Ideal as a main or a side dish, potato skins are a popular food choice often served with steamed veggies, some salad, and maybe meat. Many swear by it and say it’s the best option for dinner on busy nights.
You can make them on your own or buy the premade versions. If you have leftover potatoes, a good potato skin recipe is what you need!
And, the good news is that this dish is freezer-friendly. You can keep it in the freezer to prolong its quality, safety, and taste. And, when the time comes, you can take them out for a shared meal with your family.
If you also love this dish, keep reading to learn all about freezing potato skins to keep them as yummy as possible!
Table of Contents
Potato Skins: Can You Keep This Dish in the Freezer?
You needn’t worry about leftover potato skins because they’re fridge- and freezer-friendly. If you have leftover potato skins that you plan to eat within several days, the fridge is the best choice.
You can put them in a container or wrap them tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil. When you store potato skins properly, they will remain tasty and safe for three to five days, without any problems.
On the other hand, if you don’t plan to eat the leftovers within this period or if you want to prepare them in advance and bake them on another occasion, the freezer is a better choice.
Spread the potato skins on a baking sheet, making sure there’s a distance between each of them so that they don’t stick to each other. Keep them for an hour in the freezer and then take them out.
Transfer them into a freezer-safe bag or a container. Frozen in this way, the potato skins will last up to six months.
When you want to bake them or consume the leftovers, take them out of the freezer, defrost them, and heat them up in the oven, microwave, or some other favorite reheating method.
How to Freeze Potato Skins?
When potato skins have cooled down, storing them is easy.You should avoid putting hot food into the freezer right away because this may contribute to bacteria. The potato skins can be frozen either in freezer bags or in freezer-safe containers.
It’s also recommendable to freeze them on a tray first and to ensure there’s space between them so that they don’t all stick together. After this step, you can easily store them in bags or containers and set them in the freezer for longer.
In this way, the potato skins remain safe and tasty for up to six months. Once you want to eat them, you just take them out of the freezer and reheat them.
Best Ways to Reheat Frozen Potato Skins?
Potato skins are delicious: crispy and full of yummy filling, they’re definitely a favorite coming straight from the oven.
However, when it comes to leftovers, we’re often unsure which reheating option is the most suitable one to achieve the same fluffy filling and crunchiness on the outside as the first time they were cooked.
This is why we decided to share information about each reheating option available to know what to expect.
Check out the list below:
- The oven is one of the best options for reheating potato skins because this is the original way the meal was cooked.
To do it, you need to preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Scoop out any toppings or cream that you want to keep cold before you set the potato skins on a greased baking tray or on the wire rack.
Cook them for 10 to 15 minutes and use the broiler for the last two minutes to crisp up the top. Take them out of the oven and add the cold toppings. This method of reheating is great when you’re not in a hurry.
- The microwave is a viable choice when you’re in a rush. But, don’t expect crispiness and optimal freshness from this reheating method, although the toppings will melt finely.
Scoop out the cream, salsa, and other toppings that you need to remain cold. Put the skins on a microwave-safe plate and heat them for 30 seconds. Pause to check the skins and keep heating them up in 30-second intervals until they’re hot enough.
Take them out of the microwave, leave them for a minute, and serve. If you want to crisp the skins, you can broil them for a minute or two after removing them from the microwave.
- The skillet is also a common option to reheat potato skins. It’s said to be a quick and efficient method.
To reheat the potato skins in it, heat up a bit of oil or butter on medium heat and take out any salsa or sour cream and any other cold toppings.
Press the potato skins down as flat as you can. Add the toppings and cover the skins with a lid. Cook them for four to five minutes.
How Long Can You Keep Potato Skins in the Freezer?
If you freeze potato skins, they’ll last for up to six months. They tend to freeze pretty well. And, there’s a low chance of them reducing in taste or quality within this period.
Avoid consuming them after this period because changes in their texture and taste may have already started happening. When you take out the skins from the freezer, defrost them thoroughly before you reheat them in the method you’ve chosen.
Final Thoughts
Potato skins are irresistible and they’re one of the tastiest and most interesting ways to combine potatoes and yummy fillings of your choice.
And, the good news is that this dish is freezer-friendly. In fact, by freezing the leftovers or the surplus batch of potato skins you’ve prepared, you’re prolonging their safety and taste.
Also, you’re reducing food waste in your household. When you decide to consume them, defrost them, decide on a reheating method, and enjoy this tasty meal!
