virtually any coleslaw recipe (Cumin Lime Coleslaw is a longtime favorite in our house), or green salad (like Crunch Salad). Additionally, cruciferous vegetables complement one another, so mixing and matching scraps of cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage–even bok choy–is generally a safe bet.
  • Make Orange Vinegar, a boutique-worthy “green” cleaner, with the peels from oranges or clementines. Or give it a go with peels from grapefruit, limes, or lemons. 
  • Save the seeds of pumpkins and winter squash for the most snack-worthy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds. And for a hint of sweetness, I love these Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds
  • Finally, for a fun project with edible results, you can regrow scallions. The easy instructions can be found in this Favorite Things post

Have more clever ways to reuse produce scraps? Please add to the comment section below!

Instead of tossing the peels when preparing potatoes for mashing, save them. They make a fun snack that's crisp and flavorful--and nothing goes to waste!  

For even cooking, spread the peels in a single layer on the baking sheet. Don’t want to roast them on the same day you peeled the potatoes? No problem – simply place the peels in a bowl of cold water to cover, and then cover the bowl and refrigerate. Prior to using, rinse the peels and pat them dry before proceeding with the recipe.They’ll still be a little damp and will require a bit more cooking time as noted in the instructions. I’ve kept the peels refrigerated in water for up to 4 days, and they still turned out great.

Instead of tossing the peels when preparing potatoes for mashing, save them. They make a fun snack that's crisp and flavorful--and nothing goes to waste!  

You can do this with any amount of potato peels. Depending on size of potatoes and appetites, you’ll likely get 1 serving from every 1-2 potatoes. 

Instead of tossing the peels when preparing potatoes for mashing, save them. They make a fun snack that's crisp and flavorful--and nothing goes to waste!  

Save the peels when preparing potatoes for mashing. They make this deliciously fun salty snack–and nothing goes to waste!

 

Crispy Potato Peels
Prep Time: 2 min
Cook Time: 15 min
Total Time: 17 min
Yield: figure on 1 serving per every 1-2 potatoes
These crispy bites are perfect for pre-dinner munchies or as an extra treat on a dinner plate. Follow the simple instructions with any amount of peels.
Ingredients
  • Potato peels*
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Optional: minced fresh rosemary or grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400℉, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease it well.

Toss the peels with olive oil to lightly coat. They do not need to be really wet, but you want enough to add flavor and make the seasonings stick.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, and distribute the peels in a single layer over the baking sheet. (Tip: Sufficient seasoning makes the crisped peels taste their best, but the peels will shrink and concentrate the seasoning when roasted. You can always add more salt and/or mist with olive oil if you find you went too lightly on either.)

Roast for 15 to 20 minutes stirring once halfway through. Cooking time may be longer based on thickness of peels. Also, the peels will take longer to crisp if they’ve been soaked first (see notes). Continue to cook, checking and stirring every 5 minutes, until crisped to your liking. (Thin skinned potatoes that haven’t been soaked will be closer to the 15-20 minute timeframe, while thicker Russets that have been soaked may take about double that.)

When done, add an extra pinch or two of salt, if needed. Enjoy immediately, as is, or sprinkle with fresh rosemary or a touch of grated Parmesan cheese.

 

Notes

Don’t want to cook the peels right away? Simply place them in a bowl of cold water to cover, and then cover the bowl and refrigerate. When ready to use, rinse the peels until the water runs clear and pat them dry. (They’ll still be a little damp and will require a bit more cooking time as noted in the instructions.) I’ve kept the peels refrigerated in water for up to 4 days, and they still turned out great.

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