Air Fryer Potatoes: How Crispy Can They Get?

Air fryers are a great way to cook potatoes, and they can be used to make a variety of dishes, from roasted potatoes to French fries. Air-fried potatoes are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a fraction of the oil needed for deep-frying. They are also a healthier alternative to traditionally fried foods, as they use circulating hot air to produce a crispy, crunchy exterior. This method is also quicker than oven-roasting and yields crispier results.

Air fryer sliced potatoes

Air fryers are a great way to cook sliced potatoes, and they can be served as a side dish, snack, or appetizer. Here is a recipe for air fryer sliced potatoes:

Ingredients:

• 1-2 pounds of potatoes (russet or Yukon Gold potatoes are recommended, but red potatoes or baby potatoes also work)
• 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil or another plant oil
• Salt, to taste (coarser salt like kosher or sea salt is recommended)
• Spices/seasonings of your choice (e.g. garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, dried parsley, rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, etc.)
• Optional: aioli, ketchup, ranch dressing, sour cream, or another dipping sauce

Instructions:

• Cut the potatoes into slices about 1/4-inch thick. If you want them to be crispy, you can soak the potato slices in water for 15-30 minutes to draw out some of the starch, then dry them with paper towels before proceeding to the next step.
• In a large bowl, mix the olive oil and your desired spices/seasonings. You can also add salt to the spice mixture or sprinkle it on the potatoes separately.
• Toss the potato slices in the spice mixture until they are evenly coated.
• Place the seasoned potato slices into the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not right on top of each other. It's best to cook them in a single layer for maximum crispiness, but a little overlap is okay.
• Air fry the potatoes at around 380-400°F for 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes or so. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your potato slices and the type of air fryer you are using, so adjust as needed.
• The potatoes are done when they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and soft and fluffy on the inside. If you prefer them more well-done, you can cook them for an additional 2-3 minutes.
• Serve immediately, plain or with your favorite dipping sauce.

Tips:

• If food tends to stick to your air fryer basket, you can give it a light spray with nonstick cooking spray before adding the potatoes.
• To reheat leftover potatoes, place them in the air fryer and air fry for 3-5 minutes until warmed through. Avoid reheating them in the microwave, as they will lose their crispy texture.

Air fryer roasted potatoes

Ingredients:

• Potatoes – the best potatoes for roasting are Yukon Golds, red potatoes, and russet potatoes. But you can use any type of potato.
• Oil – extra virgin olive oil is recommended, but any oil will work.
• Seasonings – you can use any seasonings you like. Some suggestions include Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and Parmesan cheese.

Method:

• Cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces, leaving the skin on. If using baby potatoes, cut them in half. If using larger potatoes, cut them into 1-inch pieces.
• In a medium-sized bowl, toss the potatoes with olive oil and your desired seasonings. Make sure the potatoes are well coated.
• Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer. If your air fryer needs preheating, preheat it to 400°F for 10 minutes.
• Cook the potatoes at 400°F for 10 minutes.
• Flip the potatoes and cook for an additional 8-12 minutes, or until they are golden and tender.
• Garnish with chopped parsley or your favourite herb and serve.

Tips:

• Leave the skin on for crispier potatoes.
• Avoid cooking spray as it can damage the coating of your air fryer basket.
• Don't overcrowd the basket – the potatoes need room for the air to circulate and crisp up properly.
• Preheat your air fryer for maximum crispiness.
• Use a spatula or a spoon to turn the potatoes, as shaking the basket can cause them to break apart.
• Cut the potatoes into evenly sized pieces to ensure they cook evenly.

Air fryer fried potatoes

Ingredients and Preparation

The ingredients for air fryer fried potatoes are simple. You will need potatoes, oil, and your choice of seasonings. For the potatoes, it is recommended to use baby potatoes, also known as "new" potatoes, as their thinner skin is great for crisping. Varieties include fingerlings, Yukon golds, baby russets, and baby red potatoes. However, other types of potatoes such as Russets, reds, and sweet potatoes can also be used.

