Air Fryer Baked Potatoes are my favourite way to bake potatoes. The baked potatoes always have a crispy, crunchy skin and soft fluffy insides. It’s so easy to make baked potatoes in your Air Fryer, you’ll wonder why you never thought of it before.
Why should I make Air Fryer Baked potatoes?
I bake potatoes in my Air fryer because it really makes the best baked potatoes. The very even cooking from the air fryer means that the skin is super crispy all the way around the potato and the inside is soft and fluffy and not at all dry. If that’s not enough of a reason here are some more:
- Your Air fryer will use less power than your oven and save you money. Because if you bake two or three potatoes in the main oven, you have to heat the whole oven to 200c for about an hour, that’s a lot of power.
- If you cook your potatoes in the microwave it’s much quicker and uses less power. However, the skin is soft and the potato is a bit damp inside not as fluffy as oven-baked. The way a microwave cooks means that if you do more potatoes it will take longer, this isn’t the case in your air fryer.
What kind of Air Fryer do I need to bake potatoes?
I have the type of Air Fryer that has a drawer and no paddle, this makes it ideal as a mini oven as well as for classic air frying recipes such as chips/fries.
Can I use an air fryer with a paddle?
Yes, you can bake potatoes in an air fryer with a paddle or you can take out the paddle if you prefer. The size and number of potatoes you can bake at one time will depend on the size of your air fryer.
Can I use a multi-cooker to bake potatoes?
If your multi-cooker has an air fry setting then you can definitely use it to bake potatoes. Check the instructions for your own model of multi-cooker.
What kind of potatoes should I use?
I use Maris Piper potatoes for Air Fryer Baked Potatoes. They are a good all-round potato for lots of different recipes and I find they bake very well with this method. You can also bake King Edward potatoes and Desiree potatoes. I recommend Russet potatoes for readers in the USA.
If you grow your own potatoes and want to grow a variety specifically for baking, then read about The Best Potatoes for Baking on the Gardener’s World website.
How many Air Fryer Baked potatoes can I bake in my Air fryer?
The basket in my air fryer is a generous size. I can fit in two large potatoes or three medium potatoes or four smaller potatoes.
If I cook more potatoes in my Air fryer will it take longer?
No, it will take the same time no matter how many potatoes you bake. Your Air fryer works differently from a microwave so it takes the same time to bake three potatoes as it does to bake one, just like in your oven.
Why should I add oil and salt to the skin of the potatoes?
The oil helps to crisp up the skins, it also helps the salt to stick to the potatoes. Add salt to your potatoes to add flavour. You can bake the potatoes without oil and/or salt and they will still bake and be delicious but I recommend trying the oil and salt.
What kind of oil should I use?
I use olive oil because it adds a nice flavour to the skin of the potato. But you can use any vegetable oil. Oils such as sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil or generic blended vegetable oil are all suitable.
What kind of salt should I use?
I like to use sea salt flakes because I like the taste which I find less hard than some other salt. The flakes also look nice when serving the potatoes. There are many different kinds of salts available, some of them have additional flavourings already added e.g. garlic salt, smoked salt and chilli salt. Read How to Salt for more information about different salts and how to use them.
How do I serve Air Fryer Baked Potatoes?
Baked Potatoes are really very versatile and can be served as a main meal or as a side dish with other dishes.
Serve Air Fryer Baked Potatoes as side dish
The Air Fryer Baked Potatoes have a perfectly crisp skin and fluffy potato inside all they need is some butter and seasoning. They are delicious with cold meats, salads, flans and quiches and can make a snack into a main meal.
Baked Potatoes and simple toppings make a great lunch or light supper
There are so many different toppings that you can add to a baked potato. Here are a few to try:
- Grated Cheese
- Coleslaw
- Baked Beans
- Coronation Chicken
- Smoked Mackerel Pate
- Avocado & Olive Salsa
- Quick Roasted Tomatoes with Balsamic Vinegar
And, of course, these can all be improved by a spoonful of chutney or relish.
Make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes into main meal
A large baked potato topped with a hearty stew or casserole makes a filling main meal. Try some Slow Cooker Chilli con Carne or a luscious Slow Cooker Coconut Chicken Curry. It’s a great way to stretch leftovers into another meal too.
Vegetarian
The basic ingredients for this recipe are meat-free and suitable for vegetarians. Use non-dairy spread and alternative meat-free toppings for anyone wishing to follow a plant-only diet.
Gluten-Free
The ingredients for this recipe are usually gluten-free. Be aware that cheese sold pre-grated may be coated in products that contain gluten. Please always check the packaging before you consume any manufactured product.
