Hasselback Potatoes: Air Fryer Magic

Yes, you can make hasselback potatoes in an air fryer. This cooking method gives you much more consistent results compared to baking. You get perfectly soft, fluffy, crispy, and golden potatoes every time!

Hasselback potatoes are simply an ordinary potato thinly sliced in such a way that when they bake, the slices separate and create a fan-like appearance. This allows for butter, herbs, and seasonings to sink deep into the cracks and throughout the potatoes. They are crispy, flavorful, and super impressive!

How to make hasselback potatoes in an air fryer

Ingredients

To make hasselback potatoes in an air fryer, you will need the following ingredients:

• 4-5 small to medium-sized starchy potatoes ( russet or Yukon gold)
• 3-4 tablespoons of butter ( unsalted is preferable to prevent the potatoes from becoming too salty)
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil (optional)
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced or crushed
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh or dried herbs and spices of your choice (e.g. parsley, thyme, rosemary, smoked paprika, chives)
• Toppings such as sour cream, cheese, or bacon (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Potatoes

Start by rinsing and scrubbing the potatoes. Slice each potato into thin, even slices of about 1/4-inch thickness, leaving a half-inch base intact at the bottom. Do not cut all the way through the potato. You can use a sharp knife, a hasselback cutter, or place the potato between two wooden spoons or chopsticks to guide your slicing and prevent cutting all the way through.

Step 2: Season the Potatoes

In a small bowl, combine melted butter with your desired herbs and spices. You can also add olive oil to this mixture. Brush the garlic herb butter generously along the tops of the potatoes and in between the slices. If using freshly minced garlic, try to get it between the slices to prevent burning.

Step 3: Air Fry the Potatoes

Place the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Preheat the air fryer to between 350-400°F and cook the potatoes for 15 minutes. Then, brush the potatoes with the remaining butter mixture and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender and golden brown.

Step 4: Serve

Remove the potatoes from the air fryer and brush with any remaining butter mixture. Sprinkle with fresh herbs like chives or parsley, and serve immediately. Top with sour cream, cheese, bacon, or any other desired toppings.

Tips and Variations:

• For extra crispy potatoes, leave the skin on. The skin also adds flavour and texture, and contains nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium.
• Experiment with different seasonings and toppings to make the recipe your own. Try smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, ranch, chili powder, or cayenne pepper.
• For a vegan option, use non-dairy butter and top with plant-based sour cream or cheese.
• If you want to get ahead, these potatoes can be cooked in advance and reheated in the air fryer to maintain their crispy texture.

The best type of potatoes to use

The best potatoes to use for hasselback potatoes are new potatoes, which are slightly larger than baby potatoes. A waxy variety, such as Charlotte or Alexandra potatoes, are good options as they are commonly sold as salad potatoes. Other types of new potatoes that can be used include Jersey Royals, Anya, and Baby, which is a generic name for small new potatoes. If you can't find new potatoes, Russet potatoes are also a good choice as they are starchy and will crisp up nicely. Alternatively, Yukon Gold potatoes can be used, but the edges won't get as crispy.

It's important to note that when cutting the potatoes, you should leave a small portion of the bottom intact so that the knife doesn't cut all the way through. This will help create the signature hasselback potato look.

Should you peel the potatoes?

Whether or not you peel the potatoes for your hasselbacks is a matter of personal preference. Leaving the skin on can add flavour and texture, and it also increases the nutritional value of the dish as potato skin is rich in vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. However, some cooks prefer to peel their potatoes before roasting, which is also fine.

If you are using maincrop potatoes, it is recommended to peel them. However, if you are using new potatoes, leaving the skin on is preferable as it adds flavour and texture. Ultimately, the decision to peel or not to peel the potatoes for hasselback potatoes is a matter of personal preference.

How to cut the potatoes

To cut the perfect hasselback potatoes, it is recommended to use a sharp knife. Do not use a serrated knife as it is not the right tool for the job.

There are also special tools you can use to cut the potatoes, such as a hasselback cutter or two wooden spoons or chopsticks. Place them on either side of the potato as you slice, creating a natural stop for your knife so that you don't accidentally cut all the way through.

First, wash and scrub the potatoes. Then, slice the potatoes thinly, leaving a half-inch base at the bottom. Make sure to cut the potatoes into even slices, about 1/4-inch thick, leaving some space at the bottom without cutting all the way through.

If you are using a knife, be sure to use a very sharp one to make thin and even slices. You can also try using a hasselback potato cutter, which is designed specifically for this purpose.

• Place two chopsticks or skewers on either side of the potato while slicing to prevent cutting all the way through.
• Use a sharp knife. A dull knife will make it more difficult to cut the potatoes thinly and evenly.
• If you don't have a sharp knife, you can try using a mandoline slicer to get even slices.

How long to cook the potatoes for

The cooking time for hasselback potatoes in an air fryer depends on the size of the potatoes and the model of the air fryer. For example, the cooking time for small potatoes will be shorter than that of larger potatoes.

The cooking time also depends on the desired texture of the potatoes. For instance, if you prefer your potatoes to be extra crispy, you might want to increase the cooking time by a few minutes.

In general, most recipes suggest cooking hasselback potatoes in an air fryer for around 30 minutes at 350-400°F (175-200°C). However, this cooking time can be adjusted based on the factors mentioned above.

• Preheat the air fryer to the desired temperature, usually between 350-400°F (175-200°C).
• Wash and dry the potatoes.
• Cut the potatoes into thin slices, about 1/4-inch thick, leaving a small portion of the bottom intact to hold the slices together.
• Brush the potatoes with melted butter or oil and season with salt, pepper, and any desired herbs or spices.
• Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket, making sure they are in a single layer and not stacked on top of each other.
• Air fry the potatoes for 15 minutes.
• Brush the potatoes with more butter or oil and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the potatoes are crispy and golden brown on the outside, and tender on the inside.
• Remove the potatoes from the air fryer and serve immediately with desired toppings or sides.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary, so it is recommended to check on the potatoes periodically and adjust the cooking time as needed. Additionally, for best results, cook the potatoes in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.

Frequently asked questions