Can you cook jacket potato in the air fryer? You certainly can cook baked potatoes in an air fryer, and they cook faster than oven baking. Making this recipe is a quick and easy way to enjoy this classic dish.
You can use two methods to make great baked potatoes in the air fryer: microwave them first, then finish them in the air fryer, or air frying them for the whole duration.
Either way, you'll make the best baked potatoes with crispy skin and fluffy inside.
We'll also give you some serving suggestions and storage information. And if you have any leftovers, we'll tell you how to freeze them and reheat them.
Jump to:
We also have another blog post showing you how to bake jacket potatoes in a slow cooker for a hands-off approach to baking potatoes. Or stick to the traditional oven baked potatoes.
How to cook jacket potato in the air fryer?
First, decide how much time you have? A time-saving tip is microwaving them before crisping off the potato skin in the air fryer.
If you have plenty of cooking time on your hands, you can air fry jacket potatoes for the entire duration.
What Potatoes to Use?
For the best baked potato in the UK, look for large baking potatoes, usually labelled just that! 'Baking Potato' and sold singularly or in multi-packs.
Or you can use large starchy potatoes such as King Edwards or Maris Piper.
These floury potatoes and are better at absorbing heat, making for fluffy interiors and crispy skin.
In America, look for Russet Potatoes, aka Idaho potatoes.
Scrub potatoes clean before cooking and pat dry before cooking the potatoes.
What oil to use?
For cooking jacket potatoes in air fryer, you want to use an oil with a high smoking point so it can withstand the high temperatures of the air fryer without burning.
We recommend using avocado oil, rapeseed oil (canola oil), olive oil or coconut oil.
You can use cooking spray oil to coat the potato skins or roll them around on a plate with oil on.
Seasoning
I usually season with sea salt as I add flavour with my favorite toppings.
However, if serving plain, you may want to add more flavour to the skin; feel free to add smoked paprika or garlic powder.
Quick Air Fry Baked Potato Method
The quickest way to cook air fry jacket potatoes is to microwave your potatoes first.
Pierce each one a few times with a fork and place them on a microwave-safe plate.
Cooking Time
The amount of time needed to cook a whole potato varies based on the microwave's power, the size of the potato, and how many you're cooking at once.
Remember to cook in the microwave first to soften the inside then use the air fryer to crisp up the skin
| How many Potatoes approx 290g each | Microwave Cook Time on High | Air Fryer Cook Time at 200°C / 400°F |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Potato | 8 minutes | 8 minutes |
| 2 Potatoes | 10 minutes | 8 minutes |
| 3 Potatoes | 12 minutes | 8 minutes |
| 4 Potatoes | 14 minutes | 8 minutes |
If cooking medium potatoes, you may need to deduct a minute, or for larger potatoes, you may need to cook in further 1-minute intervals until soft inside.
Cook on high for the above time, then use a knife to check if soft all the way through.
Brush oil outside each potato, or use a cooking spray oil. Sprinkle with sea salt, then place them in the air fryer basket. No need to preheat your air fryer.
Now transfer the microwaved jacket potato into the air fryer and cook for 8 minutes (same time for all amounts of potatoes). This will crisp up the saggy soft skin caused by the steam in the microwave.
Air Fryer Jacket Potato
It will take longer to cook if you do not use a microwave before air frying your potatoes. Preheat your air fryer to 200°C / 400°F
Brush oil around the outside of each potato, sprinkle sea salt over them and place in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
How long to cook jacket potato in air fryer?
Cook time for baking potatoes is 40-50 minutes, flipping over halfway through. Time will vary depending on size.
They are ready when the skin on the potatoes turned golden and the skin crisps on the outside. Just check to see if they are soft in the middle.
How to check baked potatoes are cooked?
To check they are fully cooked, insert a sharp knife into the centre of the potato; once the knife pierces through the crispy potato skin, it should slide into the flesh easily with no resistance.
If it is still hard inside, air fry the potatoes in 2-minute intervals until ready. If the potatoes are huge and the skin is getting too brown for your liking, you can wrap them in foil and continue cooking them in the air fryer.
We have cooked our baked potatoes in a ninja foodi air fryer; cooking times may vary slightly for other brands of air fryers?
Serving Suggestions
Jacket potatoes are a great side dish in themselves. Cut them in half, fluff the inside up with a fork, and then all they need is butter, salt, and pepper.
