Best Damn Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

These air fryer baked potatoes have a delicious, crispy skin on the outside and are light and fluffy on the inside. No need to turn on the oven, now you’ve got the necessary know-how to make the perfect baked potato in your air fryer.

It’s hard to even call this a recipe. It’s really just a few simple steps to getting some flavor and crispiness on the skin, and having that steamy hot and fluffy center we know and love. Let’s take a look at how to do this!

Best potatoes for air frying

The standard russet potato will be your potato of choice. Russet potatoes grown in the state of Idaho are called Idaho potatoes and are just fine as well. Idaho potatoes are called as such because of their unique and optimal growing conditions and soil. The term Idaho is simply a trademarked name.

The best size potatoes to use would be medium sized – approximately 10oz-12oz.

Ingredients

You won’t find a whole long list of ingredients for making air fryer baked potatoes. We’ll simply use a little oil (I like olive oil the best), and a little bit of seasoned salt. Lawry’s is the most popular brand of seasoned salt but any brand will do. Most are simply a combination of salt, paprika and a few other simple spices that go great on just about anything. You can use regular kosher or sea salt as well. Basically, we want to get a little flavor on those skins because we plan on enjoying those as well! If you don’t have seasoned salt, some salt and pepper to taste works just fine.

Simple Preparation

Again, this doesn’t get much easier. We’ll want to scrub those potatoes to get any dirt off the skin. Use a vegetable scrubber or brush and run the potatoes under cold water while scrubbing. Then dry them off with paper towels. Put the scrubbed potatoes on a large plate on in a gallon sized bag, add the oil and seasoned salt, and get those potatoes good and coated! Make sure everything is evenly distributed. I like to use the large zip-top bags because you just put everything inside and shake for a minute. Less mess and less to cleanup!

Poke or no poke?

We’re all pretty used to making baked potatoes in an oven or microwave and what do we always do to the potatoes? We use a fork and poke holes in it. But why do we do that? Simply put, potatoes contain moisture which can vaporize, build up steam and make the potato burst open when cooking. With air frying, we are essentially baking the potato and the same process can happen. While it’s rare, still take a fork and poke a couple of holes in the potatoes.

Air Fry for 35-45 minutes

Our seasoned potatoes are now ready to be baked in the air fryer. Your air fryer may have many different settings, but we will indeed be using the “air fry” setting. The rapid movement of the heated air will help get those skins nice and crispy.

Preheat your air fryer at 400°(F) for 5 minutes. Then place your potatoes in the air fryer basket or on the tray (middle position if applicable) and air fry for 35-45 minutes, flipping the potatoes halfway through the cooking time. After the time is up, carefully test the potato by piercing the center with a sharp knife. If the middle still feels hard, flip the potatoes and continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes. Potato sizes vary and air fryer models vary but you’ll find that 400°(f) for 35-45 minutes will get the best results.

Ready to serve

Just like with any other method of cooking, the baked potatoes will be hot when removed from the air fryer so be careful! Use a sharp knife and cut the potatoes open. The skin will have a nice crisp and take a little force to cut through. Then, use a fork to get the insides nice and fluffy.

Toppings

This is where things get really fun. There’s no right or wrong toppings for baked potatoes, but there’s certain toppings that are amazing on potatoes!

Popular toppings include:

• Sour cream
• Chives
• Butter
• Bacon bits
• Cheddar cheese
• Salsa/diced tomatoes

You can even setup a whole toppings bar so that everyone can mix and match their favorite toppings. And don’t stop with just the traditional toppings. Other great ideas include taco meat, shredded chicken, pulled pork and more!

Don’t forget those skins!

One of the benefits of air frying potatoes is that we can enjoy those crispy skins too! Even after we’ve fluffed the insides of the potatoes (called the “flesh”), there will undoubtedly still be some on the inside of the skins. I like to just cut them with a knife, dip in sour cream or even something like blue cheese dressing, and enjoy. Crispy potato skins are absolutely awesome and come out perfectly done in the air fryer.

Leftovers and reheating

Air fryer baked potatoes can be easily stored in an airtight container, or wrapped in aluminum foil in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Make sure to let them cool first before storing in the container or foil.

Your air fryer makes the perfect appliance for reheating baked potatoes. Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket or tray, and air fry at 350° for 5-10 minutes.

And of course, the microwave is another way to reheat leftover potatoes. Wrap each potato in a damp paper towel and microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.

Are Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Healthy?

Baked potatoes are a nutrient-dense food that can provide the body with essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Here’s some of the health benefits…

1. Good source of carbohydrates: Baked potatoes are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates that provide sustained energy to the body.
2. High in fiber: Baked potatoes are rich in dietary fiber.
3. Rich in vitamins and minerals: Baked potatoes contain vitamins such as vitamin C, B6, and potassium, which support immune function, nerve function, and cardiovascular health.
4. Low in calories: A medium-sized baked potato (without all the toppings) contains only around 110-120 calories, making it a great low-calorie option for weight management.
5. Gluten-free: Baked potatoes are naturally gluten-free, making them a suitable food option for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

Overall, baked potatoes can be a healthy and delicious addition to a well-balanced diet.

Goes Well With…

Is there really anything that potatoes don’t go well with? Ok, maybe a few things, but there’s plenty of perfect pairings!

Best Damn Air Fryer Ribeye Steak. Steak and potatoes. It’s doesn’t get any more American comfort food that that.

Air Fryer Salmon. A delicious salmon filet is the perfect main course for our potatoes.

Air Fryer Chicken Breast. Another ideal combination and an excellent choice for your weekly meal planning.

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