For the oil, extra virgin olive oil is a popular choice as it helps the potatoes crisp up and brown nicely while adding flavour. As for seasonings, popular options include salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and parsley. You can also experiment with different combinations like Cajun seasoning, taco seasoning, chili-lime, or even adding ingredients like bacon or Parmesan cheese.

To prepare the potatoes, start by washing them thoroughly, especially if you plan to leave the skin on for that extra crispness. Then, cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces or slices, roughly 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch thick. You can also soak the cut potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes to overnight to remove excess starch and achieve even crispier results, but this step is not necessary.

After cutting and optional soaking, dry the potatoes and toss them in a bowl with the oil and seasonings until they are well coated.

Cooking Instructions

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the seasoned potatoes into the air fryer basket in a single layer to ensure even cooking. Avoid overcrowding the basket as the potatoes need space for the air to circulate and crisp up properly.

Cook the potatoes for about 10 minutes, then shake the basket or stir the potatoes to ensure even cooking. Return the potatoes to the air fryer and cook for another 8-10 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.

Serving Suggestions

Storage

Tips for Success

• Leave the skin on for extra crispness and nutrition.
• Avoid using cooking spray as it can damage the coating of your air fryer basket; stick to olive oil or a similar alternative.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket to allow proper air circulation.
• Get creative with your seasonings to find your favourite flavour combinations.
• For maximum crispiness, preheat your air fryer and ensure your potatoes are dry before cooking.
• Cut the potatoes into uniform sizes to ensure even cooking.

Enjoy experimenting with your air fryer fried potatoes and finding your perfect recipe!

Air fryer baby potatoes

Ingredients:

• Baby potatoes (yellow, red, tri-colour, or a mix of red, gold, and purple)
• Oil (avocado, olive, or another high smoke point oil)
• Fresh or dried rosemary
• Garlic powder
• Paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Freshly chopped parsley for garnish (optional)

Method:

• Halve the potatoes and place them in a large bowl. Drizzle oil into the bowl and toss until the potatoes are well coated.
• Add the minced rosemary, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper, and toss again to combine.
• Transfer the seasoned baby potatoes to the air fryer. For an oven model air fryer, arrange them on the trays in a single layer. For basket models, place the potatoes in the basket, ensuring they don't overlap too much. You may need to cook in batches for maximum crispiness.
• Air fry the baby potatoes at 400°F for 15-22 minutes, or until fork-tender. The outsides should be golden brown and crispy, while the insides should be tender.
• Remove from the air fryer and transfer to a serving plate. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Tips:

• It is not necessary to wrap the potatoes in foil when using an air fryer. This will inhibit them from getting crispy.
• Any soft-skinned potato can be used, as long as they are cut to a similar size as a halved baby potato.
• You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes at 400°F to retain crispiness.

Air fryer potato wedges

Ingredients

• 2 medium russet potatoes
• 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to 200C/400F and grease the air fryer basket.
• Cut each potato in half lengthwise, then cut each half into quarters lengthwise to create 16 wedges in total.
• Place the potato wedges in a large bowl and add the olive oil, salt, paprika, parsley, garlic powder, chili powder and black pepper. Toss until the potatoes are well coated in the oil and seasonings.
• Place half of the potato wedges into the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes.
• Flip the wedges with tongs and cook for a further 5 minutes.
• Repeat with the remaining wedges.
• Serve immediately.

Tips

• For extra crispy wedges, soak the potato wedges in cold water for 30 minutes before seasoning and air frying.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket – cook the wedges in batches if necessary.
• Get creative with your seasonings! Try cayenne pepper, rosemary, onion powder, ranch seasoning or truffle salt.
• Don't forget the dipping sauce – these wedges go well with ketchup, BBQ sauce, spicy mayo or ranch dip.

Frequently asked questions