The Air Fryer is a rockstar with air fryer baked potatoes, giving you that perfect combination that steakhouse restaurants achieve, fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside without having to heat an entire oven and in much less time.
My Mom loved to cook great dishes in the oven and throw some potatoes in to bake, as she became an empty nester though, she shifted to a lot of stove-top meals and baked the potatoes in the microwave. Even when I went home for dinner we used the microwave, the insides were still fluffy and delicious, but the outsides were soft and unappealing.
For years it seemed that Yukon gold potatoes or red salad potatoes excelled in popularity in the kitchens of those that loved their meat and potatoes, but now the discovery of the Air Fryer has brought the good ‘ole Idaho Russet potatoes back.
I’m not saying you must give up the gold and red potatoes, experiment and see what you like best. You will find that the russet potato has a thicker skin, thus giving that wonderful crispy outside.
How to Make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Wash potatoes. Pat dry.
- Rub with oil, salt, and pepper.
- Preheat air fryer.
- Place in air fryer.
- Cook at 390°F for 40 minutes.
- Pierce with a fork or knife and cook at 5 minute increments until tender and done.
- Cut potato down the center.
- Top with butter and allow to melt
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Loade with sour cream, cheddar cheese, and green onions.
Air Fryer Baked Potato Ingredients
POTATOES: Use medium size Russet/Idaho potatoes. They have a firmer skin that makes for the perfect baked potato every time. If you have any other kind of potato, they will work as well.
OIL: Use virgin, grapeseed, peanut, vegetable oil, or avocado oil. Don’t use “extra virgin olive oil as it will not hold up to the heat as well as the other oils. The oil is necessary as it helps to crisp the skin and keeps it moist with it roasts or fries in the fryer.
SEASONING: Using regular salt and pepper in this recipe works just fine. However, most steakhouses will use kosher salt which is much grainier and thicker than table salt. Also, Himalayan salt works perfectly as well. I season before air frying and after air fryer.
TOPPING: If you’re hosting a baked potato bar, think of toppings like bacon, a variety of cheeses like cheddar cheese, Monterey jack cheese, feta cheese, blue cheese, brie cheese, queso cheese, or any other varieties. In addition, fresh herbs like parsley, dill, green onions, cilantro, rosemary, mint, oregano, thyme, and others add extra flavor. Diced vegetables like bell peppers, onions, cucumbers, jalapenos, habanero peppers, banana peppers, and more add a nice crunchy texture. Classics like cream cheese, butter, sour cream, and mascarpone cheese add a lot of richness to the potato.
Flavorful Variations
- Bacon
- Avocado
- Diced meats like turkey, chicken, beef
- Pastrami
- Blue cheese crumbles
- Fresh parmesan cheese
- Greek yogurt
- Marinara sauce
- Salsa
- Chili
- Tomato pesto
- Pico de Gallo
- Taco toppings
- Creole sesasoning
- Everything bagel sesaoning
- mac and cheese
- queso cheese sauce or dip
- peas
- black beans
- refried beans
- tofu
- broccoli
- carrots
- asparagus
- Mexican rice
- corn
- nuts
Cooking with Potatoes
In my recipe we use the medium potatoes, large cook longer, smaller cooks less. There really isn’t much to prep time. Be sure to wash the potato as you will become a fan of eating the skin which is super healthy. I also found it is not necessary to poke the potato before baking.
The flesh of the potato contains most of the potassium and vitamin C found in this vegetable while the flesh contains iron, vitamin B3 and is a good source of insoluble dietary fiber.
Remember to never put potatoes in your refrigerator, doing so causes an enzyme change which is referred to as cold-induced sweetening. This will cause your roasted and fried potatoes to have a different taste as well as a grey or darker appearance.
Reader Questions and Tips
What kind of potato should I use?
Use Idaho or Russet Potatoes. Buy medium-size potatoes and not the largest ones unless you plan to cook them longer.
Should I use foil to wrap the potatoes?
No. No foil is needed. Using foil to wrap the potatoes will result in a steamed like boiled potato.
How long do I cook it for and at what temperature?
Cook the potatoes in the air fryer at 390°F for 40 minutes.
How should I reheat the potatoes if I have leftovers?
Simply microwave the potatoes for about 1½ minutes or until warm.
What kind of air fryer do you have?
I have a Cosori air fryer and like it very much. It is very easy to use and works perfectly for a family of 3-4.
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 medium-large russet potatoes
- 1½ tbsp oil
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
Toppings
- 4 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ⅔ cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ¼ cup green onions diced
Instructions
- Wash and dry potatoes.
- Combine oil, pepper, salt. Whisk to combine.
- Rub potatoes in oil mixture.
- Place potatoes in air fryer.
- Air fry at 390°F for 40 minutes.
- Pierce skin with knife to check center of potatoes.
- Air fry 5-15 minutes extra minutes at 390°F if not fully cooked.
- Cut potatoes down the center.
- Top with sour cream, butter, green onions, cheddar cheese, and salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- chili sauce
- cheese sauce
- salsa
- mac & cheese
- bacon
- potato bar toppings
- make twice baked potatoes
- taco fillings
- cilantro
- jalapenos
- beans
- rice
- cheese
- sausage
- pepperoni
- onions
- bell peppers
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate and it’s accuracy is not guaranteed to be exact.
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One Response
Some may think it silly to have a baked potato recipe but I appreciate your posting this for baked potatoes using the air fryer. I absolutely enjoy my air fryer for many reasons but set it and forget it is #1 . Also it works best for 2 people instead of the massive oven. I am sure they will come out perfectly !