Baking Potato In An Air Fryer Vs Baking Potato In The Oven: Which Is Better
Long before air fryers became popular demand, ovens were literally used for baking all kinds of food. However, ovens have its shortfalls, and now fall below the pecking order when it comes to baking or roasting food.
Baking potato in an air fryer makes it crispier, thoroughly baked, and flavorful. On the other hand, baking in the oven makes the potato unattractive, uneven, and somewhat half-baked. A perfectly baked potato is attractive and light, unlike ovens that leave the inside with an unattractive finish.
Using an air fryer saves time, and makes a whole lot of cooking pretty much more comfortable. Air fryers speed up cooking time by about 20 minutes, which is 2 – 3x faster than ovens. While some ovens are swift in cooking, getting that crispy and delicious taste is nearly impossible, and not the same as using an air fryer.
The best of it all is using an air fryer results in healthier cooking. Less oil is used, which results in less fat and calories.
Tips To Get Better Results From Your Air Frye
If you arent happy with the results of your air fryer, here are some tips to keep it running smoothly. After youve cut them or soaked them in water, allow them to soak for 10 to 20 minutes. To cook the potatoes first, boil them in a pot for 3 minutes, then airfry them in a pot for another 3 minutes.
Air Fryer Baked Potato Quick Method
Air fried baked potatoes still take a while to cook through if you just use the air fryer.
If you are really short on time you can speed things up by starting the cooking process in the microwave, followed by a blast in the air fryer to crisp the potato up:
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Can You Cook Raw Potatoes In The Air Fryer
Can you cook raw potatoes in the air fryer?
The answer is yes, you can cook raw potatoes in the air fryer. However, there are a few things you need to know before you do.
First, you need to make sure that your potatoes are washed and dried thoroughly. Then, cut them into small, evenly-sized pieces.
Next, preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the potatoes to the air fryer, and cook them for 10-12 minutes, or until they are cooked through.
Thats all there is to it! Cooked potatoes make a great side dish for almost any meal.
First I Used A Quick Microwave Method To Cook My Potato
Using the microwave took almost zero effort.
The only downside was having to poke the uncooked potato with a fork, which wasnt super easy and slowed me down a bit.
I also didnt like worrying whether or not I pricked it enough times to ensure it wouldnt pop in the microwave.
After poking the potato about 10 times, I put it in the microwave on high for five minutes, turned it over, and cooked it for another five minutes.
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Tips For Making Baked Potatoes In The Air Fryer
- Be sure and get your oil over all of the potato skins. It helps them to not stick but also gets the skin nice and crispy.
- Do not overcrowd your air fryer. You want to be sure they cook evenly and the skin of each gets crispy.
- You want to use an oil with a high smoking point, such as avocado, canola, corn, safflower or sunflower oil.
- Bacon Bitsoptional topping
Which Air Fryer Is Best
We have 2 air fryers so we can thoroughly test air fryer recipes, but it depends on your needs. Not all air fryers are created equal so get to know your air fryer, peek in on your food to check progress, and adjust recipe timings as needed.
- Basket Style Air Fryer we have the 5.8 Qt Cosori Air Fryer which takes up slightly less counter space, works well for our family of 4, and has the easiest cleanup because the air fryer basket and liner are dishwasher-safe.
- Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer takes up a little more space, but is great for bigger families and you can cook most recipes in one batch. Depending on your particular model, it can cook faster. I cooked the bacon in the toaster oven style for 8 minutes, while it took 9 minutes in the basket style.
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How To Make Twice Baked Potatoes
Pro Tip: To prevent the potatoes from bursting on the first bake, you must poke holes or slice slits in each one in several places. This vents the potato and prevents internal pressure from building up.
Do This For Crispiest Skin:
If you want crispier skin, you can omit the aluminum foil from the potatoes when you place them in the air fryer basket.
Just make sure that the skin does not burn. When removing the foil, keep your face away and use tongs or an oven mitt to protect your hands as hot steam may escape from inside the foil packet.
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The Best Toppings For Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
We usually like to keep things simple around our house. All it takes is a little butter, sour cream and chives to make us happy. But, sometimes you want to go all out. Whether you are planning a baked potato bar, or just want a little something different, here are a few ideas that go beyond the traditional toppings:
Wash And Prep Your Potatoes
Start by scrubbing each potato with a brush or vegetable scrubber to get rid of any dirt that may be on the skin.
