Air Fryer Baked Potato
Are you tired of waiting for hours to bake a potato in the oven? Look no further than the air fryer, your new kitchen superhero. With its rapid cooking technology, you can now enjoy a perfectly crispy and fluffy baked potato in almost half the time. With crispy skins, and soft and fluffy on the inside this Air Fryer Baked Potato recipe is definitely a must try. The air fryer is a great way to cook food in half the time it would take in a conventional oven.
Say goodbye to soggy skins and hello to a quick and delicious meal option. We will explore the wonders of using an air fryer to make baked potatoes, including tips for achieving that irresistible golden crust and mouthwatering tender center. Get ready to revolutionize your potato game with this simple yet game-changing kitchen appliance!
Baked potatoes are a universal food that almost everyone enjoys. And the beauty of Air Fryer Baked Potatoes is that they can be made for a group or just one person. Read on to learn how it is done.
Why an Air Fryer
I have to confess that the air fryer has quickly become my new favorite cooking method. One glance at my blog and it will be very obvious that is the case. I am thrilled at the ease and speed by which I am able to cook recipes in the air fryer.
If you are interested in a few more air fryer recipes here are some of my favorites. So far Air Fryer Meatloaf and Air Fryer Pork Chops have been some of my favorite ways to cook meat. For vegetables I have found the Brussel Sprouts and Asparagus cook surprisingly well.
If you do not have an air fryer yet then I encourage you to look online on Amazon and read reviews. I purchased the Air Fryer made by Instapot and I love it.
It is small enough to fit easily on my countertop yet large enough to help cook a meal for my family of four. I am able to cook up to four pork chops or a small pizza in it.
I have also become a huge fan of using Air Fryer Liners. They cover the bottom of the air fryer basket and make clean up a breeze.
I have found that it does not have a negative affect on the cooking process. And when it comes time to clean up I only have to throw the liner away. Seriously, give them a try you will not regret it.
When using the air fryer I prefer to use Avocado Oil as it has a higher smoke point and I cannot recommend it enough. I also like to use Kosher Salt on the outside of the potatoes as it is coarse and attaches well to the potato.
Air Fryer Baked Potato Ingredients
When wanting to learn how to air fry baked potato the key is in choosing the right type of potatoes. For this air fryer baked potato recipe I chose to use a Russet Potato. These are the traditional type of large potatoes that are associated with this type of recipe.
- 2 Russet Baked Potato
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 2 tbsp Sour Cream
- 2 tbsp Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese or substitute for your cheese of choice
- 1 Piece of Cooked Bacon Crumbled
How To Make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
This air fryer baked potato recipe is very similar to what you may do when using a conventional oven. In my opinion this is the best baked potato recipe and the easiest way to make them.
- Using a fork pierce the potato in a few places on each side. This allows for the steam to escape the potato during the cooking process.
- Coat each potato with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. My favorite salt is Redmond’s Real Sea Salt. It is delicious and does not go through the bleaching process that other salts go through.
- Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook at 400 for 35-40 minutes. I turn my potatoes over at the half way mark to ensure even cooking. This is typically at the 20 minute mark. When a knife easily pierces the potato you know that it is done.
- Remove the potatoes from the air fryer and let them sit for 5 minutes. Cut and add your favorite toppings. I like to add butter, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon.
Tips for Baking Potatoes in the Air Fryer
If you really want to know how to cook a baked potato in an air fryer there are a few tips and tricks that you should know. Below you will find some key suggestions that come from my experience of making this recipe.
Scrub the Potatoes: This is an important step as potatoes are a root vegetable and grow underground. Give them a good scrub under running water prior to baking. I like to use a scrub brush to get off any excess dirt. Once the potatoes are washed I like to pat them dry with a paper towel.
Poke potatoes with a fork: While I have cooked potatoes without piercing them, I find that piercing them keeps them from bursting. Heat has a tendency to increase the inner temperature of the potatoes during cooking.
The internal temperature causes steam within the potato and in an effort to escape the steam will often burst open the potato. Poking with a fork prior to cooking allows the steam to escape yet keep the potato intact.
Turn the Potatoes: I like to turn potatoes half way through baking to ensure that they are cooked evenly. What I like to do is flip them over so that what was the top is now on the bottom.
I like my potato skins to be crispy and turning them halfway through cooking helps to ensure that they are crispy all over.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long to cook baked potatoes in the air fryer?
I like to cook my potatoes in the air fryer for 35-40 minutes at 400 degrees. I find that this gives them a nice crispy outside and a soft and tender inside. For me this is the perfect amount of cooking time for large russet potatoes.
Are baked potatoes better in the oven or air fryer?
I think the answer to this question comes down to personal preference. The ease of the air fryer makes it my go to over an oven every time.
I think being able to cook the potatoes in half the time, and have an easy clean up just cannot be beat. And the fact that the air fryer gives the potato a crispy outer skin with a soft fluffy inside keeps it the top method in my opinion.
Do you have to pierce a potato before baking in air fryer?
I always pierce potatoes prior to baking them in the air fryer. Piercing them allows the steam within the potato to escape. And if the steam gets trapped and needs to escape it can burst the potato while baking.
Piercing the potatoes with a fork is my go to method. There is no need to go wild and pierce it all over, I pierce the potato a few places on each side. And I find that is enough to keep the potato from bursting.
Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer for potatoes?
Aluminum foil can be used in the air fryer to bake potatoes. I for one like potatoes that are a bit crispy on the outside so I place them directly into the air fryer basket.
But if you prefer to cover them in foil I think that you are safe to do it. If you want to wrap the potatoes in aluminum foil feel free to do so just know that they will not have as crispy an outside.
Baked Potato Toppings
If you are looking for ideas for baked potato toppings then look no further. In truth you are only limited by your imagination.
- Butter: It is my belief that butter makes all things taste better. And I do not think it is possible to have delicious baked potatoes without it.
- Sour Cream: In my opinion sour cream is the second most important ingredient, right behind butter. However if it is not your thing then skip it.
- Baked Beans: I love baked beans and think they taste great on a baked potato. So give them a try and load your favorite baked beans on top of your potato.
- Cheese and Broccoli: I have to say that this is my favorite method. I have loved broccoli and cheese on top of baked potatoes for years and I cannot recommend it enough.
- Be Creative: I have shared a few of my favorite topping ideas with you and I how that you give them a try. However, if none of these ideas appeals to you then I say branch out and be creative. Add whatever sounds good to you, and you never know you may find a new favorite.
Other Recipes to Try
Air Fryer Baked Potato
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 Russet Baked Potato
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 2 tbsp Sour Cream
- 2 tbsp Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- 1 Piece of Cooked Bacon Crumbled
Instructions
- Using a fork pierce the potato in a few places on each side.
- Coat each potato with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
- Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook at 400 for 35-40 minutes. I turn my potatoes over at the half way mark to ensure even cooking. When a knife easily pierces the potato you know that it is done.
- Remove the potatoes from the air fryer and let them sit for 5 minutes. Cut and add your favorite toppings.I like to add butter, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon.
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