Air Fryer Baked Potato: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious

Baked potatoes are a classic comfort food that is easy to make and can be customized with your favourite toppings. The air fryer is the perfect way to cook a baked potato, creating a crispy skin and fluffy interior in just 35 to 50 minutes. This simple recipe is a great side dish or a meal on its own and is perfect for when you don't want to heat up your oven.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is not necessary, as it will not affect the final texture or cooking time of your baked potatoes. However, if you wish to preheat your air fryer, you can do so at 400°F (200°C). This will take about five minutes.

Once preheated, you can then prepare your potatoes by washing and drying them. Prick each potato several times with a fork to allow steam to escape during the cooking process. This is an important step to prevent your potatoes from bursting in the air fryer.

After preparing your potatoes, you can then brush or drizzle them with olive oil and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Rub the oil into the skin of the potatoes to ensure an even coating. You can also add other seasonings, such as garlic powder and parsley, at this stage.

Finally, place the potatoes in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are spaced evenly apart. You can now proceed to cook your potatoes at 400°F until they are crispy and tender, which should take around 35 to 50 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of your potatoes.

Wash and dry the potatoes

To cook baked potatoes in an air fryer, you'll first need to wash and dry the potatoes. This is an important step, as it ensures the potatoes are clean before cooking and helps to remove any dirt or residue. Use a brush to scrub the potatoes gently under running water. You can also use your hands to rub the potatoes gently and remove any dirt. Make sure you wash them thoroughly, paying close attention to the skin, as this part will be eaten too.

After washing, dry the potatoes with a clean cloth or paper towel. It is important to ensure that the potatoes are completely dry before proceeding to the next step. This helps to create a crispier skin when cooked. Once washed and dried, use a fork to prick each potato several times. This process allows the steam to escape while the potatoes are cooking, preventing them from bursting in the air fryer.

Prick the potatoes with a fork

Pricking the potatoes with a fork is an essential step when preparing baked potatoes in an air fryer. This technique ensures that steam can escape from the potatoes during the cooking process. By creating small holes in the surface of the potatoes, you prevent the possibility of them bursting open in the air fryer.

To effectively prick the potatoes, use a fork to pierce the surface of each potato several times. It is important to prick all over the potato, creating multiple holes. This process will allow the steam to escape evenly during cooking. Be sure to prick each potato a sufficient number of times, typically around four to five pricks per potato.

The size of the potatoes may also determine the number of pricks needed. For example, larger potatoes may require additional pricks compared to smaller ones. The purpose is to create enough openings for the steam to release, so adjust the number of pricks accordingly.

After pricking the potatoes, you can proceed with the next steps of the recipe, such as coating them with oil and seasoning before placing them in the air fryer. Remember, this step of pricking the potatoes is crucial to ensure even cooking and prevent any unexpected bursts.

Oil and season the potatoes

Oil is essential to achieving the perfect crispy skin on your air-fryer baked potatoes. You can use olive oil, or a cooking spray, drizzling or brushing it onto the potatoes until they are fully coated. Alternatively, you can spritz or spray the potatoes with oil, or rub it on with your hands.

The next step is to season the potatoes. Salt is the most popular seasoning, and you can use sea salt, garlic salt, or regular table salt. You can also add pepper, and other seasonings like garlic powder and parsley. A light sprinkling of salt and pepper will cover up any lingering earthy flavours from the potato skins.

Top with butter, salt, and pepper

Once your potatoes are cooked, carefully cut them open and fluff the inside with a fork. Now it's time to add your toppings! If you're keeping things simple, a little butter, salt, and pepper are all you need. You can add a dollop of butter to the potato and then sprinkle salt and pepper on top.

You can also get creative with your toppings. For example, you can add sour cream, Greek yogurt, or cheese. If you're feeling indulgent, try adding some crispy bacon bits or diced chicken. For a fresh twist, add some sliced scallions, chives, or even broccoli. If you want to add more cheese, you can put the potato back in the air fryer for 30 seconds to a minute to melt it.

If you're making a baked potato bar, you can lay out a variety of toppings and let everyone customize their potatoes. This can be a fun way to serve potatoes for a bigger crowd. You can also serve your potatoes as a side dish with a simply cooked protein or a hearty salad.

Frequently asked questions