Once theyre clean, dry them off with a paper towel and then poke each potato with a fork several times all over its surface.
This will help steam escape as they cook and also prevent them from exploding while theyre in the air fryer!
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How Long For Two Baked Potatoes In Air Fryer
Be sure your air fryer is preheated and properly calibrated first. Then, at 400 degrees F, it takes about 40-50 minutes to thoroughly cook each baked potato in the air fryer.
This will, of course, vary somewhat depending on the size of your potatoes. Larger potatoes will need more time and vice versa.
Heres What Im Going To Teach You In This Post:
- Everything you need to make this simple and easy air fryer baked potato.
- Instructions on how to make a baked potato in the air fryer.
- Topping ideas for your familys next potato bar night.
With only a few simple ingredients and almost no prep time, this recipe is as easy as it gets. Preheat that air fryer and lets do this!
I made this recipe using the 5.8 QT Cosori Air Fryer. Its square basket makes it the perfect size for our family of 4.
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Nutritional Benefits Of Potatoes
Apart from being cooked in a healthier way, potatoes also offer many nutritional benefits on their own accord.
Potatoes are packed full of essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, potassium, iron, magnesium, and zinc all of which help keep your body healthy and functioning optimally.
They also contain dietary fiber which can help support digestion and improve gut health overall.
How To Know If A Baked Potato Is Ready
There are many ways to know if a baked potato is ready. Once its light and downy, then it’s clear that you should get ready to switch off your air fryer and munch your delicious meal.
Another way to determine if your baked potato is ready is the crispy texture on the outside. Most properly baked potatoes have a crispy, scenting texture, and a golden finish, instead of an uneven texture.
The most common and probably the most accurate way of knowing if a baked potato is ready is the internal temperature. Once it has hit 205 degrees Fahrenheit, the inside of the potato will look fluffy. At this point, you can remove it from the basket.
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How Long To Cook Bacon In The Air Fryer
The cook time for this recipe can vary depending on the doneness of your bacon, the thickness of the bacon, and the style of your air fryer. Also, we do not preheat the air fryer for bacon.
- Regular Cut Bacon for softer bacon, air fry at 350F for 7 minutes, and for crispy bacon, cook 8 to 9 minutes
- Thick-Cut Bacon for softer bacon, air fry at 350F for 9-10 minutes, and for crispy bacon, cook 10-12 minutes.
How Long Do You Cook Baked Potatoes In Air Fryer
Depending on the size of your potatoes will depend on the cooking time. My potatoes took 40 minutes, and they turned out perfect. If you have smaller potatoes you might only cook for 30-35 minutes. Or if larger you might go over the 40-minute mark. Just make sure they are cooked fully before slicing and serving.
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How To Make Baked Potatoes In Air Fryer
Ok, so the process of making baked potatoes in the air fryer could not be any easier. And the result is potato perfection every time.
So, even if you’ve never made baked potatoes before, they’ll turn out restaurant-quality.
Now get out the ingredients, and let’s get cooking!
Step 1: Prep
Before anything else, preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit .
The first thing you’ll want to do is clean the medium potatoes, dry them off, then prick them with a fork on every side. Oh, and this recipe calls for 3-4 potatoes, but you can make as many or as little as you want!
Next, put the potatoes in the air fryer basket. The number you can put in will depend on the size of your air fryer basket, just make sure potatoes are lying flat.
Then spray them with cooking spray – I used avocado oil, but if you don’t have avocado oil, anything will work – and sprinkle sea salt and pepper.
Oh, and if you’re wondering should baked potatoes be wrapped in foil, you don’t have to for this recipe! Leaving them uncovered is actually what makes the texture/skin so good.
Step 2: Cooking & Serving
Now that the potatoes are good to go, air fry them at 350°F for 25 minutes.
Then when the time is up, take the potatoes out and make sure they’re fork tender, then let them cool for a few minutes
Once they’re cooled, cut them lengthwise and open the baked potato in half. Either leave the inside how it is or break it up to make a puree.
