Craving the fluffy satisfaction of the perfect baked potato? Look no further than your air fryer! This magical kitchen appliance can whip up perfect air fryer baked potatoes in a fraction of the time it takes your oven. We’re talking light and fluffy insides, irresistibly crispy skin, and a piping hot center ideal for melting all your favorite toppings.
This isn’t just a faster way to make baked potatoes (although that’s a pretty awesome perk!), it’s a tastier, more convenient way to achieve baked potato perfection. Forget the long wait time and uneven cooking of the oven – air fryer baked potatoes are ridiculously easy and deliver delicious results, every single time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Simple ingredients for perfect baked potatoes in the air fryer:
- Russet Potatoes – Aim for similar sizes for even cooking. These starchy potatoes are ideal for absorbing toppings and have a fluffy interior. pings.
- Olive Oil (optional) – A drizzle helps crisp up the skin and will also help the salt stick to the skin.
- Kosher Salt – Sprinkling generously seasons the potatoes and dries the skin for extra crispness.
How to Make Baked Potatoes in the Air Fryer
- Preheat: Get your air fryer ready for action by preheating it to 400°F (204°C).
- Prep the Potatoes: Scrub or wipe your potatoes clean. Poke a few holes with a fork to vent steam. Drizzle with olive oil (optional) and season generously with kosher salt.
- Air Fry: Pop those potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook for 30-40 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 205°F (96°C).
- Enjoy! Dig into your perfectly cooked air fryer baked potato.
Top Tips for Success
- Dry is Key: Scrub and thoroughly dry your potatoes. This allows the skin to “fry” instead of steam, maximizing crispness.
- Cooking Time: How long will it take? It depends on your air fryer, potato size, and how many you’re cooking. Generally, expect 30-40 minutes to reach the perfect internal temperature of 205°F. Use an instant-read thermometer to check!
- No thermometer? No problem! A paring knife can pierce the center easily, and the potato should feel hot and tender when squeezed gently.
- Space Matters: Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Give those potatoes room for hot air circulation to ensure even cooking.
- Uniformity is King: Use similar-sized potatoes for consistent cooking times.
- Patience Pays Off: Don’t fret if they need extra time. It’s better to have perfectly cooked potatoes than undercooked ones.
Additional Topping Inspiration
Once you have that perfectly cooked air fryer potato, it’s time to unleash your inner topping artist! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Classic Combo – Start with a sprinkle of salt and pepper to enhance all the other flavors.
- Melty Delights – Butter pats or shredded cheese become melty goodness in a hot potato.
- Cool Contrast – Sour cream provides a delightful temperature contrast.
- Fresh Finish – Chopped chives or green onions add a pop of freshness.
- Loaded Luxury – Pile on the toppings! Think shredded cheddar, crumbled bacon, everything bagel seasoning, or even a hearty dollop of chili or pulled pork.
And if you are looking to make the whole meal in the air fryer, make some super crispy air fryer chicken wings, or chicken tenders, and some insanely easy air fryer donuts for dessert.
More Delicious Potato Recipes
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 medium russet potatoes
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp Diamond kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400º F.
- Prep the potatoes. Clean and dry the potatoes with a towel. Poke a few holes in each potato with a fork to release steam during the cook. Drizzle the skin with olive oil and sprinkle generously with kosher salt all around.
- Air fry. Place in the air fryer basket and cook for 30 to 40 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 205º F. It might take longer depending on the size of the potato, your specific air fryer and how many potatoes you are cooking.
- Enjoy. Use a fork to fluff the inside of the potato with a fork right before adding your favorite toppings.
Notes
- The recipe can be scaled up or down, just be careful not to overcrowd your air fryer.
- You can do the pinch test to see if the potatoes are finished cooking, but checking the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer will yield better results.
Hello Justin
I see that you promote Breville products. Our children purchased The Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro for my husband and I. Could you please suggest the settings for the Air Fryer Baked Potatoes.
Thank you,
Jody
Hi Jody. Absolutely. I use the air fryer setting at 400 degrees F with the rack at the bottom third or so. There’s no need to use the actual air fryer tray for the baked potatoes, the regular rack will work just fine. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Cheers,
Justin
Hey I did it on the Airfryer option and it came out awesome crispy on the outside and nice and fluffy on the inside thank you sooo much!!!!
So glad to hear it!
I have a Nuwave XL Oven and I LOVE IT….just wanted to know I’m making baked potatoes and I wanted to know if I still put the potatoes on the air fryer option or the baked option?
