Air Fryer Baked Potatoes have a crisp, salty skin with a tender, fluffy, and perfectly cooked center – it’s the quickest and easiest cooking method for a perfect baked potato.
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Helpful Reader Review
“By far the BEST baked potatoes ever. Thank you! I can hardly wait to get them out of the air fryer and slather them with sour cream and chives. Yum Yum!” – Ryan ★★★★★
Air Fryer Baked Potato Recipe
My love of potatoes runs deep. First, from my heritage because potatoes are the backbone of Ukrainian cuisine, and second, I live in Idaho – which is famous for potatoes. I have a giant collection of potato recipes to prove it!
My family loves baked potatoes paired with Pan-Seared Steak or Meatloaf. For a bigger crowd, I love making a baked potato bar with all the fixings, but baked potatoes can take a while to cook in the oven. I started cooking them in the air fryer, and it’s so much faster, with perfect results every time!
I’ve converted a lot of our favorite recipes to the air fryer as life gets busier. The air fryer can cut your cooking time in half and provide super crispy results like our Air Fryer Chicken Wings and Air Fryer Bacon. You also don’t have to wait for the air fryer to preheat like you would with an oven.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
This easy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes recipe uses only 3 basic ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
- Potatoes – We recommend using Russet potatoes, also known as Idaho potatoes. You’ll want to make sure all your potatoes are the same size for even cooking, and be sure to clean the potato under running water before cooking it because those potato skins are delicious!
- Oil – The oil is what gives the skin its crispiness, and so we use olive oil for this recipe. You can easily use cooking spray instead of oil.
- Salt – We like to add fine sea salt to the potatoes for flavor, but you can use the salt you have on hand.
How to Make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
You’ll have moist-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside Air Fryer Baked Potatoes in just three simple steps! I love the tasty results every time!
- Prep – Clean the potatoes with a brush and water and then dry. Poke all over 4-5 times with a fork so steam can escape while cooking – this is important to ensure the potatoes don’t burst while air frying.
- Oil and salt – Rub the potatoes in oil and salt so that all sides of the potatoes are coated, and then place in the air fryer basket. Make sure you don’t overcrowd the air fryer – you want the air to circulate evenly around the potatoes.
- Air Fry – Cook in a Basket-style Air Fryer at 400˚F or a Toaster-style Air Fryer at 375°F (since it runs a little hotter) for about 35-45 minutes (flipping halfway). Cook until a knife easily pierces through the center. The timing will depend on the size and thickness of your potatoes – see the time chart below for reference.
Pro Tip: Ditch the foil
You may have heard to wrap potatoes in foil to cook–but there’s no need! Foil steams the potato flesh and keeps the skin from crisping.
Air Fryer Baked Potato Time Chart
Small potatoes will take less time, while larger and thicker potatoes will take longer. If your potatoes need a longer cooking time, just return the basket to the air fryer and cook another 3-5 minutes at a time. Here are some timing guidelines for the air fryer:
- 7 oz = 35 minutes
- 8 oz = 40 minutes
- 9 oz+ = 45-50 minutes
How Do You Know When a Baked Potato Is Done?
The cooking time of the baked potato will vary slightly depending on the size of the potato and your air fryer machine.
- Poke Test – Cook until you can easily pierce into the center of the potatoes with a knife without resistance.
- Feels Soft to the Squeeze – use an oven mitt to squeeze the potato – it should give slightly when squeezed.
- Internal Temperature – the potato should reach 205˚F to 210˚F on a thermometer.
