An air fryer baked potato is ideal when you want a baked potato but don’t have much time.
Baking potatoes in the air fryer is quicker than using the oven. It’s not as fast as nuking them in the microwave. But air fryer baked potatoes taste better than microwaved ones.
They’re also tender inside with perfectly crisp skins. Loaded with your favorite toppings, they’re simply irresistible!
Air Fryer Baked Potato
Air fryer baked potatoes are the best of all worlds. They take less time than the oven and taste much better than microwaved potatoes.
They’re also the only baked potatoes that balance crisp skins with soft, fluffy insides. Plus, they’re ridiculously easy to make!
You need four ingredients, an air fryer, and a fork to poke holes. If you can manage that, you can easily make these delicious air fryer baked potatoes.
Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make them:
- Potatoes – The best potatoes for baked potatoes are Russets. They’re large enough to satisfy you and hold their shape well. Select firm potatoes of a similar size without blemishes.
- Olive oil – Generously coating the potatoes in olive oil gives them crispy skins. Some people say you can substitute cooking spray. Unfortunately, it never gives the same result.
- Sea salt & black pepper – A little of each of these will go a long way. You want these ingredients to enhance the potatoes’ flavor, not mask it.
How Long to Cook Baked Potatoes in the Air Fryer
Typically, cook potatoes in an air fryer for about 40 to 45 minutes. However, a few factors can cause the cooking time to vary. They are:
- The potatoes’ size
- The model and power level of your air fryer
- The size of the air fryer’s basket
Let’s assume your potatoes fit comfortably in the air fryer basket and the temp is 400 degrees. In that case, here’s a rundown on approximate cooking times for different-sized potatoes:
- Medium potatoes – Medium, or 8- to 10-ounce potatoes should take 35 to 45 minutes.
- Large potatoes – Large, or 11- to 12-ounce or larger potatoes should take 45 to 55 minutes.
How to Make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
The steps for making air fryer potatoes are simple.
1. Preheat. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Prep the potatoes. Wash and dry them before poking holes in them with a fork. Then, coat them in olive oil and season them with salt and pepper.
3. Cook the potatoes. Transfer the potatoes to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook them for approximately 25 minutes. Then, flip them and cook them for another 15 to 25 minutes.
4. Cool. Remove the potatoes from the air fryer and let them cool.
5. Top and serve. Once they’re cool, slice them open, fluff the insides, and add your toppings. Enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
Let’s check out a few final tips and tricks for ensuring your potatoes are perfect:
- Give ’em a good cleaning. Don’t be afraid to scrub the skins. Potatoes are tubers, so they grow underground. You must scrub them to get rid of all the dirt and debris.
- Forget the foil. Do NOT wrap your potatoes in foil before putting them in the air fryer. It will make them soggy.
- Poke plenty of holes. Poking holes in the potatoes with a fork will ensure they cook evenly and don’t explode. So be sure to poke a lot of them on all sides of each potato.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket! There should be space between the potatoes. That’s the only way the air will circulate through the air fryer.
- Aim for fork-tender perfection. That means you can easily puncture them with a fork without putting much effort into it. They should also slice open smoothly without resistance.
Baked Potato Toppings
Every good baked potato needs delicious toppings. You don’t have to stick strictly to butter, either! My favorite combo includes salsa, butter, green onions, shredded cheese, and salt.
Here are some other tasty toppings to try:
- Sour cream
- Green onions, chives, or shallots
- Shredded or melted cheese
- Salsa
- Bacon bits
- Salt & pepper
- BBQ or BBQ sauce
- Diced ham
- Brown gravy
- Cocktail sauce
For more great potato toppings, check out my article, “25 Baked Potato Toppings for Your Potato Bar.”
How to Store
Need tips on storing leftover baked potatoes? I have you covered!
- To Store: Store whole potatoes in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also scoop out the insides to make mashed potatoes. Store these in the fridge, as well.
- To Freeze: Baked potatoes don’t freeze well when whole. However, you can wrap them in aluminum foil and freeze them for up to a month. Freeze scooped-out insides in an air-tight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat: Reheat chilled baked potatoes in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Let them cook for about 5 minutes. Allow the frozen potatoes to thaw in the fridge overnight. Cook the scooped-out insides on the stove with water and butter to make mashed potatoes.
Air Fryer Baked Potato (Crispy and Fluffy Recipe)
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servings5
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kcalTry this air fryer baked potato when you’re short on time! It has a fluffy inside, crispy outside, and is insanely delicious!
Ingredients
4 medium Russet or Idaho potatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Wash the potatoes and dry them thoroughly. Then, use a fork to poke holes all over them.
- Rub the outside of each potato with olive oil and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Transfer the potatoes to the air fryer basket. Place them in a single layer without overcrowding them.
- Cook the potatoes for 25 minutes, then flip them. Flip carefully with tongs, as the potatoes will be hot. Cook them for another 15 to 25 minutes or until they’re golden brown and fork-tender.
- Remove the potatoes from the basket with tongs. (Again, they will be hot!) Place them on plates and allow them to cool.
- Once the potatoes have cooled slightly (enough to touch), slice them open lengthwise. Use a fork to fluff the insides of each potato. Then, top with any desired toppings. (Butter, cheese, sour cream, etc.)
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Cooking times may vary. The potatoes’ size and the power/size of your air fryer will determine how long it takes them to cook.
- The importance of olive oil. Be generous with the olive oil. Coating the outsides will result in nice, crispy potato skins.
