Air-Fryer Potato Cubes: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious!

Air fryers are a great way to cook potatoes, giving them a golden brown and crispy exterior while keeping them fluffy and tender on the inside. This method is healthier than deep frying and can cook potatoes in half the time of an oven. You can use any type of potato, but starchy potatoes like Maris Piper, King Edwards, Red potatoes, and Russets are best for roasting.

To make potato cubes in an air fryer, first, wash and dry the potatoes, then cut them into cubes. You can peel the potatoes if you prefer, but leaving the skin on will make them crispier. Next, add the potatoes to a bowl and toss them with olive oil and your choice of seasonings. You can use anything from Italian seasoning, paprika, parsley, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt and pepper, to chili powder, dried parsley, and cayenne pepper.

Once the potatoes are seasoned, spread them in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at between 180C/360F and 400F for 10 minutes. Then, shake the basket and cook for another 10-15 minutes, or until they are crispy and golden.

Choosing the right potatoes

Variety

Floury potatoes, such as Maris Piper, King Edward, or Desiree, are excellent choices for air fryer cubes. These varieties tend to have a higher starch content, which promotes crispiness when cooked. Other recommended varieties include Yukon Gold, Russets, and Red potatoes. These potatoes are versatile and can be used for various cooking methods, including roasting, frying, and boiling.

Size

When choosing potatoes for cubing, opt for smaller or medium-sized potatoes. Baby potatoes, also known as "new" potatoes, are a great option. They have thinner skin, which crisps up nicely in the air fryer. Fingerlings, Yukon Gold, baby Russets, and baby Red potatoes are all good choices in this category.

Skin

Leaving the skin on your potatoes adds texture and flavour to your potato cubes. The skin also helps the potatoes crisp up in the air fryer, so it's best not to peel them. If you do prefer peeled potatoes, make sure to cut them into slightly larger cubes to promote even cooking and crispiness.

Freshness

Whenever possible, choose fresh potatoes over frozen ones for air fryer cubes. Fresh potatoes tend to yield better results in terms of texture and flavour. However, if you only have access to frozen potatoes, you can still use them, but you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Preparation

Before air-frying your potato cubes, wash the potatoes thoroughly and pat them dry with a kitchen towel. You can also soak the potatoes in water for about 30 minutes before cooking to reduce the cooking time and enhance crispiness. Then, cut the potatoes into uniform cubes to ensure even cooking.

In summary, when choosing potatoes for air fryer cubes, opt for floury varieties like Maris Piper or Yukon Gold, select smaller or medium-sized potatoes with thin skin, and leave the skin on for added texture and flavour. Fresh potatoes are preferable, but frozen can also be used. Don't forget to wash, dry, and cut your potatoes before air-frying for the best results.

Preparing the potatoes

The first step to making potato cubes in an air fryer is to select the right type of potatoes. It is recommended to use starchy potatoes such as Maris Piper, King Edwards, Red potatoes, Yukon Gold, Russets, or Baby potatoes. These potatoes are ideal for roasting and will result in a fluffy inside and crispy skin when cooked properly.

Once you have selected the potatoes, wash them thoroughly and pat them dry with a kitchen towel. You can choose to peel the potatoes or leave the skin on, as it adds a rustic woody taste and provides additional texture.

Next, cut the potatoes into cubes. A simple way to do this is to first slice the potatoes in half lengthwise, then place the flat side down on the cutting board and dice them into your desired size. Try to keep the cubes uniform in size so that they cook evenly.

After cutting the potatoes, transfer them to a medium bowl. Drizzle olive oil over the potatoes and toss to ensure they are evenly coated. You can also add other seasonings at this point, such as garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, onion powder, parsley, rosemary, salt, and pepper, depending on your preference. Mix well so that the potatoes are evenly coated with the seasonings.

Seasoning the potatoes

The great thing about air fryer potatoes is that you can season them with almost anything you like. You can keep it simple with just salt and pepper, or go wild with a range of herbs and spices. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Herbs

• Parsley
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Cayenne

Spices

• Paprika
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Chili powder
• Cayenne pepper
• Italian seasoning
• Cajun seasoning

Other

• Olive oil or avocado oil
• Lemon juice
• Parmesan cheese

Once you've chosen your seasonings, simply toss the potatoes in a large bowl with the oil and seasonings. Be sure to cut the potatoes into evenly sized cubes so that they cook at the same rate. Then place them in the air fryer and cook according to your chosen recipe.

Cooking the potatoes

First, cut your potatoes into cubes. You can peel the potatoes if you prefer, but leaving the skin on will make your potatoes crispier. If you do decide to peel them, pat the potatoes dry with a kitchen towel.

Next, add your cubed potatoes to a bowl and drizzle them with olive oil. You only need a small amount of oil—roughly one tablespoon for every two cups of potatoes. Then, add your seasonings. You can use whatever seasonings you like, but common options include salt, pepper, paprika, parsley, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Mix the potatoes until they are evenly coated with oil and seasoning.

Now, you can start preparing your air fryer. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent the potatoes from sticking. Then, spread the seasoned potatoes in the basket in a single layer. Don't overcrowd the basket—if you have too many potatoes, you'll need to cook them in batches.

Set your air fryer to between 360-400°F and cook the potatoes for 10 minutes. Then, remove the basket and shake it to ensure the potatoes cook evenly. Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for another 10-15 minutes, or until the potatoes are crispy and golden brown on the outside, and tender on the inside.

And that's it! You can serve your potatoes as a side with steak, chicken, fish, or roasted vegetables. Enjoy!

Serving the potatoes

These air fryer potatoes are a versatile side dish that can be served with almost anything. They can be served with proteins such as steak, chicken, fish, or sausage, or with vegetables like broccoli, zucchini, or roasted carrots. They can also be added to breakfast dishes like fried eggs, burritos, or frittatas.

If you have any leftover potatoes, they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 4 months. To reheat, simply place them back in the air fryer, oven, or microwave until hot and crispy.

For a simple dip, mix Sriracha and mayonnaise together for a cajun mayo. Other dips that go well with these potatoes include ketchup, ranch dressing, or BBQ sauce.

These potatoes are best served warm and tend to lose their crunch if left out for too long. If you're serving them at a buffet, use a heated tray to keep them warm.

Frequently asked questions