Emilie Meyer
Cooking roast potatoes in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make delicious, crispy potatoes. Air fryers are compact, convenient, and can cook potatoes in about half the time it takes to roast them in a conventional oven. They also use less oil, making them a healthier alternative to deep frying. The circulating air in an air fryer crisps the outsides of potatoes with a golden crust, while the insides become soft, tender, and flavourful.
Characteristics and Values Table for Air Fryer Roast Potatoes
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cook Time | 20-25 minutes |
| Temperature | 380-400°F (195-200°C) |
| Potatoes | Russets, Yukon Golds, Red Potatoes |
| Oil | Extra Virgin Olive Oil |
| Seasoning | Smoked Paprika, Garlic Granules, Salt, Pepper |
| Preheat | 5 minutes (optional) |
| Soak | 10-15 minutes (optional) |
| Flip | After 10 minutes |
| Leftovers | Refrigerate for 4-5 days or freeze for up to 6 months |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right potato
While you can roast any type of potato in an air fryer, some varieties are better suited to roasting than others. For example, waxy varieties like new potatoes or fingerlings are not ideal for roasting.
Starchier potatoes, such as Russets (also known as Idaho potatoes) and Yukon Golds, have a floury, low-moisture interior, which means they crisp up more easily and develop fluffy insides when cooked. Their crisp will be a tad softer than Russets, but their insides will be creamy and full of flavor. Russets will crisp up wonderfully with a pale golden color, while Yukon Golds will turn a deeper golden color because of their lower starch and higher sugar content.
Red potatoes will turn an even darker golden brown because of their higher sugar and lower starch content.
When choosing potatoes to roast in an air fryer, try to find ones that are uniform in size and free from eyes and blemishes.
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Preparing the potato
Next, peel and chop the potatoes into bite-sized chunks, around 3-3.5 cm in size. This ensures they cook evenly. Rinse the chopped potatoes under cold water and pat them dry with a kitchen towel. This step helps remove excess starch, which can cause the potatoes to brown too quickly.
Now, it's time to season the potatoes. Place the potatoes in a large bowl and drizzle them with extra-virgin olive oil or another cooking oil of your choice. You can also use melted duck fat for a richer flavour. Make sure the potatoes are well-coated. Then, add your desired seasonings. Smoked paprika, garlic granules, salt, and pepper are classic choices, but you can also experiment with other seasonings like Italian, Mexican, or shawarma blends. Give the potatoes another good toss to ensure they are evenly coated with the seasonings.
Finally, place the seasoned potatoes in the air fryer basket. You can add them directly to the basket, but using a shallow tray insert will result in crispier skin. For extra crispy potatoes, preheat the air fryer for about 5 minutes. Now, you're ready to start cooking!
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Cooking temperature and time
The cooking temperature and time for roast potatoes in an air fryer vary depending on the type of potato and the size of the chunks. For example, larger chunks may need a few extra minutes in the air fryer.
For a simple roast potato recipe, set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 20 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, or every 5 minutes, shake the basket or turn the potatoes to ensure they cook evenly. The potatoes are done when they are crispy and golden brown on the outside, and tender on the inside.
If you are using a starchy potato, such as a russet or Yukon gold, it is recommended to soak the potatoes in cold water for 10-15 minutes before cooking to remove excess starch. This will help the potatoes develop a crispy exterior. You can also parboil the potatoes in an alkaline solution of baking soda and water before tossing them in oil and placing them in the air fryer. This will help create a crunchy exterior.
It is also important to note that different air fryer models may have varying temperature and timing requirements, so be sure to refer to your air fryer's manual for specific instructions.
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Seasoning and flavouring
The key to flavourful roast potatoes in an air fryer is to season them generously before cooking. Firstly, you should peel and chop your potatoes into evenly-sized bite-sized pieces. Rinse them under cold water and pat them dry with a clean tea towel or kitchen paper.
Next, place the potatoes into a large bowl and drizzle them with extra-virgin olive oil. You can also use melted duck fat or another oil of your choice. Add your chosen seasonings and toss the potatoes until they are well coated. You can use any combination of salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic granules, rosemary, thyme, cumin, chilli powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, fajita seasoning, shawarma seasoning, or stone house seasoning. Alternatively, you can cook the garlic and rosemary in the oil first, then strain them out before coating the potatoes in the infused oil. This will prevent the garlic and rosemary from burning during the cooking process.
Finally, place the seasoned potatoes into the air fryer basket and cook according to your preferred method.
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Storing and reheating
Storing roast potatoes:
Allow the potatoes to cool to room temperature. Then, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–5 days.
Reheating roast potatoes:
The air fryer is a great option for reheating roast potatoes as it is quick and can make the potatoes crispy. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the potatoes in a single layer in the basket or on the tray, depending on your air fryer model. Reheat for around 8–10 minutes, shaking the basket every 2–3 minutes to prevent burning.
You can also reheat roast potatoes in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350–400°F. Place the potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet or in an oven-safe dish. Drizzle with olive oil or melted butter, and add seasonings such as garlic powder, oregano, salt, pepper, paprika, fresh herbs, or lemon juice, if desired. Cover the dish with aluminium foil and place it in the oven for 15–20 minutes, or until warmed through. Then, remove the foil and continue heating for another 5–10 minutes, or until the desired crispness is achieved.
If you're short on time, you can also use a frying pan or skillet. Heat some olive oil or butter over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overcrowded. Cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then, increase the heat to high and cook for another 1–2 minutes, or until crispy.
While you can also use a microwave to reheat roast potatoes, this method often results in soggy potatoes. If you do choose to use a microwave, heat the potatoes in short intervals until they are warmed through.
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Frequently asked questions
Cooking roast potatoes in an air fryer takes about 20 minutes, half the time it would take in an oven.
The best potatoes for roasting are Yukon Golds, red potatoes, and russet potatoes. However, you can use any type of potato. Starchier potatoes are better for roasting as they crisp up more easily.
Cook roast potatoes at 380°F (195°C) or 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
