Imagine sinking your fork into a potato with a perfectly crisp, golden-brown exterior and a fluffy, cloud-like interior that melts in your mouth. No more waiting hours for a traditional oven-baked potato or dealing with uneven cooking! These Air Fryer Baked Potatoes are about to revolutionize your side dish game, delivering restaurant-quality results with minimal effort and maximum flavor in less than an hour.
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 medium russet potatoes
- Olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Butter for serving (optional)
- Sour cream for serving (optional)
- Chives for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash the russet potatoes under cool running water, scrubbing gently with a vegetable brush to remove any dirt or debris.
- Pat the potatoes completely dry using clean paper towels to ensure crispy skin.
- Using a fork, pierce each potato 4-5 times around its surface to allow steam to escape during cooking.
- Lightly coat each potato with olive oil, ensuring even coverage by rolling the potatoes and using your hands to spread the oil.
- Generously season the oiled potatoes with salt, rotating to cover the entire surface.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Place the prepared potatoes in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching each other for proper air circulation.
- Cook the potatoes for 35-40 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking and crispy skin.
- Check doneness by inserting a fork or knife into the potato - it should slide in smoothly with no resistance.
- Once cooked, carefully remove potatoes from the air fryer using tongs.
- Let the potatoes rest for 2-3 minutes to allow internal temperature to stabilize.
- Split potatoes open, fluff the interior with a fork, and top with optional butter, sour cream, and chopped chives.
Tips
- Choose the Right Potato: Medium-sized russet potatoes work best for even cooking and ideal texture.
- Moisture is the Enemy of Crispiness: Always thoroughly dry your potatoes after washing to ensure a crisp skin.
- Don't Skip the Oil: A light coating of olive oil helps create that irresistible golden-brown exterior and helps seasonings stick.
- Give Them Space: Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to allow proper air circulation and even cooking.
- Flip for Uniform Crispness: Turning the potatoes halfway through cooking ensures an evenly crispy skin all around.
- Test for Doneness: A fork should easily slide into the potato with no resistance when fully cooked.
- Let Them Rest: Allowing the potatoes to sit for a few minutes after cooking helps the interior settle and become extra fluffy.
- Get Creative with Toppings: While butter, sour cream, and chives are classic, don't be afraid to experiment with bacon bits, cheese, or herbs!
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 230kcal
Carbohydrates: 37g
Protein: 5g
Fat: 6g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Cholesterol: 5mg
