Making the perfect crispy skin, backed potato can be a bit of a challenge. However, I have found the secret to perfect baked potatoes every time! This air fryer baked potatoes recipe makes a light and fluffy inside and a crisp salty outside every time. They make a great side dish or bake a large one and make it a meal with toppings like copycat Texas Roadhouse chili or roast beef and gravy.
Why cook a baked potato in an air fryer
Using this air fryer recipe you will get one of the best-baked potatoes with a delicious crispy skin that has a slight crunch that you have ever had. It's an easy recipe that makes a perfect side dish for the main course or a meal. If you need a party idea then try serving these on a baked potato bar. I have easy prep-ahead party Topping Ideas For Your Next Baked Potato Bar.
Baked potato Q&A
Olive oil is the perfect oil for coating your backed potatoes with before putting them in the air fryer. It is a light smooth flavor that makes the potato skins crisp. avocado oil and coconut oil would also be a good choice.
When baking them in the oven it helps them bake faster and to gives them crispy skin. However, in an air fryer, the heat circulates and foil does not help them bake faster.
You can wrap your potatoes in Aluminum foil just like you would in a traditional oven. However, the skin on your potatoes will stay nice and soft. For safety, it is best to not allow your baked potato to cool down to a low temperature in aluminum foil.
Some recipes state that soaking your potatoes in water before putting them in the air fryer helps them dry out. However, I have found coating them in olive oil instead yields perfectly crispy skin and a soft flaky center.
On average it takes between 20 to 40 minutes to bake a potato in an air fryer. A medium-size potato usually takes 30 minutes to be fork tender. However, you might need to have different cook times depending on your brand of air fryer machine.
It does make a difference for the kind of potato you if you want a great baked potato. Russet potatoes, Yukon Gold, and sweet potatoes are great to bake in an air fryer because they have a high starch content and the skins are absorbent. Other types of potatoes such as red potatoes and fingerlings may become creamy and mushy and not hold their shape as well.
💭 Top tips
- Do not crowd your potatoes in the air fryer basket. Allow enough space for the potatoes to not touch. The skin does not get as crispy if the potatoes touch.
- Be sure to use the best potato for baking such as a Russet or Yukon Gold.
- Do not overcook, it should be fork tender.
- If you have only two large potatoes in your air fryer then flip them halfway through your cooking time.
- Remember cooking times will vary on the size of your potato and the brand of your air fryer. The potatoes should have an internal temperature of 210 degrees when done.
Can you make them ahead?
It is best to serve them hot right out of the air fryer. They lose their crispy skins after they are cold.
🥘 Ingredients
- 4 medium russet potatoes
- olive oil
- coarse sea salt
- black pepper
- garlic powder
🔪 Instructions
- Be sure and wash your baked potato under running water and a scrub brush to remove all the dirt. Pat dry with a paper towel
- Prick the skin of the potato with a fork.
- Using a pastry brush, coat the potatoes with olive oil. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder on the skins.
- Place potatoes in the air fryer basket.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes of cooking time. Using a fork insert to see if they are soft all the way through. If not bake for another 5 minutes or until fork-tender. *Note it might take less time if the size of the potatoes is small enough to put 5 or 6 in your air fryer.
- Use tongs to remove the baked potatoes from the air fryer basket.
- Slice horizontally about 2/3 the way through the potato. Pinch ends and push ends to center to open the potato. Fluff with a fork. Add your favorite toppings.
🥗 How to serve baked potatoes
There are endless ideas for different toppings on baked potatoes. Let your imagination go and create a main dish dinner using baked potatoes.
- Quick & Delicious Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken Recipe
- Masters Pimento Cheese
- Vegan Nacho Cheese
- Spicy Cashew Cream Sauce
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Perfect Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 russet potatoes medium size
- olive oil
- coarse sea salt
- black pepper
- garlic powder
Instructions
- Be sure and wash your baked potato under running water and a scrub brush to remove all the dirt. Pat dry with a paper towel
- Prick the skin of the potato with a fork.
- Using a pastry brush, coat the potatoes with olive oil. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder on the skins.
- Place potatoes in the air fryer basket.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes of cooking time. Using a fork insert to see if they are soft all the way through. If not bake for another 5 minutes or until fork-tender. *Note it might take less time if the size of the potatoes is small enough to put 5 or 6 in your air fryer.
- Use tongs to remove the baked potatoes from the air fryer basket.
- Slice horizontally about 2/3 the way through the potato. Pinch ends and push ends to center to open the potato. Fluff with a fork. Add your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Do not crowd your potatoes in the air fryer basket. Allow enough space for the potatoes to not touch. The skin does not get as crispy if the potatoes touch.
- Be sure to use the best potato for baking such as a Russet or Yukon Gold.
- Do not overcook, it should be fork-tender.
- If you have only two large potatoes in your air fryer then flip them halfway through your cooking time.
- Remember cooking times will vary on the size of your potato and the brand of your air fryer. The potatoes should have an internal temperature of 210 degrees when done.
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