Emilie Meyer
Air fryers are a quick and easy way to cook potatoes, producing spuds that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The circulating air in an air fryer creates an impeccable golden crust, and the insides are soft, tender, and full of flavour. Air fryers also require less oil than traditional roasting methods, making them a healthier option. They are a versatile side dish, pairing well with steak, chicken, or even breakfast foods like scrambled eggs and sausages.
How to cook spuds in an air fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of potato | Russet, red skin, sweet potato, gold, red, Yukon gold, yellow |
| Potato preparation | Wash, scrub, pat dry, poke with a fork, soak in cold water |
| Oil temperature | 400°F |
| Oil type | Avocado, olive, coconut, cooking spray |
| Seasoning | Salt, pepper, garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, parsley, lemon |
| Basket arrangement | Single layer, not overcrowded |
| Cooking time | 10 minutes, shake, then 8-10 minutes |
| Cooking time (alternative) | 40-50 minutes |
| Cooking time (toaster-style air fryer) | 375°F for 35-45 minutes |
| Cooking time (microwave first) | 8-10 minutes, then 15-20 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Potato types and their unique characteristics
There are about 5,000 potato varieties worldwide, with 3,000 in the Andes alone, mainly in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, and Colombia. For culinary purposes, varieties are often differentiated by their waxiness. Floury or mealy baking potatoes have more starch (20–22%) than waxy boiling potatoes (16–18%). Russet potatoes, also known as Idaho potatoes, are highly recognisable for their large size, ruddy, dark brown skin, and pale flesh. They are ideal for light and fluffy mashed potatoes, and they fry up crisp and golden brown. They are also a good choice for baking due to their delicate flavour and fluffy texture, which goes well with a variety of toppings.
Yellow potatoes have thin gold skin and yellow flesh. White potatoes have thin beige or tan skin with pale flesh. They hold their shape well after cooking, making them a good choice for mashed potato dishes. Grilling white potatoes brings out a more full-bodied flavour, and they can also be added to salads.
Red potatoes have thin red skin and pale flesh. The waxy texture of the flesh of red potatoes helps them stay firm throughout the cooking process. They are often used in potato salads, soups, and stews, but can also be baked, mashed, or roasted. Round red potatoes are often referred to as "new potatoes", but "new" technically refers to any type of potato harvested before reaching maturity.
Purple or blue potatoes have dark purple or blue skin with matching purple flesh. They have a moist, firm flesh that retains its shape, adding a rich, vibrant colour and luscious taste to salads. The purple colour is best preserved by microwaving, but they can also be steamed or baked. Their mild yet distinctly nutty flavour complements green salad flavours.
Fingerling potatoes have a small, tubular shape and a variety of skin and flesh characteristics. They are a welcome visual addition to any dish, and their robust flavour can be enhanced by pan-frying and roasting. Split fingerlings lengthwise and oven-roast them to serve as a small plate or side dish alternative to fries.
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Preparing the potatoes
Once you've selected your potatoes, it's important to clean and dry them thoroughly. Use a brush to scrub any residual dirt from the potato skins, then pat them dry with a paper towel. If you have time, it's recommended to scrub the potatoes at least 30 minutes before cooking to allow the skins to dry completely. This step is important because it helps to ensure crispy potatoes.
Next, cut your potatoes into uniform pieces. For roasted potatoes, you can dice them into 1-inch pieces. If you're making baked potatoes, you can keep them whole but be sure to pierce them with a fork several times to allow steam to escape and prevent bursting.
After cutting, you can optionally soak the potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes to overnight. This helps remove starch from the surfaces, leading to even crispier results. However, if you're short on time, you can skip this step and still get excellent results.
Finally, toss the potatoes with oil and seasonings. You can use olive oil, avocado oil, or any cooking spray. For seasonings, try salt, pepper, garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, or even Parmesan cheese. Be sure to coat the potatoes evenly so that every bite is flavourful.
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Oil and seasoning
Oil is essential for achieving the perfect level of crispiness in your air fryer spuds. You can use any type of oil, such as olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil, or even a cooking spray. The oil helps to crisp up the skin and gives it that delicious golden crust. It also ensures that your seasonings stick to the potatoes.
