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Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

Perfectly crispy-skinned baked potatoes with fluffy interiors, cooked quickly in the air fryer and topped with classic fixings.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 potatoes
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 320
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Potatoes
  • 4 large russet potatoes scrubbed clean
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp coarse sea salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
Toppings
  • 0.5 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 6 strips bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 0.25 cup fresh chives finely chopped
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter

Equipment

  • Air fryer
  • Fork
  • Tongs
  • Knife

Method
 

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes to ensure optimal cooking temperature.
  2. Pierce each potato 8-10 times with a fork, creating holes that prevent bursting and allow steam to escape during cooking.
  3. Rub each potato with olive oil, ensuring complete coverage for maximum skin crispiness and even browning.
  4. Season generously with coarse sea salt and black pepper, rubbing the seasonings into the oiled skin for better adherence.
  5. Place seasoned potatoes in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't touch each other for proper air circulation.
  6. Cook for 35-40 minutes, flipping once halfway through cooking time to ensure even browning on all sides.
  7. Test doneness by gently squeezing potatoes with tongs - they should yield slightly when properly cooked through.
  8. Remove from air fryer and immediately cut a deep slit lengthwise in each potato, being careful of escaping steam.
  9. Gently squeeze potato ends to open the slit wider, creating space for toppings and allowing steam to escape.
  10. Fluff the potato flesh with a fork, breaking up any dense areas to create maximum fluffiness.
  11. Add a pat of butter to each potato, allowing it to melt into the hot, fluffy flesh.
  12. Top generously with sour cream, shredded cheese, crumbled bacon, and fresh chives according to preference.

Notes

For extra crispy skins, increase cooking time by 5 minutes. Store leftovers in refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat in air fryer for best texture.