Use the Air Fryer For Crispy-Skinned, Fluffy Baked Potatoes (2024)

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For a baked potato with the crispiest skin and a light and fluffy interior, don’t turn on the oven. Use the air fryer instead!

By

Kayla Hoang

Use the Air Fryer For Crispy-Skinned, Fluffy Baked Potatoes (1)

Kayla Hoang

Kayla Hoang is a freelance recipe developer, writer, and baker.Her journey in food media began with interning at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and continued through Food Network, Kitchn, and freelance work.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated July 13, 2023

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While a baked potato made in the oven is undeniably delightful, a baked potato is even more scrumptious when it’s made in an air fryer. The concentrated heat and fan in the air fryer crisps the skin of the potato to perfection while also creating light, fluffy insides, ready to be topped any way your heart desires.

Achieving that crisp exterior and fluffy interior takes less time in the air fryer, meaning dinner comes together quicker. It also clears up space in the oven for other dishes and is a fantastic option for warmer days when turning on the oven is less than ideal.

10 Ways to Top a Baked PotatoREAD MORE:

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Oven Or Air Fryer: Which Makes The Best Baked Potato?

To really examine the differences, I made one baked potato in the air fryer and one in the oven and noticed several advantages with the air fryer.

  • Less time: The baked potato made in the air fryer took less time than when baked in the oven. A 10-ounce potato took 40 to 45 minutes to get tender and crisp, whereas a potato baked in the oven took about 1 hour.
  • Crisper skin: The skin of the air fryer baked potato became considerably crispier. I also noticed that the skin stayed crisp longer than the oven-baked potato.
  • Fluffier interior: The interior of the air fryer baked potato was fluffier and lighter. The interior of the oven-baked potato seems to maintain more moisture, making it feel heavier and not as fluffy.

Air Fryer Baked Potato Tips

Russet potatoes are the best option for air frying, just as they are for baking. Their high starch and low moisture content make them ideal for dry heat cooking methods and contribute to their light and fluffy interior texture.

Leave space between each potato in the basket so that the heat can circulate and evenly crisp the skin all around the potatoes.

How to Use An Air FryerREAD MORE:

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Temperature and Cook Time

In this recipe, I cook potatoes at 390°F rather than the more common 400°F. Resist the urge to go with the higher temperature. I found that the potatoes cooked at a higher temperature formed a thick, firm layer under the skin. Cooking the potatoes at 390°F yields a thin, crisp outer layer that’s much more enjoyable.

The cook time will depend on the size of the potato. Small potatoes (4 to 6 ounces) will need to cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Medium to medium-large potatoes (8 to 10 ounces) will need 40 to 45 minutes. Large potatoes (about 12 ounces) will need about 1 hour.

How to Reheat Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

  • Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (if needed) on the air fryer setting.
  • Place the leftover potato into the basket of the air fryer, making sure there is about 1 inch of space between each potato (if reheating multiple potatoes) as well as the walls of the basket.
  • Return the basket to the fryer and reheat until the potato is heated through and the outside has re-crisped, 7 to 10 minutes.

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More Awesome Ways to Use the Air Fryer

  • Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
  • Air Fryer Chickpeas
  • Air Fryer Onion Rings
  • Air Fryer Crispy Cauliflower
  • Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

Prep Time3 mins

Cook Time40 mins

Total Time43 mins

Servings4 servings

Yield4 medium baked potatoes

This recipe was developed in a 6-quart air fryer which is large enough to fit 4 medium to medium-large potatoes. If your air fryer is smaller, you may need to cook the potatoes in batches.

Ingredients

  • 4 medium to medium-large russet potatoes (about 10 ounces each)

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided, plus more for serving

  • Freshly ground black pepper, unsalted butter, shredded sharp cheddar, sour cream, and/or scallions, for serving (as desired)

Method

  1. Prepare the air fryer and potatoes:

    Preheat the air fryer to 390°F if your air fryer requires preheating. If your air fryer has multiple settings, use the “air fry” setting.

    Wash and scrub the potatoes and pat them dry with a towel.

    Poke each potato all around about 16 times with a fork. Rub each potato with 3/4 teaspoon olive oil and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt.

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  2. Air fry the potatoes:

    Place the potatoes into the basket of the air fryer, leaving about 1 inch between each potato.

    Return the basket to the fryer and cook at 390°F until the potatoes are fork tender and the skin is golden brown and crisp, 40 to 50 minutes, flipping each potato halfway through cooking.

    Tip

    Oftentimes, the skin of the potatoes can become very crisp and a bit more difficult to pierce with a fork if the fork is on the duller side. If you find this to be the case, you can check the tenderness of the potato with the tip of a paring knife. The knife should be able to slide right through the potato.

