I finally have a great use for my air fryer — baking a potato. I happen to love baked potatoes — they make an easy meal for just one person when everyone else is out of town. However, baking a potato proprely is not as easy as it seems. A great baked potato should have a salty, flavorful yet chewable outer skin and a moist, steamy inside. But, why heat up the oven and entire kitchen to bake just one or two potatoes? After many tries, I finally have a recipe for one “perfect” baked potato in my air fryer. And, I’m loading my baked potato up with vegetables and cheese — for a healthy meal!
Potatoes often get a bad rap. Yes, they are high in carbohydrates. However, they also contain some nutrients, especially fiber — if you eat the skin. Russet potatoes also supply B-complex vitamins, Vitamin C and potassium. And really, it is all the toppings — butter, sour cream and bacon — that add the calories. So, substitute in some healthy toppings!
Air Fryer
Using an air fryer to bake a potato has a few advantages. First, you don’t heat up the entire kitchen with a large oven. Second, is the most important feature of an air fryer, in my opinion. The heat and fan of my air fryer cuts off when the timer goes off. Hey, it is impossible (well almost) burn and overcook the potato while I’m busy doing other things..
There are many models and types of air fryers; and they can cook quite differently. My recipe is adjusted for this Chefman air fryer; you may need to adjust the cooking time if your air fryer model is different. Two potatoes are the max that will fit in the basket of my small air fryer — dinner for two!
Here are the ingredients for my recipe –canola oil, sea salt (either fine or course grain) and one or two potatoes. Of course, the type of potato makes all the difference in the world in terms of flavor, texture and how the potato cooks. I only use russet potatoes and always shop at the same grocery store where I know the quality of the potatoes. I purchase potatoes which weigh about 12 ounces (weight them in the store). And, I try hard to find potatoes without blemishes. Yes, I have this process down to a science!
Here are the steps in baking the “perfect” potato.
- Scrub the skin of the potato with a vegetable brush and pat the potato dry.
- Pierce the skin of the potato with a small knife in about one inch intervals to let the steam excape while the potato bakes. (This is important — don’t skip this step.)
- Rub the skin of each potato with canola oil.
- Sprinkle sea salt generously all over the potato.
- Place the potato(s) in the air fryer basket. Bake one potato for 40 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 45 – 50 minutes for two potatoes. And there is no need to turn the potato over half way during the cooking time. Just leave alone! When done, the potato should pierce easily with a knife. If not, cook 5 minutes longer.
That’s it! We have a flavorful baked potato — and, yes, I eat the skin.
The toppings added to the baked potato can add to the nutritional value of the meal. So, I loaded on steamed broccoli, green onions, cheese sauce and one dollop of sour cream. Spinkling on shredded cheese (rather than cheese sauce) works well, too.
Years ago, baked potato bars in restaurants were all the rage. Perhaps they still exist. I have my own potato bar at home. And I have a practical use for my air fryer! Gotta love this easy supper made in my air fryer! Enjoy!
Easy Air Fryer: Baked Potatoes
Ingredients:
- one to two (12 ounce) russet potatoes
- about 1 Tbsp canola oil or other vegetable oil
- sea salt (either fine or course)
- potato toppings of choice, including:
- cheese sauce or grated cheddar cheese
- pickled jalapeno peppers
- steamed chopped broccoli
- avocado, chopped
- green onions, sliced
- sour cream
- chili
Method and Steps:
- Scrub the skin of the potato with a vegetable brush and pat the potato dry.
- Pierce the skin of the potato with a small knife at one inch intervals to let the steam excape while the potato bakes. (This is important — don’t skip this step.)
- Rub the skin of each potato with canola oil.
- Generously sprinkle sea salt all over the potato.
- Place the potato(s) in the air fryer basket. Bake one potato for 40 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 45 minutes for two potatoes. (There is no need to turn the potato over half way during the cooking time. Just leave alone!) When done, the potato should easily pierce with a knife. If not, cook several additional minutes.
This looks great. I love baked potatoes.
Thank you! And thanks for visiting my blog! Have a great Sunday.
What a great use for the air fryer! When I make baked potatoes, I use the oven and heat up the whole kitchen for an hour, so this is smart!
Thanks!
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This looks kick***! i had an airfryer awhile ago, you made me want to invest in buying a new one just to try this. Thank you, totally forgot how cool those things are. Never thought of using it to make a baked potato!
Thanks, these little appliances are good for a couple of things — baked potatoes, so far, is my star recipe. Thanks for visiting my blog!
Thank you again for sharing that recipe, it was not something I had ever thought of doing… How different is it when prepared this way?
The potato is same as when prepared in a regular oven or air fryer. So, I’d use the same process — scrub potato, dry it, pierce skin, oil and salt skin and bake. It is just simpler to use an air fryer, and since I always to use the same size baked potato (12 oz), it takes the guesswork out of baking it. The air fryer turns off automatoically, the oven doesn’t — the best feature of my little air fryer. Plus, I don’t heat up the oven for one potato and I don’t have to bend over to a hot oven. I have some friends who love their air fryer and others who hate them — I’m sort of in the middle. Some things work well in an air fryer — others not at all. It is better if you are only cooking for one or two people, in my experience. I’ve posted a couple of other air fryer recipes which have worked well for me my on my blog. Check them out.
I will! I am going to end up investing in buying one, I usually only cook for me, or eat with family/friends. This sounds like a good option for me, being someone who makes small portions.
Good luck!
Thank you, hope you are enjoying your day.