Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

Did you know that you can make the best baked potatoes in the air fryer? Easy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes are perfectly fluffy and tender on the inside with a crispy skin on the outside. Dress them up with toppings or keep it simple with butter and salt & pepper.

I’ve been using my air fryer more & more. I’ve shared air fryer egg rolls and air fryer sticky chicken thighs. And now…potatoes.

I’m a BIG fan of baked potatoes. If I have fast food, it’s usually a bacon and cheddar potato from Wendy’s.

Remember when Arby’s had loaded baked potatoes? I think they discontinued them while I was pregnant & I nearly cried.

I rarely made them at home because it’s a bit time consuming in the oven and my old microwave used to short out after 5 minutes. I have a new one now, but it’s still ingrained in my head that 5 minutes is the max lol

Now that I make them in the air fryer, my baked potato world has opened back up! I will never attempt to make them in the microwave or even the oven, ever again.

Making them in the air fryer gives you a crispy, salty skin with a fluffy and tender inside that is just waiting for toppings.

Equipment you’ll need

• Air Fryer – I have had this one for years now & I still love it.
• Tongs – I use my tongs for everything but they are great for picking up hot potatoes.
• Olive Oil Mister – For spraying the potatoes down.

Ingredients you’ll need

• Potatoes – I use Russets.
• Olive Oil – Use a high quality extra virgin olive oil for the best taste.
• Kosher Salt – Kosher salt has larger flakes so it’s easier to work with & less additives.

How to air fry a baked potato

1. STEP ONE: Preheat your air fryer at 375° F while you’re prepping the potatoes.
2. STEP TWO: Scrub each potato & thoroughly dry. Poke a couple holes in each potato with a fork and then rub with olive oil and sprinkle with the salt.
3. STEP THREE: Place the potatoes into the air fryer, making sure they’re not touching, and cook for 35 minutes or until fork tender.
4. STEP FOUR: Use tongs to transfer the hot potatoes from the air fryer to a plate. Carefully slice each open with a knife and load with toppings – butter, sour cream, black pepper, crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese, chives…

Can you put aluminum foil in the air fryer?

You can, if it’s a small piece, but I’m not sure why you would want to. Wrapping potatoes in foil doesn’t make them cook faster.

If you want to line your air fryer with something for easier clean up, I highly recommend these liners.

Do I need to poke holes in the potatoes?

Yes, you should. It allows steam to escape.

How many can I cook at once?

How many potatoes you can fit in your basket will depend on the size of your air fryer. You want to make sure they have enough space and aren’t over crowded so the air can properly circulate.

For a standard size air fryer (around 5 quart), I would recommend 3-4 at once.

How long do I need to cook them?

Potatoes vary greatly in size so cooking times will need to be adjusted, but it will generally take between 30-40 minutes to cook in the air fryer at 375 degrees.

Can I freeze a baked potato?

You can freeze a baked potato. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap then freeze. Once frozen, move to a freezer bag and they will keep up to a year.

You can’t freeze a raw potato, but you can freeze a baked one, so this is a great way to use up any that will otherwise get wasted.

Which type of potato should I use?

I believe Russets (sometimes called Idaho potatoes) make the best baked potatoes for a few reasons.

First, they’re oblong so they’re the perfect size & shape for loading up.

Second, they have a thick skin which gets perfectly crisp.

Third, they have a high starch content so they bake up light and fluffy on the inside.

You can also air fry red or yellow potatoes, but because they’re smaller, you’ll have to adjust cooking time.

Need more air fryer recipes? Try these:

Air Fryer Edamame

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Sandwich (Chick-Fil-A Copycat)

Need more ways to cook potatoes? Try these:

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Roasted Potatoes

Crash Hot Potatoes

Easy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

Melissa Williams | Persnickety Plates

Easy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes are perfectly fluffy and tender on the inside with a crispy skin on the outside. Dress them up with toppings or keep it simple with butter and salt & pepper.

4.81 from 36 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4 potatoes

Calories 204 kcal

Equipment

• air fryer

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 4 medium russet potatoes scrubbed and dried
• 4 Teaspoons olive oil
• 1 Teaspoon kosher sea salt plus more for serving if desired

Instructions

 

• Preheat air fryer to 375°F for about 10 minutes.
• Wash, dry and prick each potato with a fork.
• Drizzle each potato with oil and sprinkle with salt.
• Place 2 to 4 potatoes in your air fryer, depending on size.
• Set air fryer to cook at 375°F for 35 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender.
• Use tongs to remove potatoes from the air fryer basket then carefully cut a slit in the top of each one.
• Add desired toppings & enjoy!

Notes

Use 2-4 potatoes in your basket depending on potato size – you want room around each potato so the air can properly circulate. 

Optional toppings > butter, crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, chives, sour cream, freshly cracked black pepper

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days or freeze baked potatoes, individually wrapped in plastic wrap, in the freezer for up to a year. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 204kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 5gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 592mgPotassium: 888mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 2mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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