Air Fryer Baked Potato (Easy Video Recipe)

Name: Air Fryer Baked Potato
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 31 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Russet potato; 1/8 teaspoon canola oil; Kosher salt

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An air fryer baked potato is an easy way to cook potatoes so they are perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Cooking potatoes in the air fryer also require just a tiny dash of oil so don’t let that scare you off. In this post, we will go over the simple steps to make the perfect air fryer baked potato, as well as some tasty toppings and variations to try. Whether you’re a potato lover or just looking for a quick and easy side dish, you won’t be disappointed!

Why I Love an Air Fryer Baked Potato

Now that my kids are older and do most of the cooking around here, the air fryer is their favorite cooking appliance so it has also become my favorite! An air fryer requires little to no cooking skills to operate and the food always turns out great. And simply, an air fryer isn’t as intimidating as using a gas range or hot oven.

I’ve been working on creating healthy air fryer recipes using real food so my kids don’t always rely on tossing a corn dog or other frozen food. They really love a baked potato topped with cheese and broccoli as an easy dinner, so it was time I created the perfect, crispy air fryer baked potato for them.

Air Fryer Baked Potato Ingredients and Tools

Russet potato, washed and dried
Canola oil
Kosher salt
Air fryer

air fryer baked potato on a cutting board

How to Make an Air Fryer Baked Potato

All you need are three simple ingredients and your favorite air fryer!

Time needed: 30 minutes.

How to Make an Air Fryer Baked Potato

Wash and dry the potato
It is important to remove any dirt from the potato and to thoroughly dry it before moving on to the next step so the oil will stick to the surface. Do not poke holes into the skin of the potato.
Oil the skin of the clean potato
A very small amount of canola oil goes a long way and is necessary for that crispy skin at the end.
Salt the skin of the oiled potato
Use kosher salt and generously sprinkle it over the surface of the potato.
Cook the potato in the air fryer
Flip the potato after the first 20 minutes of frying. The amount of time will vary from 30-40 minutes depending on the size of the potato and the power level of your air fryer, since they range from 1300 watts to 1700 watts.
Pierce the skin of the finished potato
Use a fork to pierce the skin on the top of the potato as soon as it finishes cooking. This allows some of the steam to escape. If you skip this important step, the skin will get soft instead of crispy.
Serve immediately
The skin will be the crispiest right after it is finished. Serve with butter, salt, and pepper. You can also add sour cream, green onions, cheese, and bacon.

2 russets inside a basket of an air fryer

Recipe FAQs

How long to cook baked potatoes in the air fryer?

The answer to this question is dependent on two factors. First, the power level of your air fryer. This recipe was written using a standard 1500-watt machine. If you have a 1300-watt, you will need to add more time, or a 1700-watt machine will require less time.

Second, the size of your potatoes determines how long the total cooking time will take. A small potato will take 20-25 minutes, while a medium potato will be done in 30-35. A large potato will take 40-45 minutes.

Is it faster to bake a potato in the oven or air fryer?

Definitely yes! While the bake time in an air fryer is only shorter by 5-10 minutes, you save another 10-15 minutes by not having to preheat the air fryer like you would the oven. So, the total time savings for an air fryer baked potato is 15-25 minutes. Plus, using an air fryer is much more energy efficient than using your oven.

Do I have to use oil on an air fryer baked potato?

Yes, you can omit it but the skin will not get crispy and the kosher salt will not stick to the surface. If you are worried about the added calories and fat from the oil, let those go. This air fryer baked potato only uses a few drops of oil.

Don’t I need to poke the potato skin before air frying?

Nope! Do not poke your potato before baking it in the air fryer (or the oven for that matter!) You only do that if you are cooking a whole potato in the microwave. Leaving the skin intact while it bakes results in the fluffiest interior and allows the skin to get super crispy as it bakes.

Now, to keep the skin crispy, as soon as the potato comes out of the air fryer, be sure DO pierce the top of the potato with a fork a few times to allow the steam to escape. This stops the cooking of the inside of the potato so it doesn’t dry out and keeps the skin crispy. It is the key to the perfect air fryer baked potato so don’t skip it!

How to know when the baked potato is fully cooked

Use a towel or oven mitt to gently squeeze the side of the potato. You will know when it is fully cooked if you can push in on the sides and feel that the flesh inside is soft.

Which Air Fryer Do You Recommend?

Obviously, an abundance of air fryers are flooding the market. So, how do you know which one is right for your family? First, determine the size of the air fryer you want. That one feature is the main difference from one option to the next. For our family, a higher volume air fryer is the most important so I don’t have to make multiple batches of food. And be sure that volume includes a lot of horizontal flat surfaces in the basket.

Secondly, look at the temperature range and power level of any air fryer that is on your shortlist. They all get hot but not all of them have a lower temperature range. Only get one that goes as low as 250 so you can make all types of recipes, like these Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs. As far as the power level, I’ve found 1500-watt to be perfect and what most recipes are written for.

Try out the COSORI 5 qt air fryer. I own two of them and they have never let me down! Yes, two of them 🙂

Can I make more than one air fryer baked potato at a time?

Yes, you can easily cook more than one potato at a time. Just be sure you leave enough space between the potatoes inside the air fryer basket so the hot air can easily move around each potato.

How Do I Know The Power Level Of My Air Fryer?

Somewhere on your air fryer is a sticker like the one pictured above. Look on the bottom or inside of your machine to find yours. Once you find the sticker, look at all the numbers until you find the one followed by a capital “W.” That number is how many watts of power your air fryer has. The usual levels are 1300, 1500, and 1700. This recipe, and most air fryer recipes, is for 1500-watt units. If yours is 1300, you will need to add a few more minutes to most recipes. If yours is 1700, you will need to use less than what is written.

Looking For More Great Air Fryer Recipes?

If this baked potato was just what you were craving, be sure to check out these other simple air fryer recipes. Just click on the picture to jump over to the recipe!

air fryer hard boiled eggs — Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs