Air Frying Raw Potatoes: Is It Possible?

Air fryers have become a popular alternative to ovens and deep fryers for cooking potatoes. They can cook potatoes in half the time an oven takes, without the need for preheating, and with less oil than deep fryers. The result is a potato that is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Which potatoes are best for air frying?

Yes, you can put raw potatoes in an air fryer. In fact, air-fried potatoes are a healthier alternative to deep-fried potatoes as they require less oil.

The best type of potato for air frying depends on the desired texture and taste. Here are some of the most popular options:

• Russets: These potatoes will air fry beautifully, giving a pale golden colour and a soft and fluffy texture.
• Yukon Golds or Yellow Potatoes: These are a favourite for air frying because they will crisp up perfectly and turn a deeper golden colour due to their lower starch and higher sugar content. Their insides will be creamy and full of flavour.
• Reds: Red potatoes will turn an even darker golden brown due to their high sugar and low starch content. They will be crispy coming out of the fryer but will soften quickly. Their insides will be creamy and soft.
• Baby Potatoes or New Potatoes: These are regular potatoes that have been harvested early. They have a high sugar content and roast in the air fryer perfectly, as well as holding their shape.

How to prepare potatoes for air frying

Air fryer potatoes are a healthier alternative to deep-fried potatoes, offering a crispy texture without the high fat or calories. They are easy to prepare and cook in less than 30 minutes. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to prepare potatoes for air frying:

Step 1: Cut the Potatoes

Cut the potatoes into bite-sized chunks or wedges, aiming for uniformity in size to ensure even cooking. You can also cut them into slices or cubes of about 1 to 2 inches thick. If you want to save time on prep, opt for baby potatoes or "new" potatoes, which have thinner skins that crisp up nicely.

Step 2: Season the Potatoes

Place the cut potatoes in a bowl and toss them with olive oil and your desired seasonings. You can use a variety of spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. You can also add a squeeze of lemon to enhance the flavour. The olive oil will help the spices adhere to the potatoes and promote a crispy texture.

Step 3: Arrange in the Air Fryer

Place the seasoned potatoes into the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded. It's important to leave space between the potatoes for optimal crisping. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the potatoes in batches.

Step 4: Cook the Potatoes

Preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature, usually between 360-400°F. Cook the potatoes for about 10-20 minutes, shaking the basket or stirring them about halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking. The potatoes are done when they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. You can check their doneness by piercing them with a fork, which should go through easily.

Tips:

• If you want to add cheese, add it during the last 5 minutes of cooking so it doesn't burn.
• For optimal crispiness, consider preheating your air fryer and cooking the potatoes in batches to avoid overcrowding.
• While some recipes recommend pre-soaking potatoes in water to remove excess starch, it's not necessary and can add to your prep time.
• Avoid red or purple-skinned potatoes as they tend to be starchier and waxier. Opt for white or yellow-skinned varieties like Yukon Gold, Russet, or sweet potatoes.

Do you have to use oil?

Air fryers are known for being a healthier alternative to deep frying, as they require significantly less oil. In theory, you can cook in an air fryer without using any oil, but the resulting food may be dry in texture.

A little oil goes a long way when cooking with an air fryer, and it is recommended to use a light coating of oil to ensure your potatoes get nice and golden, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture. You can experiment with the amount of oil you use to see what you like best.

It is also important to note that cooking spray should be avoided, as the harsh chemicals in aerosol cooking sprays can cause the non-stick coating of the air fryer basket to flake and peel off into your food.

Instead, vegetable oil and peanut oil are popular choices because they have a high smoke point. Olive oil is also a good option and adds flavour to your potatoes, helping the spices adhere to them.

How long do you cook potatoes in an air fryer?

Yes, you can put raw potatoes in an air fryer. In fact, cooking raw potatoes in an air fryer is a healthier alternative to deep-fried potatoes as they use less oil.

To make air fryer potatoes, cut the potatoes into evenly sized pieces so that they cook at a similar rate. You can cut them into cubes, wedges, slices, or chunks. The smaller you cut the potatoes, the faster they will cook. If you are using baby potatoes, there is no need to peel them as the skin crisps up nicely in the air fryer. However, if you are using larger potatoes, you may want to peel them before cutting them into chunks.

Next, toss the potatoes with olive oil and your desired seasonings. Some popular seasonings include garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. You can also add Parmesan cheese for a cheesy twist.

After the potatoes are seasoned, arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Make sure not to overcrowd the basket as this can create a steaming effect instead of a crisping effect. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the potatoes in multiple batches.

Now, it's time to air fry the potatoes! Preheat your air fryer to between 360-400°F. The cooking time will depend on the size and type of potatoes you are using. For baby potatoes, cook for about 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. For larger potatoes cut into chunks, cook for 15-20 minutes, flipping or shaking the basket halfway through. The potatoes are done when they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and tender and fluffy on the inside.

You can serve air fryer potatoes as a side dish with a variety of meals. They pair well with proteins such as salmon or steak, soups, quiche, or burgers. You can also top them with sour cream, butter, or cheese for a hearty snack.

What can you serve with air fryer potatoes?

Air fryer potatoes are a versatile side dish that can be served with a variety of meals. Here are some ideas for what you can serve with air fryer potatoes:

Breakfast

Air fryer potatoes can be a great breakfast side dish. You can serve them with eggs, chicken apple sausage, breakfast tacos or burritos, or even just some fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon.

Lunch and Dinner

For lunch or dinner, air fryer potatoes are a delicious side to a variety of mains. They go especially well with steak, chicken, or salmon. You could also serve them with a dip as an appetiser, or alongside other sides like mushrooms and onions, carrots, or roasted vegetables.

Snacks

Air fryer potatoes also make a great snack on their own, or you can dip them in ketchup or a homemade sauce.

Special Occasions

Air fryer potatoes are a great option for feeding a crowd and can be served at parties or family dinners. You could even set up a baked potato bar with various toppings, such as butter, salt and pepper, sour cream and chives, cheese, or avocado salsa.

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