How Long Do Baked Potatoes Take To Cook
While baking a potato in an air fryer is a very easy way to get a fresh and crispy baked potato, it is important to consider the baking time. How long do baked potatoes take to cook in an air fryer? A baked potato cooked for 25 minutes in an air fryer will be fully cooked and ready to serve. However, if a potato is cooked for 30 minutes in an air fryer, the potato will still be steaming when it is removed from the air fryer. A potato cooked for an hour in an air fryer will have cooled down and be very soft. For best results, its recommended that baked potatoes be cooked for less than 20 minutes in an air fryer.
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Baked Potato In The Oven:
This is the most common, classic way to bake a potato. The skin can be crispy, the inside of the potato will be perfectly cooked through, and it will make your kitchen smell lovely.
The only con is that this method takes the longest, and if its a warm weather time of the year, you may not want to crank your oven on for long periods.
Should I Wrap My Potato In Foil Before Air Frying
What is the best way to wrap a potato in foil before frying it? Because foil dries potatoes, it is not necessary to wrap them in it. If you are going to airfry potatoes, make sure they are completely covered. Apply a little olive oil to the skin and rub it into the salt.
Use Foil Or Parchment Paper For Easy Cleanup In Your Philips Airfryer.
If you want a simple cleanup option, use parchment paper or foil on your Philips Airfryer. Avoid eating acidic fruits like tomatoes or citrus fruits with foil because it may reduce airflow.
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Are Baked Potatoes Better In The Oven Or Air Fryer
Oven-baked potatoes typically require a longer cooking time than their air-fried counterpartsanywhere from 45 minutes to an hour for large potatoes.
However, baking potatoes in an oven gives you more control over the cooking process. You can adjust the temperature and use different racks to ensure that your potatoes bake evenly. Plus, ovens tend to produce crispier skin than air fryers do.
On the other hand, air-fried potatoes cook much fastermost recipes call for about 20 minutes of cooking timeand theyre simpler to prepare as well. All you have to do is pierce the skin of your potatoes with a fork several times and then toss them in the basket of your air fryer. From there, just set the temperature and timer and wait until theyre done!
Air-fried potatoes also tend to be lower in fat and calories than oven-baked varieties since they require less oil. So if youre looking for a healthier option, an air fryer might be best for you.
The Best Air Fryer Potatoes
If youve got an air fryer, but havent made baked potatoes in it yet, do it! They turn out so crispy on the outside, with a fluffy, buttery center. And unlike traditional oven baked potatoes, they cook quicker and you dont need to have your oven on for such a long time.
Similar to my air fryer baked sweet potatoes, this is a primarily hands-off recipe. Just wash and season the potatoes, pop them in the air fryer, and come back a short time later. While Im usually all about those baked potato toppings, I actually find that these are perfect just with a dab of butter.
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Serve Twice Baked Potatoes With
Stuffed potatoes are a super versatile side dish that pairs well with just about any meat or salad. Pair your stuffed potatoes with:
- ChickenAir Fryer Chicken Wings or Spatchcock Chicken are the perfect matches.
- Salad add freshness with Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad or Caesar Salad.
- Kid-Friendly If youre whipping up the potatoes for kids pair them with Baked Chicken Nuggets or Popcorn Chicken.
How Long Do The Potatoes Take In The Air Fryer
How long your baked potatoes take in the air fryer is mostly down to personal preference of how crisp you like them to be.
I think they are at a good level of crispness after 20 minutes, but if you like them really crispy I would leave them to cook for 25 minutes.
If you air fryer requires preheating then your potatoes are likely to crisp up slightly quicker than the time stated above. I have a Ninja 7-in-1 multicooker and I have never preheated mine.
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How To Reheat A Baked Potato In The Air Fryer
You can easily reheat a baked potatoes in the Air Fryer. Just follow these steps:
Ingredients To Make Baked Potatoes In The Air Fryer
- Russet Potatoes: Traditionally, baked potatoes are made with russet potatoes, and for a good reason. They are the perfect size for a big appetite, and they have that classic potato flavor we all know and love.
- Olive Oil: This is optional, but I like to brush my potatoes with olive oil before cooking them in the air fryer. It helps to get that nice crispy skin.
- Salt: Youll need some salt to season your potatoes. I like to use kosher salt, but you can use whatever kind of salt you have on hand.
- Toppings: This is where you can get creative! Some of my favorite toppings for baked potatoes are sour cream and chives.
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