Recipe updated: April 2nd, 2024
Here is a quick and easy way to make air fryer baked potatoes that taste delicious. Just pop them in the air fryer for 45 minutes. These are the best baked potatoes you can make in less time than using the traditional oven method. They are totally done with fluffy insides and crispy potato skins on the outside. With this easy method, you can have a perfectly cooked baked potato in a shorter amount of time!
Baked potatoes are a great side dish with steak, salmon, chili (it’s a Southern thing), steak kabobs, and flank steak.
🥔 Key Ingredients
- 5 medium russet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil (plus more if needed)
- 1 tablespoon of coarse Kosher salt
👩🍳 How to Make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
These step-by-step instructions are accompanied by detailed photos for enhanced clarity and guidance.
Step 1. Preheat Air Fryer
The air fryer we use needs to be preheated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, so if your air fryer needs to be preheated too, you can do that now. Our air fryer is a Cosori. If you have a Ninja Foodi air fryer or another brand that does not need to be preheated, then you can skip this step.
Step 2. Wash, Dry, and Poke Holes in the Potatoes
Scrub the potatoes in the sink under cold running water until clean. Use a paper towel to dry the potatoes. On a working surface, use a fork or sharp knife to poke holes on both sides of each potato, but be careful not to jab yourself. This is a must-do step that will release the steam in the potatoes so they won’t explode in the air fryer basket.
Step 3. Lay Parchment Paper and Potatoes in the Air Fryer Basket
Place a sheet of parchment paper with holes in it on the air fryer basket. Lay the potatoes in a single layer across the parchment paper. We were able to get 5 medium potatoes in our basket. If you don’t have any parchment paper with holes in it, go ahead and use some cooking spray on the basket.
Side Note: It is very important that the parchment paper has holes in it. Do not use parchment paper without holes. The holes help distribute the heat to each potato and allow the air fryer unit’s airflow to ventilate properly. Also, depending on the size of your air fryer unit and the size of your potatoes, you may be able to get more or fewer potatoes in your basket.
Step 4. Apply the Olive Oil
Brush each potato with olive oil on all sides. You can substitute your favorite cooking oil if you prefer to do so.
Step 5. Sprinkle with Kosher Salt
After brushing the potatoes with olive oil, sprinkle some Kosher salt on each individual potato. But if you don’t have any Kosher salt on hand, try sea salt, and if you don’t have any sea salt in the kitchen, you can use regular table salt.
Step 6. Cook the Potatoes
Put the basket with the prepared potatoes in the preheated air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Set the timer for 45 minutes, but be ready to flip the potatoes halfway through the cooking process mentioned in the next step.
Side Note: Keep an eye on the potatoes while they cook. The baking time can vary depending on many factors. For example, the type of potato, or the size of the potatoes matters. If you used small potatoes, smaller potatoes will take less time to cook than larger potatoes, so you may have to adjust the cook time.
Step 7. Flip the Spuds
Halfway through the 45-minute cooking time, flip each potato over on the other side, but be careful not to burn your hands with the hot air inside the air fryer. The best way to prevent burns on your hands or wrists is to use heat-resistant tongs and to wear heat-resistant oven mitts.
⭐️ Recipe Variations
- You can use any vegetable oil you prefer. Some different types of oils are canola oil, grapeseed oil, and avocado oil just to name a few.
- You can switch out the Kosher salt and use sea salt instead if you prefer to do so. Use a little less sea salt though than the Kosher salt.
- Red potatoes, Yukon gold potatoes, yellow potatoes, sweet potatoes, or Idaho potatoes can be used, whichever potato is your favorite. Remember, though, if the potato is smaller, the cooking time will need to be adjusted to a shorter amount.
🙋 FAQs
Yes, you can reheat a baked potato. Use the microwave for just a couple of minutes, then test the potato for your desired warmth.
Personally, I have never put any leftover baked potatoes in the freezer because we have never had any leftovers. So I had to check it out on the internet. From what I have read, you can freeze a baked potato for up to 8 months. But you must tightly wrap each baked potato individually in aluminum foil. Then, after wrapping each baked potato, place them side by side in an airtight container. Since I have never done this, I can not say how they taste.
💡 Final Thoughts
If you are looking to make baked potatoes quickly with a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior, then the air fryer method is the way to go! The hot circulating air allows the potatoes to be cooked evenly and quickly.
Top this perfect baked potato with all of your favorite toppings. Start with a pat of butter and then add some salt and ground black pepper. After that, add all the rest of your favorite potato toppings such as sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon bits, green onions, or chives.
📄 Recipe Card
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
🫕 Equipment
- 2 paper towels (optional)
🧂 Ingredients
- 5 russet potatoes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Kosher salt
👩🍳 Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wash and dry the potatoes.
- Poke holes in the potatoes with a fork so they won't explode in the air fryer.
- Lay parchment paper with holes in it in the air fryer basket or spray the basket with cooking spray.
- Lay the potatoes in the basket in a single layer.
- Brush all around each potato with olive oil.
- Sprinkle Kosher salt all around each potato.
- Put the basket into the air fryer and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes being sure to flip the potatoes halfway through the cooking process.
*️⃣ Recipe Notes
- Cooking times can vary from one air fryer to the next due to different power outputs.
- If you are cooking less than 5 potatoes the cooking time can be less too.
- Also, the size of the potatoes can be a factor in the cooking time. Smaller potatoes cook faster than larger potatoes. Be sure to keep an eye on the potatoes while they cook in your air fryer.
🌟 Favorite Air Fryer Recipes
- Fish Sticks – These frozen fish sticks are cooked in the air fryer until they are crispy, crunchy, and so delicious. It only takes about 10 minutes, and then it’s dinner time. Making fish sticks never got easier than this. So convenient and so good!
💑 More Air Fryer Potato Recipes You Will Love
- Potato Wedges – Loaded with flavors, these potato wedges are so yummy. The seasonings used in this recipe are olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and ground black pepper!
- Hash Browns – This is an easy way to make hash browns that taste great. They come out of the air fryer crispy and delicious.
- Tater Tots – This tater tots recipe is cooked in the air fryer and so easy to make. The tater tots are crispy and delicious. Seasoned with Johnny’s seasoning salt for extra flavor. They taste fantastic!
A wife, a mother to a son and a daughter, and a grandmother to three granddaughters. Flo loves sharing recipes passed down from her own mother, her mother-in-law, and her grandmother as well as new recipes created with her daughter, Tamara Ray.
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