There's nothing quite like the crispy exterior and fluffy interior of an air fryer jacket potato! Use your favourite kitchen gadget to make perfect baked potatoes, saving time and leaving the oven turned off.
The perfect air fryer jacket potato is so simple to make! Here, you'll learn everything you need to craft the perfect baked spud with that mouthwatering, crispy skin and fluffy centre we crave. And while the method isn't complicated, this recipe will have you mastering the art of getting that skin irresistibly crispy and the inside perfectly fluffy - all without the hassle of preheating your oven.
Air-fried baked potatoes are super simple to whip up. Whether you're gearing up for a weeknight dinner, need a no-fuss side dish, or plan a laid-back weekend feast, these are a game-changer. They're simple and delicious, and honestly, once you try making them this way, there's no going back to oven cooking.
What You Need To Make This Recipe
Large baking potatoes — chosen for their fluffy texture and thick skin, large baking potatoes are ideal for baking. They hold their shape well and can carry a variety of toppings.
Cooking spray oil — a must-have for ensuring your potato skin gets crispy, not dry and leathery.
Salt — the best natural flavour enhancer. The amount of salt can be adjusted according to taste.
How to Make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
1. Begin by thoroughly washing the potatoes under cool water and allow them to air dry completely to ensure their skins aren't damp. Using a sharp knife, carefully make several pricks all over the potatoes.
2. Warm up your air fryer to a cosy 200°C/400°F. Spray the potatoes with oil.
3. Add plenty of salt to ensure they're well-seasoned, and rub the potatoes to even coat with salt and oil.
4. Arrange the potatoes in your air fryer basket without overcrowding. Allow the potatoes to cook for about 40 to 45 minutes or until they feel tender to the touch and their skins become slightly wrinkled and crisp. If you notice the tops browning too quickly, give them a flip at the halfway mark, around 25 minutes in. Once done, split open your delicious baked potatoes and top them off with your favourite garnishes.
Best Potato For Making Jacket Potatoes
When nailing the perfect jacket potato, you can't go wrong with a King Edward or Maris Piper. But the easiest option is simply Baking Potatoes. These potatoes are readily available in supermarkets and are beloved for their fluffy interiors and crispy skins when baked. It's ideal for loading up with your favourite fillings!
Is It Better To Bake Potatoes In An Air Fryer Or The Oven?
Using an air fryer to bake potatoes is quite the game-changer — it cooks them faster. It achieves that perfectly crispy skin paired with a fluffy interior, all without the drawback of heating your entire kitchen as a conventional oven does. This incredibly efficient method makes it a superb timesaver for preparing weeknight dinners with minimal clean up.
Should You Put Them On The Bake Or Air Fryer Setting?
You should use the Air Fryer setting. This feature is ingeniously designed to circulate hot air uniformly around your potatoes, ensuring you achieve that irresistibly crispy skin and perfectly cooked interior every single time. Not only does it consistently deliver superior results, but it's also significantly easier and faster than traditional methods.
Do I Need To Prick My Potatoes Before Air Frying?
Yes, you definitely need to. Pricking your potatoes before tossing them into the air fryer is crucial. It lets steam escape during cooking, so you won't end up with an unexpected potato explosion in your kitchen. Just a few quick jabs with a knife or fork should do the trick!
How Do You Know When A Baked Potato Is Cooked Through?
A baked potato is all set when it feels soft inside if you gently squeeze it with an oven mitt or when a fork slides into the flesh with little resistance. Another good trick is checking the internal temperature—aim for around 75°C if you're into using a food thermometer.
What To Do With Leftover Baked Potatoes?
Leftover baked potatoes are incredibly versatile and can be transformed into various delicious dishes. You can chop them into small pieces and toss them into a savoury breakfast hash or use them to make a potato salad for the perfect side dish. Or, use them to make twice-baked potatoes!
Store leftover jacket spuds refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Or, freeze them by wrapping in tin foil and placing them in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
- Choose the Right Size. Select potatoes that are approximately the same size to ensure they cook evenly throughout.
- Adjust Cooking Time. If you have large potatoes, you might need to add 10 to 20 minutes to the cooking time to ensure they are done properly.
- Oil Evenly. Evenly coat your potatoes with oil, ensuring a nice, even layer for that perfect outer crunch. You can spray them, brush on oil, or drizzle and rub them all over with your hands.
- Turn Halfway Through. Flipping your potatoes halfway through the cooking time ensures an even crispness and prevents one side from getting too brown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Microwaving your potato before air frying isn't necessary. Air frying does a stellar job of cooking the potato evenly and getting that skin just right - crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Nope, no foil is needed. Wrapping potatoes in foil when you're air-frying is actually counterproductive. The whole point of using an air fryer is to get that crispy skin by blowing hot air around the potato. If you wrap it in foil, you'll basically steam it inside the wrap and miss out on the crunch.
The world of baked potato toppings is vast, but nothing beats the classics. You can't go wrong with a generous dollop of butter melting into the fluffy centre and a scoop of soured cream. Or, try a hearty spoonful of warm baked beans. A sprinkle of shredded cheese, which will get all melty and gooey from the heat of the potato, and some fresh herbs like chopped chives or green onions are the perfect finishing touch.
If you've tried this Air Fryer Jacket Potato recipe, then don't forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Air Fryer Jacket Potato Recipe
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 4 large baking potatoes (about 200 grams each)
- Cooking spray oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Scrub the potatoes well with cool water, then air dry until the skins are not wet.
- Preheat your air fryer to 200°C/400°F.
- Prick the potatoes all over with a sharp knife, then spray with oil and rub them to coat them evenly. Sprinkle generously all over with salt, then place them in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 40 to 45 minutes, or until they are very tender and the skins are slightly wrinkled and crisp. Flip the potatoes using tongs after 25 minutes if they are starting to brown quickly on the top. Cut the potatoes open and serve with your favourite toppings.
Notes
- Choose the Right Size. Select potatoes that are approximately the same size to ensure they cook evenly throughout.
- Adjust Cooking Time. If you have large potatoes, you might need to add 10 to 20 minutes to the cooking time to ensure they are done properly.
- Oil Evenly. Evenly coat your potatoes with oil, ensuring a nice, even layer for that perfect outer crunch. You can spray them, brush on oil, or drizzle and rub them all over with your hands.
- Turn Halfway Through. Flipping your potatoes halfway through the cooking time ensures an even crispness and prevents one side from getting too brown.
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