Gone are the days of waiting for the oven to preheat before you can enjoy one of your favorite side dishes! We've put the work into refining our Air Fryer Baked Potato recipe so you can enjoy fluffy baked potatoes in just 65 minutes. It's easy, faster than oven baking, and most of all, the potatoes are delicious!
Jump to:
- Baked Potatoes in the Air Fryer
- Ingredients
- Watch the Video
- How to Air Fry Baked Potatoes
- Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer Instructions
- Baked Potato Toppings
- Recipe Tips
- How to Open a Baked Potato
- What to Serve with Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Storage Instructions
- How to Store Uncooked Potatoes
- FAQ for Air Frying Baked Potatoes
- Air Fryer Potato Recipes
- Air Fryer Baked Potato
- Feedback
Baked Potatoes in the Air Fryer
When the weather starts heating up, the last thing any of us want to do is turn on the oven. But, who doesn't love a good baked potato? Alongside steak and loaded with sour cream, chives, bacon bits and cheese, baked potatoes are the perfect side dish any time of year.
That's exactly why we put the effort into developing this recipe for baked potatoes in the air fryer until it turned out perfectly. With air fryer baked potatoes, you don't need to even preheat your air fryer, and the potatoes are ready in just 65 minutes and that includes prep time.
As well as showing you how to air fry baked potatoes, we'll also share some of our favorite dishes to serve them with. Let's get air frying!
Ingredients
- Russet Potatoes: Starchy and hardy, russet potatoes are the best for making baked potatoes. They hold up well, with crisp skins and a fluffy interior. Other varieties of potato wouldn't be the same! Pick up your russets at any size you want - just keep the size of your air fryer in mind, and know that larger potatoes will take longer to cook. Note: If your potato has green patches, cut those off, as they have been exposed too long to direct lighting and will give the potato a faintly bitter taste. The rest will taste fine.
- Oil: You can use light olive oil, avocado oil, or any cooking oil you prefer to use for this recipe. Avocado oil has a nice neutral flavor, so we recommend it!
- Kosher Salt: A good sprinkle of kosher salt adds so much flavor to these potatoes. You can use sea salt flakes in place of kosher salt, if you prefer, but avoid table salt.
Watch the Video
How to Air Fry Baked Potatoes
Step 1
Wash and dry your potatoes. The skin needs to be really dry to crisp up properly.
Step 2
Using a sharp knife or fork, poke holes in each potato 2-3 times.
Step 3
Rub each potato with a little olive oil, just enough to lightly coat the outside. Then, salt generously.
Step 4
Place potatoes in the air fryer basket. Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket, or they won't cook evenly.
Step 5
Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 55-60 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the baked potato reads at least 208°F-211°F on a food thermometer (97°C-99°C).
Step 6
Air frying time can vary depending on the size of the potatoes, how many potatoes you are air frying at the same time, and even the air fryer model you're using. When they're ready, they will be fork tender and fluffy inside.
Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer Instructions
If you have a toaster oven-style air fryer, such as the Breville Smart Oven Air, you will have to preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) before air frying the potatoes. The cook time in this style of air fryer generally takes from 55-60 minutes depending on the size of the potato.
Baked Potato Toppings
- Garlic Butter Sauce: Get our recipe for our very easy Garlic Butter Sauce or maybe try our Roasted Garlic Butter.
- Sour Cream: A classic choice, sour cream makes the perfect creamy, tangy topping for a fluffy baked potato.
- Cheddar Cheese: We prefer shredded cheddar cheese for baked potatoes. The sharpness of the cheddar cuts through the flavor of the baked potato and complements it very well. You could use other varieties of cheese if you prefer, however.
- Chives: Chives have a unique flavor you will often see paired with baked potatoes, but as much as we love them, we know they're not for everyone. If you're not a fan of chives, why not give green onions a try?
- Green Onions: Thinly sliced green onions add a kick of oniony flavor and texture to the baked potatoes without being overpowering.
- Bacon Bits: Crumble up some of our air fryer bacon or turkey bacon to pair with the above ingredients. There's nothing quite like a loaded potato!
- Salsa: Have you tried this? Salsa makes an unexpectedly delicious addition to baked potatoes, so if you haven't tried it yet, now's the time!
