Have you ever made a baked potato in an air fryer? It's so quick and easy to make the perfect one every single time. These air fryer baked potatoes are wonderfully crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. You will never make baked potatoes any other way after you try these.
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What Makes These Air Fryer Baked Potatoes So Great?
- Fast. Done in under 30 minutes.
- Easy. Simply wash, poke, season for an easy air fryer recipe.
- Vegan. Add your favorite Vegan-friendly toppings to make this an easy meal.
- Gluten-Free. Top with cheese and a dollop of Greek yogurt for a gluten-free side dish.
- Inexpensive. A great way to stretch a budget.
- Delicious. Potatoes are the ultimate comfort food. Especially when they have a perfectly seasoned crispy skin.
Why Air Fry Potatoes?
- Crispy - The skin is perfectly crispy and flavorful.
- Quick - Made in less than 30 minutes (for smaller potatoes).
- Fluffy- The middles are super fluffy and delicious.
- Minimal Ingredients - All you need Salt, Pepper, and Oil.
What Are The Best Potatoes To Use?
You get the best results using floury and starchy potatoes for this recipe. The skins crisp up and the middle is soft and fluffy.
Russets are the best to use, and Yukon Gold also do well. Stay away from waxy potatoes like red and fingerlings.
Are Baked Potatoes Wrapped In Foil Necessary?
No, it is absolutely not necessary. In fact, I would actually recommend you not wrap your baked potatoes in foil before air frying. The aluminum foil can hold in moisture during the cooking process, leaving you with soggy potato skin.
Ingredients You Will Need
You just need 3 simple ingredients to make the best ever baked potatoes:
- Potatoes
- Oil
- Salt and Pepper
How Long Does It Take A Potato In The Air Fryer?
Hate how long it takes to make a baked potato in the oven? Save time and skip the oven with this quick cooking method. Make these air fryer baked potatoes in less than 30 minutes.
How To Make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Clean. Wash and dry the potatoes.
- Poke. Prick the skin of the potato with a fork
- Season. Rub the skins with oil then season well with salt and pepper.
- Cook. Place in the basket of an air fryer and cook at 400F for 20-45 minutes (until fork tender).
- Temp. Check internal temperature to ensure it is between 205F and 210F.
- Finish. Add your favorite toppings.
Optional but highly recommended.
- Cut. Remove from the basket and cut along the top long ways from end to end.
- Squeeze. Press together from each end and add butter and cheese.
- Finish. Return to the air fryer for a final 3-4 minutes.
How To Serve Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Air fryer baked potatoes can be served as side or as a main. Either way, I always like to add a bit of butter.
As a side, you can serve them up with some veggies and some protein for a well balanced meal. Try them with:
Toppings For Baked Potatoes
When it comes to toppings, the possibilities are endless. For these I topped them with shredded cheese, sour cream and chopped chives. More easy and tasty toppings are:
Can You Make Them Ahead Of Time?
These baked potatoes are best served straight out of the air fryer so that they are at their most crispiest. If you want to make them ahead of time, let them cool to room temperature and keep covered in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
To get as much crispiness back as possible, reheat them in the air fryer at 400F for a few minutes until they are warmed through.
What Temperature Do You Cook Baked Potatoes At?
The temperature you cook your baked potatoes depends on how you are preparing them.
If you're making air fryer baked potatoes, you will want to cook them at 400F.
If you don't have an air fryer (yet!) you'll want to cook your baked potatoes at 425F.
Why Do You Soak Potatoes In Water Before Air Frying?
Many people will opt to soak their air fryer baked potatoes before cooking to prevent the skins from dehydrating while the inside cooks.
However, if you cook them according to my time and temperature instructions below, you don't have to worry about this happening. Just was the skins thoroughly, poke some holes, spray with a little oil, and air fry!
How Do You Make Baked Potatoes In The Oven?
If you don't have an air fryer, you can of course make baked potatoes in the oven, I really do prefer the results in the air fryer though.
- Prep. Prepare the potatoes in the same way as this recipe, and place them on a foil lined baking sheet.
- Cook. Bake them in the oven at 425F for about 50 to 60 minutes. Flip them every 20 minutes or so.
- Check. Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should reach 205F to 210F.
Why Do You Put Aluminum Foil On Baked Potatoes?
Aluminum foil is a trick people often use for cooking baked potatoes in an oven to help them bake faster and to give them crispy skin. If you're choosing to make air fryer baked potatoes, you can skip this step every time.
The air circulation inside of your air fryer will help them cook faster than they normally would in the oven while giving you perfectly crispy skin.
Are Air Fryer Potatoes Good For You?
Well, that's up to interpretation. If you live a low carb lifestyle, you'll want to skip the potatoes. However, if you're eating these instead of french fries or scalloped potatoes, these are a great alternative.
Tips and Tricks For Air Fryer Potatoes
- Do not over crowd your air fryer, the skin of the potatoes will not crisp if you do.
- Use a mealy or floury variety of potato like a Russet for the very best baked potatoes.
- Your potato is cooked when you can pierce it easily with a fork.
- If your potatoes are larger flip them over half way through the cooking process.
- Be careful when making the cut across the top of the potato, they are VERY hot.
- Use a neutral oil rather than your best olive oil to coat the potatoes.
- Timings will vary depending on the size of your potatoes. Potatoes larger than 8 oz. will require more cooking time. Sometimes up to 45-50 minutes.
- Check the internal temperature. Potatoes should reach an internal temperature of 205F to 210F for the perfect doneness.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Cheesy Potatoes
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Keto Pizza Casserole
- Steak Tacos
- Cauliflower Buffalo Wings
- Taco Meatballs
- Air Fryer Fried Rice
You're sure to love this easy Air fryer Baked Potato recipe, you will never turn to your microwave or oven again. Make sure to share this recipe with your friends on Pinterest and Facebook so they can enjoy it too!
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Wash and dry the potatoes.
- Prick the skin of the potato with a fork
- Rub the skins with oil then season well with salt and pepper.
- Place in the basket of an air fryer and cook at 400F for 20-45 minutes (until fork tender). Use a thermometer to ensure your potatoes are between 205-201F.
Optional
- Remove from the basket and cut along the top.
- Squeeze together from each end and add butter and cheese.
- Return to the air fryer for a final 3-4 minutes.
Watch The Video
- Do not over crowd your air fryer, the skin of the potatoes will not crisp if you do.
- Use a mealy or floury variety of potato like a Russet for the very best baked potatoes.
- Your potato is cooked when you can pierce it easily with a fork.
- If your potatoes are larger flip them over half way through the cooking process.
- Be careful when making the cut across the top of the potato, they are VERY hot.
- Use a neutral oil rather than your best olive oil to coat the potatoes.
- Timings will vary depending on the size of your potatoes.
- Check internal temperature. Potatoes should reach an internal temperature of 205F to 210F to be cooked to perfection.
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Nutrition
Originally Published May 23, 2020
Tracy
20-45 mins???? Way to narrow it down …commitment issues?
Bob Johnson
I clicked because you said 20 min in your title.
That's a lie. It took 55 minutes to cook.
I admire that the click-bate worked on me. Well done.