Toppings for Baked Potatoes
When we’re serving potatoes as the main event, I love building a baked potato bar with all the fixings. The topping options are endless:
- Classic – Top with butter, sour cream and chives
- Bacon bits (Make your own Air Fryer Bacon)
- Shredded cheese – Mexican or cheddar
- Seasoning – Salt, pepper, everything bagel
- Salsa – Pico de Gallo or Homemade Salsa
- Jalapeño – sliced or diced
- Protein – Pulled Pork, Carnitas,
- Chili – Slow Cooker Chili or Turkey Chili
Helpful Reader Review
“I made this tonight adding shrimp as an extra topping…these were lovely. Very creamy on the inside, a hit with the family definitely a keeper” – Lucylu ★★★★★
How to Cut Open a Baked Potato
Baked potatoes are best served when they are hot and fresh and here’s the correct way to pop open a baked potato. Slice lengthwise across the top without going all the way to the edges and without going all the way through. Use your fingers to gently press on the ends of the potato to open it up.
Storing and Reheating
Baked Potatoes are great to make ahead since they keep well in the fridge and reheat nicely. Let them cool completely and then place them in a covered container.
- To Refrigerate: store covered for 3-5 days in the fridge
- Freezing: wrap each potato separately to avoid freezer burn, store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, and cook them right from frozen. The texture may be less fluffy after freezing.
- To Reheat: cook potatoes in the air fryer at 400 until heated or use a microwave
What to Do with Leftover Baked Potatoes?
I have so many genius ways to use leftover baked potatoes, and some of them might surprise you, and you’ll hope for leftovers after seeing this list. It’s brilliant for meal prep!
- Gnocchi
- Twice Baked Potatoes
- Smashed Potato Salad
- Pierogi
- Creamy Potato Salad
- Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
- Potato Soup
Air fryer baked potatoes are so satisfying, especially when they are loaded up with all the fixings. The air fryer makes this recipe simple to make and faster than heating up the oven. And I love the crispiness of the skin! I’d love to hear how you like cooking potatoes in the air fryer and about your favorite toppings in the comments.
Air Fryer Baked Potato Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 medium russet potatoes, 7-9 oz*
- ½ tsp sea salt, or to taste
- 1 Tbsp olive oil, or use a cooking spray
Instructions
- Scrub potatoes under running water then thoroughly dry with a towel.
- Poke the potato all over with a fork, 4-5 times, rub with oil and sprinkle all over with salt. Add the potatoes to the air fryer basket.
- Cook the potatoes in a Basket-style air fryer at 400°F or Toaster-Style Air Fryer at 375°F for 35-45 minutes, flipping halfway. Cook time will depend on the size of your potatoes. Air Fry until easily pierced with a knife. Use tongs to transfer potatoes to a plate.
Notes
- 7 oz = 35 minutes
- 8 oz = 40 minutes
- 9 oz+ = 45-50 minutes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Jalapeno Poppers (Baked or Air Fried)
- Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Salmon
I have an Insta Vortex Plus 6-1 airfryer. Same maker as the Instant Pot Pressurer cooker (love them both (xxxoooxxx). Cooking directions are the same as yours. Potatoes turn out great everytime.
Wonderful to hear, Laura! Thanks for sharing.
Worked as described!
Definitely my new go to option for “baked potatoes” moving forward. Potato skin is much more palatable using this method. Fluffy inside~ what more could you want?
Temps reached 80F today, so cooking brisket in the slow cooker and potatoes in the air fryer kept me from overheating in the kitchen 😉
Thank you!
Thank you for the great feedback, Tracy. Appreciate it!
Mine are in the bella pro air fryer right now! Planning to spoon Sweet potato black bean chilli over them when they are done. Cant wait to try this.
I hope you love them!
So easy and so very good! I will never bake mine in the oven again! Thank you for sharing this! ❤
So welcome, Diane. Happy to know that you enjoyed this recipe!
Unfortunately mine weren’t even close to being done in the time noted even with extra 15 min 😭
Hi AK! Did you use a smaller countertop air fryer? If you used the air fry setting on your oven, they would take longer. The size of your potatoes would also play a role in this. Be sure to thoroughly dry with them a towel to remove any excess moisture and this will help.
