Air Fryer Potatoes: Pre-Cook Or Not?

Air fryers are a convenient way to cook potatoes quickly and healthily. While it is not necessary to pre-cook potatoes before placing them in an air fryer, some choose to parboil their potatoes first to speed up the cooking process. It is, however, important to cut the potatoes into evenly sized pieces to ensure they cook evenly. Soaking the potatoes in cold water before cooking is also recommended, as it removes excess starch and helps the potatoes turn brown and crispy on the outside while remaining soft and fluffy on the inside.

Do I pre-cook potatoes before cooking in an air fryer?

Russet potatoes are best for air fryer baked potatoes

There is no need to pre-cook potatoes before cooking them in an air fryer. Air fryers can cook potatoes from raw, and they will be crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.

To make air fryer baked potatoes, wash and dry the potatoes, then place them in the air fryer basket. Lightly coat the potatoes in cooking spray or olive oil, and season. The oil will help the seasoning stick to the potatoes, and will also help them to crisp up. Make sure the potatoes are in a single layer, with a little space between them, so they cook evenly. Cook at 400°F for 40-50 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes. You can also cook at 380°F for 20 minutes, turning halfway through. For extra crispy potatoes, preheat the air fryer for 4-5 minutes before adding the potatoes.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process, especially if you want to achieve maximum crispiness in your roasted potatoes. By preheating your air fryer to 400°F, you can ensure that your potatoes will cook evenly and efficiently.

To preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature of 400°F, you may need to refer to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Each air fryer model may have specific instructions or recommendations for preheating. For example, some air fryers may have a dedicated preheat setting, while others may require you to manually adjust the temperature.

Typically, preheating your air fryer to 400°F should take around 3 to 5 minutes. This duration may vary slightly depending on the model and specifications of your air fryer, so it's always a good idea to consult your user manual for precise instructions. During the preheating process, the heating elements inside the air fryer will reach the set temperature, ensuring that your potatoes will be cooked at the desired heat level.

Once your air fryer has preheated to 400°F, you can proceed with placing the seasoned potatoes in the air fryer basket. It is important to arrange the potatoes in a single layer, leaving a little space between each potato to ensure even cooking. Depending on the capacity of your air fryer, you may need to cook the potatoes in batches to avoid overcrowding.

By preheating your air fryer to 400°F, you create the ideal cooking environment for achieving the signature crispiness of air-fried potatoes. This temperature setting ensures that the potatoes cook rapidly from the outside in, resulting in a crispy exterior and a creamy or fluffy interior. Preheating also helps to reduce the overall cooking time, making air-fried potatoes a quick and convenient option for busy weeknights or whenever you crave a delicious side dish.

Prick the potatoes with a fork

Pricking potatoes with a fork is an important step in the process of cooking potatoes in an air fryer. This step is necessary to ensure the potatoes cook evenly and to prevent them from bursting open during cooking.

When potatoes are cooked in an air fryer, steam and pressure build up inside the potato. By pricking the potatoes with a fork, you create small holes that allow this steam and pressure to escape. This helps to prevent the potatoes from bursting, which can create a mess in your air fryer and potentially be dangerous.

Additionally, pricking the potatoes with a fork helps to create a fluffier interior. The escaping steam carries moisture out of the potato, resulting in a drier, fluffier texture once the potato is cooked. This is especially important if you are cooking baked potatoes, as it will give you that light and fluffy texture that is so desirable in a baked potato.

Furthermore, pricking the potatoes with a fork can also help with the browning and crisping of the skin. By allowing some of the steam to escape, the skin is able to get drier and crisp up more effectively. This is essential if you are aiming for that perfect, crispy skin that is so desirable in air-fried potatoes.

It is important to note that you should not just prick the potatoes once. For optimal results, it is recommended to prick them a few times all over. This will ensure that the steam has multiple escape routes and will help to prevent bursting and promote even cooking.

Oil and season the potatoes before cooking

Oil and seasoning are essential components of cooking potatoes in an air fryer. The oil helps the potatoes brown and soften, and also ensures that the seasonings stick to the potatoes.

Before oiling and seasoning the potatoes, it is recommended to soak the chopped potatoes in cold water to achieve crispy results. The potatoes should then be patted dry with a clean or paper towel. This is because the oil and water do not mix, so if you try to toss your potatoes in oil while they are still wet, the oil will instantly separate. It will also be difficult for the seasonings to sufficiently coat the potatoes.

When it comes to the type of oil, extra-virgin olive oil is a popular choice, as are vegetable oil and peanut oil due to their high smoke points. However, you can use any oil of your preference. The amount of oil used should be just enough to coat the potatoes.

As for seasoning, this can be done according to your preference. A common seasoning blend includes Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. You can also add other fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme, chives, or dill. If you want to add a smoky flavour, you can replace the Italian seasoning with smoked paprika.

Cook for 10 minutes, shake the basket, then cook for another 10 minutes

Cooking potatoes in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get delicious, crispy spuds. There's no need to preheat your oven or boil your potatoes beforehand – the air fryer does all the work!

After cutting and seasoning your potatoes, place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little space between each potato. Then, it's time to start cooking. Set your air fryer to 400°F and cook the potatoes for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, you'll want to remove the basket and give it a good shake. This helps the potatoes cook evenly and ensures that they'll be nice and crispy all over. Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for another 10 minutes.

Depending on the size of your potatoes, they should be ready after this second 10-minute interval. They should be golden and crispy on the outside, with a fluffy, tender inside. If they're not quite done yet, you can always cook them for a few minutes longer.

And that's it! Your air fryer potatoes are now ready to be served and enjoyed. You can add a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of parsley, or get creative with your favourite toppings.

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