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  3. Serve:

    Remove the potatoes from the air fryer with a pair of tongs. Using a sharp knife, slice each potato through the top lengthwise (without cutting all the way through) to reveal the steamy interior.

    Use a fork to fluff the insides of the potato. Season and top as desired with more salt, freshly ground black pepper, unsalted butter, shredded sharp cheddar, sour cream, and/or scallions. Serve immediately while the insides are still hot and the skin is still crispy.

    The potatoes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Did you love the recipe? Leave us some stars below!

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
305Calories
4g Fat
61g Carbs
7g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories305
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g5%
Saturated Fat 1g3%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 197mg9%
Total Carbohydrate 61g22%
Dietary Fiber 7g23%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 24mg118%
Calcium 51mg4%
Iron 3mg17%
Potassium 1559mg33%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Use the Air Fryer For Crispy-Skinned, Fluffy Baked Potatoes (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to bake or air fry baked potatoes? ›

Crispy outside and fluffy inside, an air fryer baked potato is the BEST way to cook potatoes. Faster than the oven and perfect for toppings!

How long does it take for a potato to get soft in the air fryer? ›

Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Rub potatoes with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and parsley. Place potatoes in the air fryer basket. Cook in the preheated air fryer until potatoes are soft, 40 to 50 minutes, depending on potato size.

Why soak potatoes before air frying? ›

use russet potatoes. they crisp up more than waxier potatoes like Yukon gold🥔 2. slice 'em THIN🔪 3. Soak with hot water for 10 minutes💦 this draws out some of the excess starch so they can crisp 4.

Why is my baked potato skin not crispy? ›

If you oil them up early, the skins may not turn crispy. The salt, too, can run off the potatoes in the heat. Instead, do a quick oil baste after the potatoes reach 205°F: Remove the pan from the oven. Brush with olive oil (or bacon grease if you have it) and a hefty sprinkle of kosher salt.

Why are potatoes soggy in airfryer? ›

Once you've washed your spuds you need to dry them thoroughly. If you don't then excess moisture can seep into your potato while it's being cooked and result in a soggy skin.

How much does it cost to bake a potato in an air fryer? ›

The potato took approximately an hour to cook in the oven, using 1.31 KWh, at a cost of 44.5p. In the air fryer, the potato took 35 minutes, using 0.55 kWh of electricity, costing 18.1p.

Why are people getting rid of air fryers? ›

Summary. In conclusion, while air fryers offer certain benefits such as reduced calorie intake and faster cooking times, they are not without their limitations. Size constraints, limited cooking options, and concerns about crispiness are driving some people to look for alternatives.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? ›

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

Why won t my potatoes cook in the air fryer? ›

If you're consistently stumped with why your potatoes aren't crisping up, there's a good chance that you're overfilling your air fryer. There's a reason people say “less is more”. Overfilling your air fryer can stop the air from circulating properly and can cause the potatoes to cook unevenly.

How do I keep potatoes from sticking in my air fryer? ›

I recommend using oil because it adds flavor and the air fryer still needs a touch of oil to crisp the potatoes. It also keeps the potatoes from sticking to the air fryer rack.

What happens if I don t soak my potatoes before frying them? ›

Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch. Excess starch can inhibit the potatoes from cooking evenly as well as creating a gummy or sticky texture on the outside of your potatoes. Cold water is used because hot water would react with the starch activating it, making it harder to separate from the potatoes.

Is it better to bake a potato at 350 or 400? ›

We recommend baking potatoes at 400 degrees F for about an hour. Smaller spuds might take a little less time, while larger baking potatoes over 1 pound might take a little more. For a fully baked Idaho Russet Burbank, the internal temperature should be right at 210 degrees F.

How do you keep crispy potatoes crispy? ›

Keep potatoes crisp in a warm oven if you're serving them in 1-2 hours. If there is a slight wait before everyone eats, don't cover the crispy potatoes—this traps steam which will make the potatoes soggy. Just keep them in the oven, but turn the temperature to the lowest setting.

Should I use bake or air fry setting? ›

In terms of when you should use either setting, Air Fry is recommended for foods that cook with dry heat or that you would roast, bake, and fry. To list a few examples, pre-fried frozen foods, like chicken tenders, pizza rolls, and fish sticks, get appealingly crispy when baked with the Air Fry setting.

Is air frying potatoes healthier than baking? ›

The evidence so far suggests that air frying is healthier than deep-frying, but it's not necessarily healthier than pan frying or baking in an oven. What really matters is your overall dietary pattern and the quality of the food you're eating.

Is it better to bake or fry potatoes? ›

Cooking methods may greatly affect the macronutrient content of potatoes — especially their fat content. For instance, a 100-gram serving of fried potatoes has 14 grams of fat. In comparison, the same serving size of baked or boiled potatoes has just 0.1 grams of fat ( 2 , 7 , 8 ).

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