AIR FRYER BAKED POTATOES

Who doesn’t love a good baked potato? They make a great side dish and can even be a full meal when loaded with lots of yummy toppings. They’re inexpensive, easy to make and the cooking is mostly hands-off. A quick wash and prep and in the oven they go while you prepare the rest of your meal. I used to bake potatoes in the oven but I’ve since found that air fryer baked potatoes are even better. They get super crispy on the outside while the inside stays tender and fluffy. Not to mention that I don’t have to heat up my entire oven just to cook a couple of potatoes.

How Do You Make Baked Potatoes In An Air Fryer?

It’s super easy. Just 3 simple pantry ingredients are all you need. Baking potatoes (I recommend Russets), EVOO, and salt. I use good quality sea salt because I like the texture of the bigger flakes but you could use any salt you have in the pantry. Kosher salt would work great. Start by washing the potatoes and drying them well. Then drizzle the potatoes with a little EVOO making sure they’re well coated. This will help the skins crisp up. Once the potatoes are oiled sprinkle them with salt. Don’t be afraid to be liberal with the salt. It helps flavor the potato skin and if like me, you consider the skin the best part, salting it well will be key to adding flavor. Then, using a fork, poke a few holes in each potato.

Now the potatoes can go in the air fryer. Make sure not to crowd them. You want the air to be able to circulate around them. Set the temperature to 205C (400F) and start the timer. There is no need to preheat the fryer. It will get up to temperature very quickly. It should take around 40-45 minutes for a smaller-sized 7oz potato. After about 25 minutes turn the potatoes over and set the timer for another 20 minutes.

How Do You Know When The Potatoes Are Done?

To check if the potatoes are done, pierce the middle (thickest part) of the potato with a knife. If the knife pierces easily the potatoes are done. If they’re not quite ready cook a little longer checking every 5 – 10 minutes.

Baked Potato Toppings

The list is quite large. You could even set up a baked potato bar for your next gathering and let people choose their favorite toppings. Here are a few of my favorite ideas.

• Salt and Pepper
• Butter
• Sour Cream
• Crumbled Bacon
• Fresh Chopped Chives or Green Onions
• Cheddar Cheese
• Feta Cheese
• Sauteed Mushrooms
• Chili
• Avocado
• And if you’re feeling very extravagant you could even top your baked potato with Caviar

Frequently Asked Questions;

Do you have to pierce the potatoes before baking in an air fryer? In my experience  potatoes cooked in an air fryer don't really need to be pierced with a fork pryor to cooking. However, there is a small chance that your potatos will burst so why not take a minute to poke a few holes in each potato. 

Is it better to air fry or bake potatoes in an oven? While you can get good results with both methods, cooking in an air fryer is faster and uses less energy than cooking in an oven. I also find that the skins get crispier and the inside is fluffier.  

Is it better to wrap the potatoes in foil?
No. Wrapping the potatoes in foil will just hold moisture in making them soggy and preventing them from getting crispy on the outside. 

How long does it take to cook a potato in an air fryer? At 205C (400F) it will take about 40-45 minutes for every 200g (7oz) of potato.

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If you’re looking for more easy side dish recipes check out my recipes for Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli and Easy Peasy Cheesy Polenta.