If you’ve ever wondered how to make a baked potato in the air fryer, this is the easiest method.

The skin turns golden and crisp while the inside stays fluffy and tender, and there’s no waiting an hour for the oven. With just a little oil and salt, you’ll have the perfect side dish or base for your favorite toppings in about 45 minutes.

Here’s the short version: scrub and dry your potatoes, poke them a few times with a fork, rub them with a little olive oil and kosher salt, and air fry at 400°F for about 40 minutes for medium russets. They’re done when a fork slides into the center with no resistance.

To get it right, we need to cover the science (don’t worry, it’s easy!) to get the best air fryer baked potatoes possible.

The Science Behind Potatoes in the Air Fryer

Potatoes cook faster in an air fryer because it uses convection heat, which circulates hot air around the food, cooking it evenly and quickly. This method allows the heat to penetrate the potato more efficiently, reducing cooking time to about 40 minutes for a medium potato compared to an hour in a regular oven.

Air Fryer Baked Potato Time Chart

Potato Size	Weight (approx.)	Cook Time at 400°F (200°C)	Notes
Small	5–6 oz	35 minutes	Great for quick sides or kids’ portions
Medium	7–8 oz	40 minutes	Ideal size for most meals
Large	9–12 oz	50 minutes	Flip halfway for even cooking

Always test doneness with a fork. The potatoes should be tender all the way through. Add 5 minutes for extra crisp skin.

Don’t have an air fryer?

By the way, an air fryer is just a small convection oven. You don’t need to buy an air fryer if you have a convection setting on your oven. You can make “air fryer baked potatoes” with the convection setting on your regular oven or in a microwave (I explain both below).

Buying an air fryer is worth considering if your oven doesn’t have a convection setting. Air fryers also use less energy by heating a smaller space and maintaining a consistent temperature. This results in perfect, fluffy baked potatoes without heating your entire kitchen.

How to Make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

All you need for this recipe is some potatoes and your preferred toppings.

1. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the potatoes. Leave them whole for a traditional baked potato, or yes, you can chop them up.
2. Sprinkle salt and black pepper.
3. Air fry the potatoes at 400°F for 40 minutes, adjusting the time for smaller or larger potatoes. Your air fryer potatoes are done when you can easily insert a fork or butter knife into the middle with little resistance.

Favorite Topping Suggestions:

• Butter (I like grass-fed butter) with salt and pepper, a classic!
• A dollop of sour cream (or substitute plain Greek yogurt)
• Shredded cheese (cheddar cheese is a classic, but use what you love)
• Chives or thinly sliced green onions
• Bacon bits
• Salsa
• Guacamole
• Steamed or roasted broccoli
• Vegetarian Chili or Beef Chili
• Crumbled feta cheese
• Fresh chopped herbs (parsley, cilantro)
• Garlic butter or a sprinkle of garlic powder

How long does it take to bake a potato in an air fryer? About 40 minutes at 400°F for a medium potato. A large potato can take up to 50 minutes.

Tips for Choosing Potatoes

I prefer to use russet potatoes (also called Idaho potatoes) in this recipe. They are the classic brown-skinned potatoes with firm, white flesh. The potatoes’ nutrient-dense skin is thick, making them perfect for getting those crispy potato skins in the air fryer.

• I’ve heard of people trying air fryer sweet potatoes, red potatoes, or Yukon Gold potatoes as well. Any potato in the air fryer will be great. Use what you have and prefer.
• When buying potatoes, look for firm potatoes with as few blemishes as possible. Bruises, cuts, soft ends, wrinkles, and those sprouts are all signs the potato is past its prime.
• Also, pick organic or grown potatoes using organic methods if possible. Potatoes are on the Dirty Dozen list, which means they are among the 12 foods grown with the most pesticides. You can read more about the Dirty Dozen here.

How to Bake Potatoes in an Air Fryer

Just follow these simple steps for perfect air fryer potatoes every time! The complete air fryer baked potato recipe is in the recipe card below.

• Step 1: Preheat: Preheat your air fryer (or convection oven) to 400°F (204°C). Preheating your air fryer ensures that your potatoes will cook evenly.
• Step 2: Clean & Poke: First, scrub the potatoes well and pat them dry with a kitchen towel or paper towel. Make sure they are dry. Then, poke them a few times with a fork to create small holes across their surface. This will prevent them from exploding in the air fryer.
• Step 3: Oil & Season: Next, rub them with olive or avocado oil and sprinkle them with kosher salt (or sea salt, if you prefer). The oil helps make the skin a little crispy, but you can also skip this step.
• Step 4: Cook: Transfer the potatoes to the basket of an air fryer and cook at 400°F. You’ll want to cook until the outsides are crispy and a fork easily pierces the insides. This takes about 40 minutes for medium potatoes (see the time chart above for other sizes).

Microwave Alternative

If you don’t have an air fryer, you can cook your potatoes in a microwave.

To make baked potatoes in the microwave, clean them, pierce them with a fork a few times, then microwave the potatoes on high for about 7 minutes, turning halfway through if your microwave doesn’t have a turntable. If you want to crisp up the outsides, finish by crisping the skin under a broiler or in a hot oven for a few minutes.

Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Baked Potatoes:

• Flavor Variations: Experiment with different seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or herbs for added flavor.
• Choose the Right Potatoes: Use russet potatoes for the best texture. They have a starchy interior that becomes fluffy when baked.
• Prep the Potatoes: Wash and dry the potatoes thoroughly. Prick them a few times with a fork to allow steam to escape and prevent bursting.
• Even Cooking: Arrange potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overcrowding to ensure even cooking.
• Adjust Cooking Time: If using smaller or larger potatoes, adjust the cooking time accordingly. Small potatoes take about 35 minutes, while large ones can need up to 50 minutes.
• Crispier Skin: For extra crispy skin, rub a little olive oil on the potatoes before air frying.
• Check for Doneness: Use a fork to check if the potatoes are tender all the way through. If not, cook for another 5 minutes and check again.
• Keep Warm: If you’re not serving the potatoes immediately, keep them warm in the air fryer at a lower temperature (around 200°F or 93°C) until ready to serve.

Storage

Store cooled potatoes in the fridge (wrapped or in an airtight container) for up to 4 days, then reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for about 10 minutes or in the microwave for about 3 minutes.

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Baked Potato in Air Fryer FAQs

How long does it take to bake a potato in the air fryer?

At 400°F (200°C), a medium potato takes about 40 minutes. Small potatoes are done in about 35 minutes, while large potatoes can take up to 50 minutes.

Do I need to wrap a baked potato in foil in the air fryer?

No. In fact, foil prevents the skin from getting crispy. Skip the foil for the best results.

Should I poke holes in the potato before air frying?

Always. Just like oven-baked potatoes, piercing the skin with a fork allows steam to escape and prevents the potato from bursting.

Can I cook more than one baked potato at a time?

Cook as many as fit in a single layer without overcrowding. You may need to add a few minutes of cook time if you’re cooking multiple large potatoes.

Can I reheat a baked potato in the air fryer?

Absolutely. Reheat at 350°F for about 10 minutes, until warmed through. This helps restore the crispy skin better than the microwave.

Can I make a twice-baked potato in the air fryer?

Definitely. Bake the potato first, scoop out the insides, mix with your fillings, then return to the air fryer for about 7 minutes until golden on top.

Can I microwave a potato first and then air fry it?

That’s a great shortcut when you’re short on time. Poke the potato with a fork and microwave it on high for about 5 minutes, then rub it with oil and salt and air fry at 400°F for about 10 minutes, until the skin is crisp and the center is tender.

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