Discover the convenience and deliciousness of making baked potatoes in an air fryer. This method not only saves oven space but also reduces cooking time, resulting in perfectly tender potatoes with crispy skins.
Perfecting Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Using an air fryer for baked potatoes is a great alternative when your oven is busy with other dishes like baked pork chops. The air fryer cooks the potatoes evenly, leaving them soft on the inside with a delightfully crispy exterior.
Ingredients for Baked Potatoes
- Potatoes: Choose russet potatoes for their starchy content and excellent baking properties. Their rough skins turn perfectly crisp after air frying.
- Oil: Canola or vegetable oil is ideal for achieving crispy skins, though olive oil is a flavorful alternative.
- Salt: Kosher salt enhances the flavor of the potato skins.
How to Prepare Baked Potatoes in an Air Fryer
Air frying potatoes is a simple, efficient process that yields delicious results. Here’s how to make them:
- Preparation: Start by thoroughly scrubbing the potatoes under running water. Then, pierce each potato several times with a fork to allow steam to escape during cooking.
- Seasoning: Coat each potato lightly with oil and sprinkle evenly with salt to flavor the skins.
- Cooking: Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to 400°F (204°C) and cook for 25 minutes. Then, flip the potatoes and continue to cook for another 25 minutes or until they are golden brown and fluffy inside.
- Serving: Serve the baked potatoes hot with your choice of toppings. They are particularly delicious with butter, or go decadent with homemade chili and cheese.
Oven Method for Baked Potatoes
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can easily adapt this recipe for the oven:
- Prepare the potatoes as described above.
- Bake: Place the prepared potatoes on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven at 425°F (218°C) for 45-55 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
Ingredients
- 6 medium russet potatoes, washed
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) canola oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Heat the Air Fryer: Set the air fryer to 400°F (204°C).
- Prepare Potatoes: Pierce each potato 8-10 times with a fork to create vents.
- Season: Coat each potato evenly in canola oil and sprinkle with kosher salt.
- Cook: Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.
- Flip: Cook the potatoes for 25 minutes, then use tongs to flip them and continue cooking for another 25 minutes.
- Check Doneness: The potatoes are ready when they have browned exteriors and are fork-tender inside.
Enjoy your Air Fryer Baked Potatoes as a simple yet satisfying side dish that complements any meal, especially when you need your oven for cooking other dishes.