Recipe Tips
- In our testing, we found Idaho russet potatoes provided the best results.
- Piercing the potatoes allows steam under the skin to escape, which will prevent them from bursting.
- Make sure that the oil you use has a high smoke point, such as avocado oil or light olive oil.
- Air frying time depends on your air fryer, the size of the potatoes, and how many you're cooking at the same time. We're using about 12 ounce potatoes, which is fairly large. If you're using smaller potatoes, check on them about 10-15 minutes early.
- Use an instant read thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the baked potatoes. It should reach 208°F-211°F (97°C-99°C).
- Air fryer settings vary according to brand and model. If your air fryer does not have the exact temperature setting called for in the recipe, consult your manual for suggested temperature settings. We made ours in a 7-quart air fryer.
- This recipe does not require preheating your air fryer. Just set the temperature to 400°F, and start.
How to Open a Baked Potato
- Pierce the potato with a fork 2-3 times lengthwise and crosswise.
- Press the potato at both ends, and it will "blossom".
What to Serve with Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Storage Instructions
- Store leftover baked potatoes in the refrigerator in an airtight container or wrapped in foil for 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer until heated through (check with an instant read thermometer).
How to Store Uncooked Potatoes
Store potatoes in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place. Potatoes keep for about one week at room temperature, and for several weeks at 45°F to 50°F. The refrigerator has too low of a temperature to store potatoes, and will convert potato starch into sugar, resulting in a sweet taste.
According to Idaho potato, you can tell if a potato has been refrigerated during storage by using diabetic (litmus) tape. Place it on the cut surface of the potato. If it turns dark, that means the sugar content of the potato is elevated, and it should not be used for cooking until you have left it at room temperature for 5-10 days prior to using. This allows the sugars to convert back to starch.
FAQ for Air Frying Baked Potatoes
While it might seem as though the oven baking time and air frying time are very close, it is much faster to bake a potato in the air fryer. You don't have to wait for the oven to preheat, and can simply pierce the potatoes, season them, and air fry.
Reheat baked potatoes in the air fryer at 400°F for about 3-5 minutes, or until completely heated through.
Yes. You should always wash potatoes, as they often come with debris or dirt on the skins. Give them a good scrub - just be sure to dry them completely so they crisp up!
Salt helps draw out the moisture of the potato while it bakes, resulting in a perfectly dry and fluffy potato with a crisp skin.
No; foil steams the potato, and is not recommended. For the best texture and taste, don't use foil. We also recommend you do not wrap the potato in foil after air frying, either, as the potatoes will be ready to eat immediately after air frying and do not need to rest.
Short answer: yes. When you bake a potato in the oven or air fryer, the starch inside soaks up water. As the potato heats up, that water turns to steam, which pushes against the starch to make the potato fluffy. Sometimes, if there's too much pressure inside and the skin hasn't been punctured, the potato can burst while cooking. Always pierce the skin of a potato before baking!
Air Fryer Potato Recipes
Leave a comment and review for us below if you enjoyed this recipe, or if you have questions about any of our air fryer recipes!
Air Fryer Baked Potato
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Fork or sharp knife
Ingredients
- 2 Russet Potatoes
- Oil
- Kosher salt
Instructions
- Wash and dry 2 Russet Potatoes, making sure that skin is really dry.
- With a fork or sharp knife, pierce each potato 2 or 3 times.
- Rub each potato with a little Oil (just enough to lightly coat) and Kosher salt generously.
- Place potatoes in the air fryer basket. Don’t crowd the basket.
- Air fry at 400℉ for 55-60 minutes until internal temperature reaches 208°-211°F. Air frying time can vary depending on the size of the potatoes, how many potatoes you are air frying together, and even the air fryer you use.
- Pierce each potato with a fork 2-3 times lengthwise and crosswise. Press the potato inward at both ends and it will blossom.
- Serve with your favorite toppings such as butter, salt, and pepper. Other options include: sour cream, chives, crumbled crispy bacon, and cheese. Enjoy!
stevo says
wow, I learned alot about exactly how to cook a baked potato! I never put that much into cooking one, and my spotty results showed it. thanks for your 👌!!
marion says
Enjoy your perfectly air fried baked potatoes!! Thanks for stopping by & have a great week!