Perfect Air Fryer Baked Potato Recipe

Gina
by Gina
4 servings
35 min

Making the perfect crispy skin, baked 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


BEST OIL TO RUB ON A BAKED POTATO

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.

WHY DO YOU WRAP POTATOES IN FOIL TO COOK

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.

CAN ALUMINUM FOIL GO IN AN AIR FRYER

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.

WHY DO YOU SOAK POTATOES IN WATER BEFORE AIR FRYING?

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.

HOW LONG TO COOK A BAKED POTATO IN AN AIR FRYER?

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.

WHAT IS THE BEST POTATO FOR BAKING?

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
  1. 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
  2. Prick the skin of the potato with a fork.
  3. Using a pastry brush, coat the potatoes with olive oil. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder on the skins.
  4. Place potatoes in the air fryer basket.
  5. 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.
  6. Use tongs to remove the baked potatoes from the air fryer basket.
  7. 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.


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Perfect Air Fryer Baked Potato Recipe
Recipe details
  • 4  servings
  • Prep time: 5 Minutes Cook time: 30 Minutes Total time: 35 min
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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.
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.
Gina
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Comments
  • Melody Oconnor Melody Oconnor on Jun 13, 2022

    I'm glad I read this about baking potatoes!!! In my toaster oven it usually takes about an hour to finish a large size spud at 400°F. Much too long to wait.

    • Erin Erin on Jun 14, 2022

      You could microwave it a few minutes to partially cook it then finish in the air fryer. I think I’ll do about 3 to 4 minutes then finish in the air fryer.

  • Richard Brooks Richard Brooks on Jun 13, 2022

    Gina;

    I VERY strongly recommend that your recipe followers use "Organic" potatoes if they are to eat the skins.

    I am a laboratory professional. My colleagues have analyzed potatoes for contaminants, and found some chemical residues in non-organic skins.

    Your recipe is fantastic though!

    I cooked our potatoes coated in olive oil and coarse kosher salt and they were delicious with a nice crispy skin. A higher temp the last 10 minutes will crisp the skin nicely.


    • Alma Alma on Nov 02, 2023

      You bet! Organic is the way to go! Thx. for posting that!! I do organic everything...

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