The exact cook time can vary. Read below for our tips!
Looking to make the perfect baked potatoes? Air fryer baked potatoes are simple to make and turn out amazing!
With crispy, seasoned skin on the outside and a soft potato inside, these baked potatoes can be topped how you like them and eaten as a meal on their own or as a side for a larger dinner!
Ingredients
To make these baked potatoes in the air fryer, here are the ingredients that you will need. They are pretty easy to make.
- Potatoes – We use Russet potatoes because their skin crisps up nicely while the inside stays fluffy. If you don’t have russet potatoes, you can use another type of potato but they might not turn out as well and the cook time might be slightly different.
- Oil – For getting a crispy skin. We use avocado oil.
- Salt – To flavor the skin.
- Garlic Powder – Completely optional.
Recipe Tips/Substitutions
Before you make a baked potatoes, read through these recipe tips so that you achieve the best results:
- We use russet potatoes for this recipe because their skin gets crispy in the air fryer while the inside stays deliciously soft.
- Much like when you make air fryer baked sweet potatoes, try to use potatoes that are similar in size. This way the potatoes will finish cooking around the same time.
- There is no need to pierce the raw potatoes with a fork first but you can if you prefer.
- It’s important to completely cover the outside of the raw potato with oil. We use avocado oil because it has a high smoke point and is good to use in the air fryer.
- As for seasonings, we like putting a bit of salt and garlic powder on the potato skins. Garlic powder can get bitter as it cooks in the air fryer for a long time so if you aren’t sure you’ll like this taste you can always skip the garlic powder.
- If you can’t fit four potatoes in your air fryer and still have some space around them, better not make them all in one batch – overcrowding the air fryer is not recommended.
Recipe Video
Step by Step Instructions
In this section, you can follow along to find out how to cook a baked potato in the air fryer.
We’ve included baked potato recipe photos so that you can see exactly how we made ours and follow along.
If you’re confident in your baked potato making abilities, skip to the bottom of this post for the detailed recipe card.
First, scrub the potatoes under running water, then pat them dry.
You don’t need to pierce holes into them with a fork first, but you can if you prefer.
Optional: Preheat the air fryer to 385 degrees Fahrenheit.
Coat the potatoes in oil (approximately 1/2 teaspoon per potato). Make sure to cover the entire outside of the potato.
Then, sprinkle salt all over the skin. You can also add some garlic powder if you like – just keep in mind that it could darken in the air fryer and taste slightly bitter.
Place the oiled and salted whole raw potatoes into the air fryer tray.
Remember – if you can’t fit all the potatoes in your air fryer comfortably, don’t force it. They need air circulation to get crispy.
Cook the potatoes for approximately 40 to 45 minutes or until the insides are soft and the skin is crispy. Flip them over halfway through the cooking time.
Test if the potatoes are done by inserting a fork into the center of one potato – if it goes through easily, they are done.
The size of the potatoes and your air fryer size can influence cooking time, so this time might vary for you.
Once done, remove the potatoes from the air fryer. Cut them open lengthwise (be careful, they are hot), and let the steam escape.
Then garnish them with butter, sour cream, sliced green onions, chopped chives or parsley, salt/pepper, or other garnishes as desired (e.g. bacon bits).
Storage Tips
The nice thing about air fried baked potatoes is that you can actually plan to have leftovers.
Uuneaten baked potatoes (preferably without toppings) store well in a sealed container in the fridge and can be heated again easily – either in the microwave or in the air fryer.
Just keep in mind that if you reheat the baked potato in the microwave, the skin will likely not be as crispy anymore. If you want crispy skin, we’d recommend reheating it in the air fryer.
What to Serve Air Fryer Baked Potatoes With
You can serve baked potatoes hot with any toppings you want. Common toppings are sour cream, butter, chives, or sliced green onions.
You can take your air fryer baked potato to another level by adding shredded cheese, bacon bits, and even sliced jalapeno peppers.
We actually cooked two strips of bacon and crumbled them on top – it’s really good.
Keep in mind, air fried baked potatoes can be a meal on their own… but you can also serve baked potatoes with a form of protein such as beef, turkey, pork, tofu, and a nice green side salad!
They also taste delicious with some chili con or sin carne on top.
FAQ
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about cooking a baked potato in the air fryer:
This will vary by the type and size of the potatoes used. Our medium-large Russet potatoes took about 40-45 minutes at 385 degrees Fahrenheit until the middle was soft to pierce with a fork and the skin was crispy.
To make baked potatoes in the air fryer, rinse and dry some Russet potatoes and cover the skin in oil and salt. Heat the air fryer to 385 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the potatoes for approximately 40 minutes, flipping them halfway. When done, cut open lengthwise to vent steam and top with your favorite toppings!
Related Recipes
For more air fryer potato recipes, check out these tasty creations for something to try out tonight!
- Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes
- Potato Peels in the Air Fryer
- Hasselback Potatoes in the Air Fryer
- Fingerling Potatoes Air Fried
Air Fryer Baked Potato
Ingredients
- 4 medium-large russet potatoes
- 2 teaspoons avocado oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional (see notes)
Instructions
- Scrub the potatoes under running water, then pat them dry. You can pierce holes into the potatoes with a fork but it's not really necessary.
- Optional: Preheat the air fryer to 385 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Coat the potatoes in oil (approximately 1/2 teaspoon per potato). Make sure to cover the entire outside of the potato. Then sprinkle salt all over the skin. You can also add some garlic powder if you like – just keep in mind that it could darken in the air fryer and taste slightly bitter.
- Place the oiled and salted whole raw potatoes into the air fryer tray. If you can't fit four potatoes in your air fryer and still have some space around them, better not make them all in one batch – overcrowding the air fryer is not recommended.
- Cook the potatoes at 385 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 40 to 45 minutes or until the insides are soft and the skin is crispy. Flip them over halfway through the cooking time. Test if they are done by inserting a fork into the center of the potatoes – if it goes through easily, they are done. The size of the potatoes and your air fryer can influence cooking time, so the exact cooking time can vary.
- Once done, remove the potatoes from the air fryer. Cut them open lengthwise (be careful, they are hot) and let the steam escape. Then garnish them with butter, sour cream, sliced green onions, chopped chives or parsley, salt/pepper, or other garnishes as desired (e.g. bacon bits).
Notes
- The potatoes we used all had a weight between 8 and 9 ounces. If the russet potatoes you are using are lighter or heavier, you’ll most likely have to adjust the cooking time a bit. Try using potatoes that are all roughly the same size so that they all cook evenly and finish cooking at the same time.
- If you decide to use garlic powder, keep in mind that it can get brown since the potatoes are cooked in the air fryer for quite a while. This in turn can make the powder a tad bitter. We like the taste of a bit of garlic powder, but if you are unsure better skip it.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
