You'll love this air fryer baked potato recipe. They cook up quick and easy with just a couple ingredients like salt and olive oil. The crispy skin and perfectly fluffy inside makes them a delicious side dish with a pat of butter, a dollop of sour cream, or loaded with your favorite toppings.
JUMP TO
- What is an air fryer?
- Why should I use an air fryer?
- What are the best air fryers?
- Why this recipe works
- Ingredients and substitutions
- Instructions
- Top tip
- How do I know when an air fryer baked potato is done?
- Variations
- Storage and reheating
- What goes good with air fryer baked potatoes?
- People also ask
- 📖 Recipe
- FOOD SAFETY
- 💬 Comments
This post is part of my beginning air fryer recipes series. Stay tuned for more easy and delicious recipes using this popular kitchen appliance!
What is an air fryer?
An air fryer is a powerful countertop appliance that uses hot, circulated air to cook food. Little to no oil is necessary to get crispy, golden brown results that mimic foods that have been deep fried.
Why should I use an air fryer?
Air fryers are so powerful. They can shorten cooking times so you can spend less time in the kitchen.
Air fryers use air, not oil, so you can cook healthier meals that are lower in fat and calories without sacrificing flavor or texture.
Air fryers are versatile enough to cook a variety of foods, including casserole dishes, cookies, and cakes!
What are the best air fryers?
My personal favorite is the Cosori Max XL, 5.8 quart. I use this model to test all the recipes for this series. The basket is large and the cooking is quite even. It’s easy to use and affordable. Best of all, this basket is dishwasher safe.
The Phillips Digital Twin Turbo Star XXL is one of the highest recommended air fryers on the market. It has a multitude of cooking functions and is big enough to cook a whole chicken. However, it’s one of the most expensive models out there.
If you're only cooking for one of two, or you have very limited counter space, you may want to consider a compact size. The Dash Tasti Crisp 2.6 quart.has been reviewed over 19,000 times on Amazon! It’s sleek and easy to use and clean, but less powerful than full size models.
Now that you know all about air fryers, let's make air fried baked potatoes!
Why this recipe works
- Perfect for beginning cooks
- You only need a few ingredients
- Takes less than an hour from start to finish
- You don't need to use an oven
- Family and kid friendly
Love potatoes? Try my Creamy Potato Soup recipe. It's easy, hearty, and delicious.
Ingredients and substitutions
Russet potatoes - the best baked potatoes are made with russets. They come in many sizes, so be sure to choose ones that are medium sized or 6 to 8 ounces and be sure they are all about the same size. This will ensure even cooking and similar cooking times. You can see from the photo how they fit in the basket.
Olive oil - gives the skin a nice crispy texture and flavor. You can use another mild flavored oil such as canola, corn, or vegetable if that's what you have on hand.
Kosher salt - I love kosher salt for most of my recipes, and this recipe is no different. It's best because the grains or flakes are larger and easier to spread over the potatoes. I don't recommend using table salt in its place, but coarse sea salt will work well.
Additional toppings - butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped bacon, sliced chives or green onions.
Instructions
Be sure you're familiar with your brand of Air Fryer. I used the Cosori Max XL to make this recipe.
Always start with clean hands and work area. Gather all ingredients.
Step 1: Preheat air fryer to 400 F. Rinse potatoes with cool water, scrubbing to remove any dirt. Pat dry with paper towels.
Step 2: Poke potatoes all over with a fork.
Step 3: Rub each potato with olive oil then sprinkle with kosher salt. Don't skip this step. The salt will help draw out the moisture for perfectly fluffy, not dense, baked potatoes.
Step 4: Arrange prepared potatoes in air fryer basket. Be sure leave a bit of space between them.
Step 5: Air fry potatoes for 30 to 35 minutes. Turn over at the halfway mark. Remove carefully as air fryer and potatoes will be very hot. Serve immediately.
Top tip
The air fryer gets very hot, so I recommend using these tongs to turn food over. They have silicone tips, so they don't puncture food. They are also safe on non stick surfaces.
How do I know when an air fryer baked potato is done?
Cooking times do vary depending on size of potatoes and type of air fryer. For example, smaller potatoes will not take as long as larger ones. Potatoes are done when they reach an internal temperature of 205 F to 212 F, or when easily pierced with a knife.
Variations
Try these different ideas for your air fryer baked potato!
Vegetarian/Vegan: potatoes are naturally vegan and vegetarian. Using olive oil, or another plant based oil will keep its vegan status. Butter and sour cream are not plant based but are vegetarian.
Sweet potatoes: follow the recipe using sweet potatoes. Be sure they are all about the same size and shape. The longer, thin ones cook more evenly than the round ones.
Gluten free: potatoes are gluten free. Always read ingredient labels if you have a food sensitivity or diet preferences.
Classic loaded baked potatoes: top with butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped bacon and sliced green onions or chives.
Tex Mex: top with taco meat, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and jalepeños.
BBQ: top with your favorite smoked BBQ beef or pork. Drizzle with BBQ sauce and finely chopped onions.
Storage and reheating
Air fryer baked potato is best served immediately after cooking. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple days. You can freeze them for up to 3 months, but keep in mind that they won't be nearly as good as freshly cooked.
Reheat air fry baked potato in the microwave or air fryer until heated through. However, texture will not be quite the same as freshly cooked. Leftover baked potatoes make great twice baked potatoes.
What goes good with air fryer baked potatoes?
People also ask
No! Wrapping in foil will cause heavy, dense potatoes. Follow the recipe and they will be perfectly cooked and fluffy.
If you are pressed for time, you can start by cooking in the microwave for 5 minutes. Transfer to air fryer and cook for additional 15 minutes at 360 F or until cooked through.
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Baked Potato
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 medium russet potatoes 6-8 ounces; scrubbed clean
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 F.
- Scrub potatoes under cool running water; pat dry.
- Poke potatoes all over with a fork.
- Rub potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt.
- Place in air fryer basket, spacing evenly.
- Cook in air fryer at 400 F for 30 to 35 minutes or until cooked through. Don't forget to set a timer and turn over halfway through.
- Top with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
FOOD SAFETY
- Wash hands before handling food
- Wash hands and utensils after coming in contact with raw meats
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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