Either will work, but go with the air fryer option. This will cook the potatoes faster and will make for crispier skin.
Sorry about my confusion but…in the Breville Smart Oven there is regular bake, convection bake and super convection. So at 400 Which one did you use?!?! I’m new to this product!
No worries at all. For the Breville smart oven air, they are basically different fan speeds. Super convection is the same as air fryer. They just give you short cuts to get their quicker. You could use bake with super convection or air fryer. Either should work great. 🙂
Fool proof baked potatoes! This is my second time cooking two large russet baking potatoes. I cooked them while I prepared and cooks a couple of cast iron skillet ribeyes and green beans with bacon and almonds. What a delicious 40 minute meal! I love microwaved taters for a fast side, but these are far superior if you have a little more time and a must have with steak! Thanks so much for the great recipe!
Oh yeah! This sounds so delicious. Seriously, a perfect baked potato and steak can’t be beaten. 🙂
many thanks from Italy for this recipe. Here we don’t cook potatoes in this way and I have appreciated a lot your tips and your ideas for toppings: I do needed some inspirations! I will try this evening 🙂
Perfect bakers!!! Gotta be honest, I did a little cheat, didn’t have 30 to 40 minutes. After washing three Russets, wrapped them in a paper towel and microwaved on high 3 1/2 minutes. They were all dry, so I rubbed them with some of my newly purchased Macadamia Nut oil, sprinkled them with Kosher salt, and into the preheated air fryer. The smaller ones were ready in 15 minutes, fatter one took four minutes more to reach 205*F. They were every bit as good as Russets made only in the air fryer.
Hi Jan. That’s so great to hear about your little shortcut. I find myself using the microwave to make bakers when I realize “oh, a baked potato would be great but I only have 10 minutes.”
Love the idea of the hybrid cook. I’ll have to do a side by side comparison and add this as a tip. Thanks so much!
The potatoes definately need more time. I had mine in for 55 min and they were still not cooked to buttery soft middle. My thermometer goes only to 180 degrees, so I couldn’t check them if they were at 205. I had 3 russet potatoes in. Next time, I will cook them for 60-65 min and will add 5-10 min for any additional potato. Thanks for the recipe!
More time is always better than less. It really depends on the size of your potatoes and even your air fryer. So glad they came out good in the end. 🙂
Wow, these were the best baked potatoes I have ever made. Buttery/fluffy inside and crispy on the outside. I used large Yukon gold potatoes which took 40 minutes.
The air fryer will be my go-to method for bake potatoes. Thanks!
So glad to hear it!
Awesome
Glad it was awesome for you!
Are you still love with your Breville Smart Oven Air?
Hi Richard,
I sure am. I still use it almost every day. Even after a kitchen remodel with a fancy new oven, I use the Breville much more often. Let me know if you have any questions about it.
Cheers,
Justin
Made these last night big hit with the family, soft and a touch of sweetness!!!
Hi JoAnn,
So glad to hear. Now I’m craving some baked potatoes for dinner. So yummy and I love making extra for the next day.
Cheers,
Justin
I just made an air fryer baked potato and peeled it, diced it and made potato salad with it. ❤️ It turned out amazing! I’ll do the baked potato for hubby when he’s home but I can’t eat more than 4 oz per meal soooo I’ll have him try it as baked. Nice crispy peeling though.
The texture in the air fryer is far superior!
Totally agree, Cyndee!
I don’t doubt the air fryer would make the outside crispier. But, a microwave will do that in 6 min. If you’ve got the time and electricity use the air fryer. But when I want food I want it fast, chicken nuggets, french fries, meat loaf, fried fish, shrimp, yes; use the air fryer. But for baked potatoe, I’m sticking with Chef Mike
Hey Bruce. Agree about the speed and convenience of the microwave. But the texture doesn’t come out the same for me.
I will never Use anything else again but my air fryer for baked potatoes
Totaly agree, Irene. They just come out perfect!
Who doesn’t love a baked potato?!?! Great as a side or as a meal.
Question: I like to eat my skin on the potatoe. Is this style to crispy for that?
Me too, Julian! It’s perfect for eating. 🙂
I just made double dipped chicken tenders( dipped in egg mixture and bread crumbs twice) for 17 minutes at 370. They were delish!
Awesome. Love the idea of double dipping for the crumbs for extra crunch. Great idea!