- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3-5 minutes. This step isn’t mandatory for all air fryers, but it can help start the cooking process with immediate high heat.
3. Cook the Potatoes:
- Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they aren’t touching too much. This helps the hot air circulate around the potatoes, cooking them evenly.
- Cook for about 35-45 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes. Halfway through the cooking time, use tongs to flip each potato to ensure even cooking.
4. Check Doneness:
- The potatoes are done when the skin is crisp and the inside is soft. You can check this by inserting a fork into one of the potatoes; it should slide in easily with no resistance.
- If they aren’t fully cooked, continue air frying in 5-minute increments until they reach the desired doneness.
5. Serve:
- Once cooked, remove the potatoes from the air fryer. Make a slit down the middle of each potato, and fluff the insides with a fork.
- Serve hot with your choice of toppings like butter, sour cream, chopped chives, shredded cheese, or bacon bits.
Tips:
- Choosing Potatoes: Russet potatoes are ideal for baking due to their thick skin and starchy interior, which becomes fluffy when cooked.
- Spacing: Make sure the potatoes are not overcrowded in the air fryer. Air circulation is key to getting the skins crispy.
- Serving Suggestions: Baked potatoes can be a meal on their own with hearty toppings or serve as a side dish to proteins like steak, chicken, or fish.
Using an air fryer not only speeds up the cooking process but also reduces the energy usage compared to an oven, making it an efficient way to enjoy classic baked potatoes.