Air Fryer Baked Potatoes + Video

Air fryer baked potatoes have the perfect crispy skin you love, without using any oil, and the insides are soft and fluffy! Make a baked potato air fryer style in about 30 minutes… less time than oven baking!

Potatoes are one of my family’s favorite side dishes. There are almost infinite ways to make them, so they make the perfect side for light or hearty meals.

Air fried recipes have become incredibly popular over the past few years, and with good reason! Air frying is a healthier way to prepare foods that are typically deep fried, but without using huge amounts of oil.

It creates flavorful food with a lot less fat and calories, even with frozen mozzarella sticks and garlic bread!

Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

If you’re tired of waiting an hour for baked potatoes to cook in the oven, an air fryer baked potato is the perfect solution! They cook to perfection in about 30 minutes, much less time than oven baked potatoes.

If you don’t own an air fryer, you could make Instant Pot baked potatoes, or cook them in a smoker.

If you want a completely different potato dish, try our baked potato soup. It’s rich and creamy and has all your potato fixings cooked right inside.

Tips for Perfect Potatoes in the Air Fryer

• No Holes Required. 
  You don’t need to pierce holes in the potato skin; they turn out perfectly without doing this.
• Size Matters. 
  Be sure to use potatoes that are all about the same size. This ensures that they cook evenly and are finished baking at the same time.
• Wash and dry them first.
  Using a potato brush makes it easier to clean your potatoes before you cook them. Also, be sure they are completely dry before you air fry them.
• For crispy air fryer baked potatoes, always give your potatoes a light spritz with cooking oil before air frying them.You can use olive oil or bacon drippings, but don’t rub potatoes with butter, because it has a lot of moisture that can prevent the skins from crisping up.
• Check the potatoes halfway through cooking.
  If the skins are starting to look too brown, you can flip them over using a pair of cooking tongs.
• Don’t cook more than 4 potatoes at a time.
  You don’t want them to be crowded, because they won’t cook as evenly.

Special Equipment

You only need a few simple tools to make air fryer baked potatoes.

• Air Fryer
• Tongs
• Oil spray bottle – If you don’t have an oil spray bottle, you can put the olive oil on your hands and rub the outside of the potato that way. Just make sure that they are evenly coated.
• Vegetable scrub brush

Favorite Baked Potato Toppings

There are so many different toppings you can use on your baked potato. While we all have our own personal favorites, here are a few more potato topping ideas you might want to try.

• Chives or chopped green onions
• Nacho cheese sauce or smoked provolone cheese sauce
• Sour cream
• Everything bagel seasoning
• Crumbled bacon
• Shredded or crumbled cheese – bleu cheese is fantastic on baked potatoes!
• Homemade salsa
• Guacamole
• Chili
• Sautéed mushrooms 

Of course, air fryer baked potatoes come out so perfectly, so all you really need to add is a pat of butter and your favorite sea salt.

Air Fryer Baked Potatoes FAQ

Should I use foil for air frying a baked potato?

Experts recommend not wrapping potatoes in foil, because it may present a risk of botulism. Instead, rub the potato with olive oil to create a crispy exterior.

Can you use aluminum foil in the air fryer? 

You can use aluminum foil in the basket of your air fryer. But, you should never use it on the base of the air fryer. It may end up scratching the surface and will interfere with cooking.

Are air-fried potatoes healthy? 

Air-fried foods are healthier than deep-fried foods because they are lower in fat and calories. But, because they do have some type of added oil, they may not be as healthy as their broiled or steamed alternatives.

So, an air fryer baked potato is better than fried potatoes. But, it may not be as healthy as boiled potatoes.

The benefit of making baked potatoes in the air fryer isn’t necessarily that they are healthier. It’s more about how much faster it is to make them this way.

What type of potatoes are best for baking? 

The best potatoes for baking are russets. You can use other types if you want air fryer baked potatoes, but these give the best results.

Storing and reheating leftovers 

Place the baked potato in an airtight container or a resealable bag. It will stay good for 3 to 5 days this way. To reheat it, place it in the oven at 350F for about 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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Other Easy Potato Sides

Air Fryer Baked Potato + Video

Donna Elick

DESCRIPTION

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Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 35 mins

Total Time 40 mins

Course Main

Cuisine American

Method Air Fryer

Servings 4

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 4 medium Russet potatoes
• ▢ 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, or bacon drippings
• ▢ 2 teaspoons kosher salt

Instructions

 

• Scrub potatoes until they are dirt free, rinse and pat completely dry.
• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes while you prep the potatoes.
• Poke the potatoes a few times with a fork, all over.
• Place the potato in a large bowl and drizzle oil over top. Rub the potato with the oil until completely coated.
• Sprinkle salt all over the potatoes.
• Place the potatoes in the preheated air fryer with room around them for the air to circulate. Bake for 30-40 minutes (depending on the size of the potatoes) until they are cooked through and soft in the center.
• At 30 minutes open the air fryer and check the tenderness of the potato. Squeeze the potato with the tongs or an oven mitt if it feels crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, it is done. You can alternatively use an instant read thermometer, when the potatoes reach 210°F they are done.
• Remove potatoes with tongs and place on serving dish.
• Use an oven mitt to hold the potato and give it a little squeeze to help separate the potato from the skin. Then immediately cut them open. Use a knife to slice the potato long ways down the middle (about 3-4 inches) and then do the same thing crossways. use a clean kitchen towel and both hands to push them open from each end.
• Immediately top with fixin’s! Enjoy.

Video

Donna’s Notes

You do not need to poke holes in the potatoes https://idahopotato.com/dr-potato/should-i-poke-my-baked-potatoes-the-night-before-or-will-they-turn-gray

You can use olive oil or bacon drippings but don’t rub potatoes with butter, butter contains a lot of moisture and can prevent your skins from crisping up.

Garnish with a pat of butter and pepper.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 215cal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1173mg | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 3g | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 2mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Originally published July 2020. Last updated June 2022.

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