Air Fryer Twice-Baked Potato: A Quick, Easy Treat

how to cook a twice baked potato in air fryer

Twice-baked potatoes are a delicious, hearty side dish or main course that can be made in an air fryer. They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a creamy, cheesy filling. The potatoes are filled with mashed potatoes, sour cream, and cheese, and topped with bacon and chives. This dish is perfect for a holiday dinner or a busy weeknight meal, as it is quick and easy to prepare. You can also get creative and add your own mix-ins, such as broccoli, sausage, or other vegetables. Making twice-baked potatoes in an air fryer is a convenient way to enjoy this comforting dish without having to use an oven.

Twice-Baked Potato in an Air Fryer

Characteristics Values
Cookware Air fryer with basket
Ingredients Potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, butter, milk, sour cream, cheese, bacon, green onions, chives, broccoli
Temperature 350-400°F
Time 35-45 minutes
Post-Cooking Cut, scoop, mix, stuff, air fry again for 5-15 minutes
Toppings Cheese, bacon, chives, sour cream
Storage Refrigerate in an airtight container for 3-4 days
Reheating 5-10 minutes at 350-360°F
Freezing Wrap in plastic, place in a freezer bag, freeze for up to 3 months

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Preparing the potatoes for the air fryer

Next, place the potatoes in the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the potatoes in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket. Overcrowding can affect the circulation of hot air and impact the cooking process. Sprinkle the potatoes with salt and pepper, or your choice of seasonings. Return the basket to the air fryer and set the temperature to 400° Fahrenheit. Cook the potatoes for 35 to 45 minutes, or until they are fork-tender. The cooking time may vary depending on the size of your potatoes, so it is a good idea to keep an eye on them and adjust the timing as needed.

Once the potatoes are cooked, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes. This step is important as it makes the potatoes easier to handle. When they are cool enough to touch, use a spoon or scoop to remove the baked potato filling, leaving about a quarter of an inch of potato in the skin. Place the scooped-out potato into a medium-sized bowl and repeat this process for all the potatoes.

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Cooking the potatoes in the air fryer

To cook twice-baked potatoes in an air fryer, start by washing and scrubbing the potatoes. Pierce each potato 10 to 12 times with a fork, then pat them dry with a paper towel. Next, coat the outer skin of the potatoes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 35 to 45 minutes, or until they are easily pierced with a fork.

Once the potatoes are cooked, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes. Cut each potato in half lengthwise, then use a spoon to scoop out most of the potato flesh, leaving about a quarter of an inch of potato in the skin. Transfer the scooped-out potato to a medium-sized bowl and add your desired mix-ins, such as butter, milk, sour cream, salt, pepper, and cheese. Mash the potato mixture until it is creamy, then stir in any additional mix-ins like cooked bacon, chives, or green onions.

Now it's time to fill the potato skins. Scoop the mashed potato mixture back into the potato skins, making sure they are evenly filled. Place the filled potatoes back into the air fryer basket, being careful not to overcrowd them, and cook at 350°F for about 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the filling is warmed through. If desired, top with additional cheese, bacon bits, or chives before serving.

You can also get creative with your twice-baked potatoes by adding other ingredients like sausage, vegetables, or different types of cheese. They are a versatile side dish or main course that can be customized to your taste preferences.

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Preparing the filling

Wash and scrub the potatoes. Then, pat them dry with a paper towel. Using a fork, pierce each potato about 10 to 12 times. Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket and gently brush with olive oil to coat the outer skin of the potato. Then, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Return the basket to the air fryer and air fry at 400° Fahrenheit for 35 to 45 minutes. Once the potatoes are done cooking, place them on a cutting board and cut each potato lengthwise in half.

Use a large spoon or portion scoop to gently remove the baked potato filling out of each potato half. Leave about a quarter of an inch of the potato in the potato skin. Transfer the potato filling to a medium bowl and use a hand mixer, or large fork, and mix together until they are like mashed potatoes. Then, add in the sour cream, butter, and shredded cheese. Stir together until they are well mixed. You can also add milk, cream cheese, green onions, and seasoned salt to the potatoes and mash well until smooth and creamy.

If you are a garlic fan, you could toss some roughly chopped garlic in the hot bacon grease for 30-60 seconds after you’ve cooked the bacon. You could also use roasted garlic and throw it in while your potatoes bake. If you want to reduce the fat, you could use a lower-fat bacon and omit the butter altogether.

Finally, scoop the potato mixture back into the potato skins until each one is filled. Return the filled potatoes to the air fryer basket without stacking or overlapping.

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Filling the potatoes

If you want to add some spice, you could add some hot sauce, or some chopped jalapeños. You could even add some Greek yogurt and fresh parsley for a tangy, healthier option. If you're a garlic fan, you could try adding some roughly chopped garlic to the hot bacon grease for 30-60 seconds after cooking the bacon.

For a more substantial meal, you could add some meat, such as pulled pork or brisket, or even some beans or chili. If you're vegetarian, you could add some extra veggies, like bell peppers, mushrooms, or onions.

When it comes to cheese, the options are endless. You can use cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss cheese, Parmesan, or Monterey Jack.

Simply mix your chosen ingredients with the potato flesh and then fill the potato skins. Top with extra cheese, of course, and maybe some more bacon bits, and you're ready to air fry again!

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Reheating the twice-baked potatoes

Twice-baked potatoes can be reheated in an air fryer, oven, or microwave. If you're using an air fryer, preheat it to 350°F (175°C) or 375°F (190°C). If you're using an oven, preheat it to 350°F (175°C). For microwaving, there's no need to preheat; simply set the microwave to high power.

Take your leftover twice-baked potatoes out of the refrigerator. If they are wrapped in foil, remove the foil. For an extra crispy finish, you can lightly spray the potato skins with cooking spray. Place the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure to leave enough space between them to ensure proper air circulation for even heating.

Slide the basket into the preheated air fryer and air fry for 4-8 minutes at 350°F (175°C) or 10-15 minutes at 375°F (190°C), depending on the size of your potatoes. If you're using an oven, place the potatoes on an oven-safe dish and cover them loosely with foil. Heat for 15-20 minutes at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through. For microwaving, place the potatoes on a microwave-safe plate and cover them loosely with a damp paper towel to prevent drying. Microwave for 60-90 seconds per potato, until heated through.

Check the potatoes and add additional time if needed. Once the potatoes are heated through and the skin is crispy, remove them from the air fryer, oven, or microwave and serve with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions

You should cook the potatoes in the air fryer at 400°F for 35-45 minutes.

The air fryer should be set to 400°F.

After cooking the potatoes, you should let them cool for a few minutes, then cut them in half and scoop out the potato into a bowl, leaving about 1/4 inch of potato in the skin.

You can add milk, sour cream, butter, cream cheese, seasoned salt, and cheese to the potatoes and mash them together. You can also add pre-cooked bacon, chives, or green onions.

You should cook the potatoes for an additional 5-10 minutes at 350°F.

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