But if you want to get fancy, here are some of our favourite toppings to inspire your dinner tonight:
- Sour Cream & Bacon Bits
- Chili con Carne and Shredded cheese
- Tuna Sweetcorn Mayo
- Grated Cheese and Baked Beans
Let us know your favourite recipe to add to your air fryer baked potatoes.
📖 Step by Step Recipe
Jacket Potato in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 Jacket Potato about 290g each (10.2 oz)
- 2 teaspoon Oil
- Salt
Instructions
Microwave & Air Fryer Method (Quickest Method)
- Prick each potato all over with a fork about four times.4 Jacket Potato
- Place on a microwaveable plate, cook on high, turn once halfway through; Time varies depending on how many you are cooking at once, microwave power (use high) and the size of your potatoes.Times are based on large 290 gram (10.2 oz) potatoes1 Potato - 8 minutes2 Potatoes - 10 minutes3 Potatoes - 12 minutes4 Potatoes -14 minutes
- Use a knife to check they are soft all the way through. Cook in 1-minute intervals from now on until soft.
- Use spray oil to coat the skin. Or pour a small amount of oil on a plate and roll potato skin in the oil.Sprinkle with salt.2 teaspoon Oil, Salt
- Transfer potatoes to the air fryer, cook at 200°C / 400°F for 8 minutes. You can cook for longer if you want crispier skin.
- Remove and serve with your chosen toppings.
Air Fryer Only Method (Really Crispy Skin)
- Follow the instructions above, skipping step 2 (microwave).Cook at 200°C / 400°F for 45 minutes. Turn once halfway through.
- To test that they're done, insert a sharp knife into the centre of the potato; if no resistance is met, they're ready to serve. If still firm inside, continue cooking in 2-minute intervals.Serve with desired toppings.
Video
Nutrition
Sweet potatoes take less time than this air fryer baked potato recipe. We will be posting this recipe next!
Storage & Freezing
Cooked jacket potatoes are best served immediately but can be kept in the fridge for up to four days.
Or freeze them for up to three months.
To freeze jacket potatoes, place them on a baking tray in the freezer for two hours or until frozen solid.
Then transfer to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to three months. I recommend defrosting in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheating
The best way to reheat cooked potatoes is in the microwave for about 3 minutes, then the air fryer's basket for 5 minutes to help the skin crisp up again.
We hope this easy recipe has helped making baked potatoes in the air fryer for the whole family quickly for you.
More Air Fryer Recipes UK
We have plenty of advice on how to cook everyday recipes in the air fryer.
See more air fryer recipes →
Kevin Smith
Perfect for 1 potatoe as ive just learned, Shame about the overcrowding of Ads making it difficult to read
Luke and Kay
Hello Kevin, thank you for your message and your fantastic 5-star review. Today, I also enjoyed some delicious air fryer baked potatoes for lunch. I apologize for the inconvenience caused by the excessive ads. Could you please let me know if you're viewing our website on a phone, tablet, or desktop, and identify the specific issue you encountered? I'll personally reach out to our advertising agency to investigate the matter further. While we would love to have an ad-free experience, it's currently the primary source of funding for our website and allows us to continue creating amazing recipes.
Paul Irving
Yes, really enjoyed this recipe. I cooked a very large potato almost to perfection. I wish the skin had been crispier though! Perhap's I will use the "crispy" bake setting next time, what do you think?
Luke and Kay
Thank you for your feedback, Paul! We are so glad that you enjoyed the Air Fryer jacket potatoes recipe. Next time you cook potatoes in your air fryer, it might be worth giving the "crispy" bake setting a try; let us know how it goes.
Or just cook it for as it was a large potato it might take longer for the potato to crisp up. 🙂
Victor
8 mins in the microwave for one potato before the air fryer seem like way too long, that's longer than I would cook one only using the microwave.
Luke and Kay
Hi Victor, thanks for the comment
Time varies depending on how many you are cooking at once, microwave power and the size of your potatoes.
We used a 290g potato which is a large baking potato.
If you are using a smaller potato, it will take less time 🙂
Sue
My favourite dressing is prawns in a
seafood sauce mixed with lettuce and tomatoes.
Kay
Thank you for trying our jacket potato in the air fryer Sue, and for sharing your feedback with us. We're so glad to hear that you enjoyed it! We love seafood sauce too and are happy to know that you found a way to enjoy it on our potatoes.
Liz
SO easy and it was a great way to free up my oven for our Sunday night family dinner!
Kay
Thank you so much Liz its such an easy way for cooking your jacket potatoes and they come out great 🙂