Air Fryer Method for Your Best-Ever Baked Potato To Enjoy as a Hearty Side

Can you cook a baked potato in an air fryer? You’re darn right, you can! In fact, it’s one of the easiest ways to make sure your spuds turn out crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and absolutely scrumptious. We gathered up some expert tips that can also help you dig into your potatoes quicker, prevent them from getting soggy, and pair them with the tastiest toppings — all while avoiding heating the whole kitchen up with your oven!

Cooking a baked potato in the oven vs. an air fryer

Whether you want a regular baked potato or a baked sweet potato, there are some key differences to traditional oven cooking techniques. First, don’t worry about reaching for any aluminum foil to wrap them in. The hot air circulation in an air fryer will cook and crisp potatoes evenly without the extra help. You also don’t need to soak the potatoes in water before air frying, which can be helpful for other dishes like French fries or roasted spuds.

3 chef’s tips for crispy and fluffy air fryer baked potatoes

We asked Robin Fields, author of The “I Love My Air Fryer” 5-Ingredient Recipe Book, for some of her expert air fryer baked potato tips. Here’s what she recommends keeping in mind.

1. Leave enough room between each potato in the appliance.

If you’re cooking more than one at a time, make sure you air fry your potatoes in an even layer with plenty of space to promote air circulation through your fryer. This prevents the potatoes from becoming soggy and helps them cook evenly.

2. Coat the spuds in oil spray.

Spritzing your potatoes with a little olive oil or cooking spray is the easiest way to get the skin that crispy texture that everyone loves.

3. Quickly zap the potatoes in the microwave beforehand if needed.

Short on time? Before cooking, prick them with a fork all over and microwave on high for 4 minutes. This will soften them up a bit and help them cook up a bit quicker in the air fryer.

How to make an air fryer baked potato

This simple recipe is adapted from our print magazine, Food to Love: Air Fryer. You can find plenty more delicious and easy meal ideas in those pages and on our sister site’s roundup of the best air fryer recipes. For now, let’s get cracking on baked potatoes!

Air Fryer Baked Potato

Ingredients:

1 to 2 medium russet potatoes
Olive or avocado oil spray
Coarse sea salt
Butter, to serve
Toppings like shredded cheese, bacon and sour cream

Directions:

Yield: 1 to 2 servings

Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
Prick potatoes all over with fork.
Taking care, pull out the air fryer pan and basket. Place potatoes in basket (work in batches if you can’t fit them all in at once), spray with oil, and sprinkle with salt flakes. Slide pan and basket back into appliance.
Cook 40 minutes, turning halfway through cooking time, until potatoes are tender when pierced with tip of a knife. Transfer potatoes to plates. Cut cross in top and squeeze upwards from bottom to open it up.
Serve with butter and desired toppings.
Note: Just remember that all appliances are different, check the user guide for yours for any specific needs it might have. If you’re worried about scorching your spud, you can check on it more frequently, giving it a look every 10 or 15 minutes instead of 20.