When preparing your potatoes for the air fryer, it is important to scrub them first to remove any residual dirt. You should then dry them thoroughly with a paper towel and allow them to air dry for at least 15 minutes. This step is crucial for achieving the crispiest potatoes. If you have the time, you can even soak the diced potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes to overnight, which will remove the starch and result in even crispier potatoes.
Once your potatoes are clean and dry, it's time to add the oil. Place your potatoes in a large bowl and drizzle or toss them with oil, ensuring that all sides are well-coated. You can use your hands to rub the oil into the skins. If using a cooking spray, place the potatoes in the air fryer basket first and then spray them on all sides.
Now it's time for seasoning. You can season your potatoes with salt and pepper, or get creative with seasonings like garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, or even Parmesan cheese. You can also sprinkle on some sea salt and garlic, rubbing it into the potatoes with your hands to ensure an even coating. Don't be afraid to experiment with different combinations of seasonings to find your favourite flavour profile.
After your potatoes are seasoned, they are ready to be placed in the air fryer basket. Make sure they are in a single layer and not overcrowded so that the air can circulate evenly. Now, you can follow the cooking instructions for air fryer spuds, which typically involves cooking at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes, shaking the basket, and then cooking for an additional 8-10 minutes until golden and crispy.
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Air fryer settings
The ideal air fryer setting for cooking spuds is a temperature of 400°F for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, shake the basket and stir the potatoes. Then, return the potatoes to the air fryer and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes, or until they are golden and tender. The cooking time may vary depending on the size of the potato and the model of the air fryer.
It is important to note that the air fryer should not be overcrowded. Four medium potatoes are recommended to ensure proper air circulation and even cooking. Additionally, piercing the potatoes with a fork before cooking is advisable to prevent them from bursting.
For toaster-style air fryers, a temperature of 375°F is recommended due to their higher heat output. Cooking at a lower temperature ensures that the potatoes are cooked thoroughly without burning.
To speed up the cooking process, you can microwave the potatoes on high for 8-10 minutes before placing them in the air fryer. This will reduce the overall cooking time in the air fryer.
By following these air fryer settings and recommendations, you can achieve crispy, golden, and tender spuds with a fluffy centre.
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Cooking time and serving
The cooking time for spuds in an air fryer depends on the type and size of the potatoes you are using. For example, small potatoes will take less time, while larger and thicker potatoes will take longer. If you are using a toaster-style air fryer, you should cook your potatoes at 375°F. For a basket-style air fryer, 400˚F is the recommended temperature.
Most recipes recommend cooking the potatoes for 10 minutes, shaking the basket and stirring the potatoes, and then cooking for another 8 to 10 minutes. However, some recipes suggest cooking the potatoes for 40 to 50 minutes, checking on them after 20 minutes and turning them over if they are browning too quickly. If you are short on time, you can also microwave the potatoes for 8-10 minutes before air frying them for 15-20 minutes.
You can tell when the potatoes are done when they are golden and crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. You can also do a poke test with a knife – the potatoes are ready when the knife goes through them easily. Another indicator is when the potatoes feel slightly soft when squeezed (make sure to use an oven mitt!). If you have a thermometer, the internal temperature of the potatoes should be 205˚F to 210˚F.
Once your potatoes are cooked, you can serve them with a variety of toppings, such as butter, sour cream, chives, parsley, bacon bits, or cheese. They can be served as a side dish or even for breakfast with chicken apple sausage and scrambled eggs.
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Frequently asked questions
Cooking time depends on the size of the potato and the model of the air fryer. Small potatoes will take less time, while larger and thicker potatoes will take longer. As a general rule, potatoes should be cooked at 400°F for 10 minutes, shaken, and then cooked for another 8-10 minutes.
The best type of potato to cook in an air fryer is a russet potato. Other types of potatoes, such as red skin, gold, or sweet potatoes, can also be used, but they may have different cooking times.
Before cooking, scrub the potatoes to remove any residual dirt. Then, pat them dry with a paper towel and set them on a kitchen towel to ensure both sides of the potato skin are dry. If you have time, it is recommended to scrub the potatoes at least 30 minutes before cooking.
The ideal temperature for cooking potatoes in an air fryer is 400°F. However, if you are using a toaster-style air fryer, you should set the temperature to 375°F as it runs hotter.