I heat up a can of Hormel turkey chili without beans and spoon that over my baked potato after dotting the potato with a little butter. It is quick and very filling.
Thank you for sharing, Deborah! 🙂
Chili on a baked potato is a staple around here. But now try it on a sweet potato. Delish
I love baked potatoes! My fav toppings are lots of butter, bacon, broccoli, and lots of cheese!
Amazing! 🙂
I am making these right now. I really hope they come out good. I have the same air fryer you have so, makes it easier. Will let you know hot they turn out!
Hi Lawrence! That would be great, thank you. You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook! #natashaskitchen
Think I overcooked mine slightly, but that skin was CRISPY! So good
I have made this recipe many times now since I had an air fryer. It’s now my favorite way and the best to make baked potatoes, saving time,energy and easy cleanup. Thanks for the recipe!😊❤
You’re most welcome! Good to know that this now your go-to recipe!
Just tried them last night. Usually I throw the skin out cause I just don’t like the taste but with the crispiness and the salt it was really good. Found my favourite was to make baked potatoes.
Thanks for sharing, Sarah. Good to know that you liked it!
Brings a whole new meaning to loaded baked potato. Super easy and truly a superior cooking method for them. So light and fluffy, nothing like boiled or nuked and much better than a still oven. It sucked up butter, cheese’s, sour cream, etc. like a sponge.
Sounds delicious! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Bill.
Absolutely delicious and simple! I ate everything including the skin. I only made one potato, but it was still close to the recommended time.
Hi Carlos! Thank you for sharing that with us. So glad you enjoyed this recipe.
I love simple recipes and would love to know what your is favorite air fryer cook book? Something with simple recipes for plain home cooking that is tasty, not too involved, flavorful, spicy……get it?
Hi Sharon, I don’t have a favorite air fryer cookbook but I have a list of Air Fryer recipes here that you can try.
I love a fully loaded baked potato with a scoop of Pulled Pork! Yummy!
So good!!!
No need to poke potatoes. Have used both red skin and sweet potatoes. Washed and totally dry before coating with avacado oil. Air fried for 45 minutes. Awesome!
Cottage cheese with a little bit of mayonnaise and garlic powder mixed in. Great on baked Potatoes!
Sound delicious! Thank you for sharing with us.
Question: if I use the air Grier top on my Instant pot, does that change the timing? Need to be in a basket or can they go directly in the Instant pot bowl?
Love your approach to cooking. Just found you!
I’m so happy you discovered our blog. Welcome, Cindy! 🙂 I haven’t tried this recipe with an Instant pot air fryer to advise on the outcome. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Thank you for your instructions on doing potato in the Air Fryer.
You say the fryer doesn’t need to preheat. I have an oven style air fryer. Once it’s turned on, the screen shows preheat. The time doesn’t start until it’s finished preheating. Do I just adjust the time down a couple of minutes to allow for the preheating?
Hi Becky, you’ll have to experiment with it. I use a basket/counter-top air fryer (not my oven setting for air frying), which makes a difference. You may need additional time if using your oven.
I make baked potatoes in my (Cuisinart) oven air fryer. I use less time.. approx. 30-33 min for md. size potatoes. perfect every time.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Joyce!
It only goes into preheat mode if you don’t have it on air fry. When you adjusted the knob you stopped short of air fry; it does not preheat on air fry.
I used to use vegetable shortening to coat my potatoes. My mother in law taught me that. And I sprinkle them with salt. The skins are nice and crispy. I’m trying the olive oil right now. I have the air fryer with the racks. I have it at 390. My potatoes are medium to large sized. Hope they turn out. Haven’t done baked potatoes for awhile. I used to do them in the microwave but the bottom skin would get really hard.
I hope you love them, Sunny! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!
Awesome idea. The baked potatoes came out perfect. One ideas my mom use to do is wrap the potatoes in bacon.
That’s great, Eric! So glad you enjoyed this recipe.