More Potato Recipes
New Potatoes with Wild Garlic and Lemon Dressing are a delicious seasonal Spring treat. The wild garlic doesn’t overpower the delicate flavour of new potatoes and the fresh taste of lemon enhances both.
Slow Cooker Scottish Stovies is a comforting plate of slowly cooked potato seasoned with beef and onions. Stovies or ‘Stoved Potatoes’ is a classic dish that makes simple ingredients taste incredibly good.
This Slow Cooker Chorizo, Potato, and Runner Bean One Pot dinner is perfect for making an inexpensive, tasty and filling meal using a garden glut of potatoes and runner beans from the garden or allotment.
More Airfryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Scones
- Air Fryer Irish Soda Bread
- Air Fryer Creamy Courgette Bake
- AirFryer Carrot Falafel (Tin & Thyme)
- Vegetable Kebabs (Simply Food)
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Measuring spoons
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
- 900 grams (2 lb) Baking Potato I used 3 x 300 g Maris Piper Potatoes
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) olive oil
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) sea salt
To Serve
- 30 grams (2 tbsp) butter
Instructions
- Preheat the Airfryer at 60C for 3 minutes
- 900 grams Baking Potato, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 1 tablespoon olive oilPierce the potatoes with a knife.
- Use a pastry brush to brush the potatoes with oil, or rub it on with your hands.
- Sprinkle the potatoes with salt.
- Set the heat to 195C
- Set the time for 50 minutes, then close the Air fryer and leave to bake
- Check with a sharp knife to make sure the potatoes are baked all the way through, if not set for another 10 minutes and bake again.
- Once ready, place each potato on a plate, cut it open and squeeze the fluffy potato to the top.
- 30 grams butterTop each potato with a 10g of butter
- Serve with the toppings of your choice
Video
Notes
Nutrition
First published May 2019
Cathy says
Fab, I’m having a baked potato tonight and I’m going to do it in my air fryer for a change!
Janice Pattie says
Yay! I hope you enjoy it.
Corina Blum says
I’ll have to try baked potatoes in my air fryer. I love air fryer chips and make them a few times a week now so really need to be a bit more adventurous!
Janice Pattie says
They are really good Corina especially if you only need to bake one or two.
Zim says
Using the air fryer for baked potatoes seems to be a good idea. I lack the patience to bake potatoes in the oven😊😊. #Cookblogshare
Janice Pattie says
The Airfryer method is definitely convenient, although it still takes a bit of time.
Choclette says
We use our air fryer for baked potatoes all the time, but I think it was you that first got me onto it. Fab post and thanks for including a couple of my links.
Janice Pattie says
It always seemed like a little oven to me, probably because I rarely fry anything.
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie says
Ooooh – I’m impressed! I love this idea 😀 I totally agree that baked potatoes need a crispy skin – which is why I always use the oven (that and I always think microwaved make potatoes taste a bit odd), but I do agree – that’s a lot of wasted energy. Thanks for linking these up to #CookBlogShare. Eb x
Janice Pattie says
Thanks, Eb. The HealthyFry makes the perfect mini oven.
Cat says
Such a great way to cook a baked potato. The skin was so crisp and perfect. This will now be how I cook all baked potatoes going forward 🙂
Janice Pattie says
Thank you. I’m so glad you tried this method and found the potatoes to be so good. It’s very convenient when there are only a few of you.
Lesley says
These potatoes are cooked exactly how I like them, crisp skin with a fluffy centre. I’d never have thought to use an air fryer to cook them, what a great idea.
Janice Pattie says
Thanks, Lesley. It’s such a great way to bake potatoes.
Kate - Gluten Free Alchemist says
I confess… I am not an air-fryer owner… But the more recipes I see using them, the more I feel I should invest.
We are also big baked potato fans here… Although we tend to combi between a zap in the microwave followed by 10 minutes in a hot oven. Quick and crispy but no idea how it would compare to the energy of an air fryer.
Thanks for sharing #CookBlogShare
Janice Pattie says
I sometimes do the same with potatoes, but I still find that the inside is drier and fluffier if I air fry them.
Chloe says
I’m airfryer obsessed and love how crispy it makes the potatoes!
Janice Pattie says
Thanks, me too!
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie says
WOW – is there anything you can’t make in an air fryer??? And they look so good! Eb 🙂
Janice Pattie says
I’m sure there must be some things, but all the crispy things are great made in an Air Fryer.
Amy says
Such a great idea! I will have to give these a try, they look delicious and really easy too!
Janice Pattie says
Thanks, Amy. We love them.
Kavey Eats says
Just did our first jacket potatoes in the airfryer and they came out beautifully! Thanks Janice!
Janice Pattie says
I’m so pleased you enjoyed them, Kavey.