Air Fryer Crispy Potatoes: The Secret To Crispiness

Air fryers are a great way to make crispy potatoes that are fluffy and tender on the inside. The high, dry heat and light coating of olive oil help to crisp up the potatoes perfectly. The air fryer also requires less oil than traditional roasting methods, making it a healthier alternative.

The key to achieving crispy potatoes in an air fryer is to ensure that the potatoes are cut into similar-sized pieces, usually around 1 to 2 inches thick, so they cook evenly. It is also important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket, as the potatoes need space for the air to circulate and crisp up properly.

Additionally, leaving the potato skins on can enhance the crispiness of the dish. Yukon Gold, Russet, Red, and Baby Potatoes are all great choices for air frying, as their skins can get super crispy.

Choosing the right potato variety

Potato Variety

The type of potato you choose will significantly impact the crispiness and overall taste of your air-fried potatoes. Here are some recommended varieties:

• Yukon Gold: These potatoes have thin yellow skin and a soft creamy texture in the center. They get very crispy in the air fryer, making them a popular choice for those seeking a contrast between a crunchy exterior and a fluffy interior.
• Red Potatoes: Red potatoes are similar to Yukon Gold in terms of texture, but it's best to consume them right after cooking as their skins can soften over time.
• Baby Potatoes: As the name suggests, these are regular potatoes harvested early. They are the ideal size for air fryers and crisp up perfectly while retaining a soft interior.
• Russet Potatoes: With their brown skin, russet potatoes are excellent for air frying as they get super crispy. The insides are drier and fluffier than other varieties, contributing to their unique texture.
• Yellow Potatoes: Yellow potatoes, also known as gold potatoes, have a thin yellow skin and are noted for their ability to get very crispy in the air fryer.

Size and Shape

When selecting potatoes, also consider the size and shape you want for your dish. For air frying, it is generally recommended to cut the potatoes into bite-sized chunks or cubes of roughly similar sizes. This ensures even cooking and crispiness. You can also leave baby potatoes whole, as their small size is perfect for the air fryer.

Skin On or Off

Leaving the skin on is generally recommended for air frying potatoes. The skin helps the potatoes crisp up beautifully, and it's also more nutritious. Just remember to give the potatoes a thorough wash or scrub before cooking. However, if you're making air-fried potatoes for kids or someone who prefers peeled potatoes, you can certainly peel them, but they may not get as crispy.

In summary, when choosing potatoes for air frying, opt for varieties like Yukon Gold, red potatoes, baby potatoes, russet potatoes, or yellow potatoes. Cut them into similar-sized chunks or cubes, leaving the skin on for enhanced crispiness. With the right variety and preparation, you'll be well on your way to achieving perfectly crispy air-fried potatoes!

Preparing the potatoes

Selecting the Right Potatoes:

• Look for potatoes with thin skin, such as baby potatoes, Yukon Gold, yellow potatoes, red potatoes, or russet potatoes. These varieties tend to crisp up nicely in the air fryer.
• Choose potatoes that are similar in size so that they cook evenly.

Cutting the Potatoes:

• Wash the potatoes thoroughly to remove any dirt, especially if you plan to keep the skin on. It's recommended to keep the skin on for extra crispness and nutrition.
• Cut the potatoes into bite-sized chunks or cubes, aiming for a size of about 1 to 2 inches thick. Smaller pieces will cook faster, so try to maintain a uniform size.

Seasoning and Coating:

• In a large bowl, toss the potato chunks with olive oil. You can also use avocado oil, sesame oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil. Just enough oil to coat the potatoes lightly is sufficient.
• Add your favourite seasonings to the bowl. Popular options include garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. You can also experiment with other herbs and spices like cumin, cilantro, ginger, nutmeg, or turmeric.
• Toss the potatoes in the bowl until they are evenly coated with oil and seasonings.

Air Frying:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Some air fryers may not require preheating, so refer to your specific model's instructions.
• Place the seasoned potatoes into the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Cook in batches if necessary to allow proper air circulation.
• Air fry the potatoes for about 10 minutes, then shake or stir the basket to ensure even cooking. Return the potatoes to the air fryer for another 8-10 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.

Remember, the key to crispy air fryer potatoes is to cut them into uniform sizes, coat them lightly with oil, season generously, and ensure proper air circulation in the fryer by not overcrowding the basket.

Adding seasoning

The seasoning you use is entirely up to your taste preferences. You can use a combination of salt, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. You can also add Parmesan cheese to the potatoes for a salty flavour that melts well.

If you want to experiment with different spices, you can try cumin, cilantro, ginger, nutmeg, or turmeric. For spicy potatoes, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.

You can also use a packet of dry ranch seasoning or taco seasoning for variety.

How to add seasoning

First, cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Then, add them to a large bowl and toss them with olive oil and your desired seasonings. Make sure the potatoes are evenly coated.

Cooking the potatoes

Ingredients

You can use any kind of potato, but the following types of potatoes are recommended:

• Yukon gold
• Red potatoes
• Russet potatoes
• Baby potatoes
• Yellow potatoes
• Gold potatoes
• Baby red potatoes

For seasoning, you can use:

• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Smoked paprika
• Italian seasoning
• Cayenne pepper
• Lemon
• Fresh herbs (chives, dill, parsley, thyme, rosemary)
• Parmesan cheese

Method

First, wash and cut your potatoes into evenly-sized chunks. Leave the skin on for added crispiness. If you want to remove the starch, you can soak the potatoes in water for 30-45 minutes, but this is not necessary.

Next, toss the potatoes in a large bowl and coat them with olive oil and your chosen seasonings. You can also add cheese at this stage.

Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Set the air fryer to 400°F and cook for 10 minutes. Then, shake the basket and stir the potatoes. Return them to the air fryer for another 8-10 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.

Finally, serve the potatoes with a squeeze of lemon juice and a garnish of fresh herbs.

Tips

• Preheat your air fryer if it has that function.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket – cook in batches if necessary.
• Avoid using cooking spray as it can damage the coating of the basket.
• If you want to reheat any leftover potatoes, use the air fryer to retain their crispiness.

Storing and reheating the potatoes

Storing and reheating your crispy potatoes is simple. If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for several days. If you have a lot of leftovers, you can also pack them into freezer bags and save them for up to 3 months.

When you're ready to reheat your potatoes, you can use an air fryer, oven, stovetop, or grill. Reheating in the microwave is not recommended, as it will likely make your potatoes soggy.

Air Fryer:

• Place the potatoes in the basket or tray of your air fryer in a single layer.
• Cook at 370°F (or anywhere between 350-400°F) for 3 minutes.
• Open the air fryer, shake the basket or toss the potatoes, and then cook for another 2 minutes. If needed, add an additional 1-2 minutes.

Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F.
• Arrange the potatoes on a baking sheet in a single layer. You can line the sheet with parchment paper if desired.
• Cover the pan with aluminum foil and place it in the oven.
• Cook for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and cook for another 5-10 minutes, or until the potatoes are crispy.

Stovetop:

• Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat.
• Add the potatoes and toss to coat them in the oil.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the pan.
• Cook for 2-3 minutes until the potatoes are warmed through.
• Remove the lid and increase the heat to medium-high.
• Cook for another 1-2 minutes, or until the potatoes are crispy again.

Grill:

• Wrap the potatoes in foil and place them on a preheated grill.
• Heat for about 10-15 minutes, rotating them halfway through.

Now you can enjoy your crispy potatoes again!

Frequently asked questions