Marianne Martinez
Cooking cubed potatoes in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a delicious, crispy side dish. With minimal prep, you can have golden brown potatoes with a fluffy inside and a slightly crispy texture on the outside. The air fryer is a healthier alternative to deep frying as you can use less oil, or even a cooking spray, and still get great results. You can also use any variety of potato, though yellow or yukon gold potatoes are recommended for their naturally buttery flavour.
Cooking Cubed Potatoes in an Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cook Time | 8-25 minutes |
| Temperature | 195°C/380°F-400°F |
| Potato Variety | Yukon Gold, Yellow, Russet, Red, White, Sweet |
| Soak Time | 10 minutes to several hours |
| Oil | Olive, Avocado, Cooking Spray |
| Seasonings | Salt, Parmesan, Lemon, Thyme, Paprika, Oregano, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Black Pepper, Italian Herbs |
| Storage | Airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days |
| Reheating | Preheat air fryer to 350°F and cook for 3-5 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Potato preparation: peeling, dicing, and soaking
Preparing your potatoes before cooking them in an air fryer is a straightforward process. First, peel your potatoes using a vegetable peeler. You can peel them ahead of time—up to 24 hours—but you will need to store them in water to prevent oxidation, which turns their exposed flesh brown.
Next, dice the potatoes on a cutting board. It is important to cut the potatoes into uniform, even-sized cubes to ensure even cooking. The size of the cubes can be around 2 cm or 1 inch.
After dicing, you should soak the potatoes in cold water for at least 10 minutes to remove excess starch, which can inhibit even cooking and crispiness. If you have the time, you can soak them for longer, up to around half an hour, and then rinse and pat them dry with a clean towel.
Finally, toss the potatoes in a mixing bowl with your desired seasonings and oil. You can use olive oil or avocado oil, and season with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and oregano. You can also add Parmesan cheese and lemon juice for a hit of salt, umami, and acidity.
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Oil and seasoning
Oil is essential to achieving the perfect level of crispiness in your air-fried cubed potatoes. It also helps to prevent the potatoes from sticking to the air fryer basket. You can use any oil you prefer, such as olive oil, avocado oil, or a cooking spray. It is recommended to use just enough oil to get the potatoes crispy without making them soggy.
Before adding the oil, it is important to soak the cubed potatoes in cold water for around 10 minutes to remove excess starch, which can inhibit even cooking and affect the texture. After soaking, be sure to pat the potatoes dry with a clean towel before adding the oil.
To add the oil, place the cubed potatoes in a large bowl and toss or mix them with the oil until they are evenly coated. You can also add seasonings to the bowl and mix them together with the oil. This ensures that the potatoes are evenly seasoned.
Some popular seasonings to use include salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, dried Italian herbs, thyme, and black pepper. You can also add Parmesan cheese and lemon juice during the last 5 minutes of cooking for a hit of salt, umami, and acidity. Feel free to experiment with different seasonings to find your perfect flavor combination.
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Air fryer temperature and duration
The temperature and duration for cooking cubed potatoes in an air fryer depend on the type of potato, the size of the cubes, and the desired level of crispiness. It is recommended to preheat the air fryer before adding the potatoes, and to cook them in a single layer to ensure even cooking.
For frozen potatoes, it is best to cook them at 375°F for 15-20 minutes. If you are using fresh potatoes, the cooking time will depend on the size of the cubes. For larger cubes, it is recommended to cook them at 380°F for 20-25 minutes. For smaller cubes, cooking at 400°F for 8-10 minutes should be sufficient. It is important to shake the basket halfway through the cooking process to ensure even browning and crispiness.
Additionally, the type of potato can affect the cooking time. Russet potatoes tend to get extra crispy, while baby potatoes and Yukon golds have a creamier texture. Soaking the potatoes in cold water before cooking can also impact the cooking time, as it removes excess starch and promotes crispiness.
It is worth noting that all air fryers are different, so you may need to adjust the temperature and duration based on your specific appliance.
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Shaking the air fryer basket
When you shake the basket, you're ensuring that the potatoes at the bottom of the basket make their way to the top. This is important because it means all sides of the potatoes are exposed to the hot air, promoting even browning. A half-hearted or non-existent basket shake will result in underdone potatoes stuck at the bottom.
You should shake the basket several times during cooking. One source recommends shaking halfway through the cooking time. Another source recommends shaking a few times to help the potatoes cook evenly. A third source recommends shaking the basket halfway through for even browning.
If your potatoes are looking dry when you shake the basket, you can spray them with a little more oil. You can also spray the basket with a tiny bit of oil or cooking spray before adding the potatoes to prevent them from sticking.
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Storing and reheating
If you have leftover cubed potatoes, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. For longer storage, you can freeze them for up to three months.
When reheating, you can use an air fryer, oven, grill, or stovetop. Reheating in an air fryer is a quick and convenient option that helps retain the potatoes' crispy texture. Here are the steps for reheating cubed potatoes in an air fryer:
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- While the air fryer is preheating, take the leftover potatoes out of the refrigerator. If they are foil-wrapped, remove the foil.
- For an extra crispy finish, you can lightly spray the potatoes with cooking spray.
- Place the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving enough space between them for proper air circulation and even heating.
- Reheat at 375°F for 10-15 minutes, or until they are heated through and crispy.
- Carefully remove the potatoes from the air fryer and serve with your desired toppings or sides.
It is recommended to avoid reheating potatoes more than twice, as they may dry out. Additionally, ensure that the internal temperature of the potatoes reaches 185°F (85°C) for safe consumption.
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Frequently asked questions
First, preheat your air fryer to 380-400°F. Next, peel and dice your potatoes into cubes of roughly the same size. Soak the potatoes in cold water for 10 minutes, then pat them dry. Toss the potatoes in a mix of oil and seasonings, then place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 15-25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
Cooking times vary depending on the air fryer model, but on average, cubed potatoes take 15-25 minutes to cook in an air fryer.
Yukon gold, yellow, and russet potatoes are all recommended for air frying. Smaller potatoes such as baby potatoes and red potatoes also work well, as they cook quickly and have a creamy texture.
It is not necessary to peel potatoes before air frying. Simply wash and dry the potatoes, then cut them into cubes.
Yes, you can reheat cubed potatoes in the air fryer. Place the leftover potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 3-5 minutes at 350°F until they are heated through.
