Cooking jacket potatoes in the air fryer gives them the perfect crispy skin and soft fluffy insides, in half the time of cooking them in the oven. Air fryer jacket potatoes are quick and easy, and total comfort food - we would say they are the best jacket potatoes we have ever eaten. So many topping options, you will never want to cook a jacket potato any other way again.
If you have ever wondered if you can cook a jacket potato in the air fryer, then the answer is yes! You get the same results as you would if you cooked them in the oven, but in half the time.
Quicker, and cheaper, as the air fryer is more cost effective to use than an oven. Still the same fluffy potatoes with crispy skin that you know and love, but it's a jacket potato in the air fryer.
If you are looking for some other ways to use your air fryer, then why not try our Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes, Air Fryer Steak, Air Fryer Bacon, Air Fryer Tortilla Chips or Air Fryer Sausages?
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Why you will love them
- Quicker than making in an oven - You get all that crispiness that you would cooking in the oven, but in half the time because the air fryer circulates the heat all around the potato. Baked potatoes in the air fryer are the way forward! It's good for when you want a jacket potato in the summer, but don't want the oven on too.
- Cheaper - With the rising cost of energy prices, we are all looking to cut back where we can. Using an air fryer is cheaper than using an oven, because it cooks in less time.
- Budget comfort food - Apart from the fact that using an air fryer is a cheap way to cook them, potatoes themselves are very cheap and very nutritious. If you are looking for a comforting meal on a budget, then jacket potatoes are the way.
- A new way to use your air fryer - If you have only been using your air fryer to make Chips, then this is a new way to put it to use.
Ingredients and variations
- Potatoes - You can basically use any potatoes you have, making this a great budget friendly meal. But we find that starchy potatoes work best to get light and fluffy potatoes.
- Oil - We used olive oil. However, add some extra flavour with infused oil like garlic or chilli oil.
- Seasoning - Keep it simple with sea salt and black pepper, or add a little paprika and cayenne for smokiness.
A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
How to make Air Fryer Jacket Potato - Step by step
One: Wash and scrub the potatoes. Dry them and pierce the skin several time.
Two: Rub the potatoes all over with the oil. Season with the salt and pepper.
Three: Place the potatoes into the air fryer basket.
Four: Cook at 200°C for 40 minutes, turning over half way through.
What potatoes to use for jacket potatoes
Whilst you could use any potatoes for this air fryer jacket potato recipe, making it great for a budget friendly meal where you use whatever you have, certain potatoes will give you the perfect crispy potato.
We find that King Edwards, Russets and Desiree potatoes are the best. Firstly, their skin doesn't hold moisture very well, and Russet skin is nice and thick, so they get nice and crispy.
Also, these variety of potatoes have a higher starch content, which means that they get nice and soft and fluffy on the inside, especially when they are cooked low and slow like this.
Health benefits of potatoes
White potatoes have so many nutrients in them, they really shouldn't get a bad reputation. They are low in fat, sodium and cholesterol, they have nearly half of your daily vitamin C and they are a great source of potassium - even more than a banana.
They are full of fibre and magnesium, and they are filling too. On top of this, they are also suitable for almost any diet, from vegan to gluten free. I am not sure what more you could want?
We have just cooked them in a little oil, and seasoned them to taste. So, as they are they are very nutritious. You could just eat them like that, or load them with toppings - but this is where you can add a lot of calories and fat. We have some topping suggestions below.
Microwave and air fryer cooking
If you don't have time to wait 40 minutes to cook your jacket potato in the air fryer, but you still want that crispy skin, then you can speed up the cooking time by microwaving the jacket potatoes for 12 minutes and then cook them in the air fryer for 3 minutes each side.
Jacket Potato Toppings
We went with the classic topping of butter and cheese and some slaw on the side. Some spring onions would add some nice crunch too. Or go with sour cream and bacon bits.
But there are so many options! Why not check out our post on 10 Healthy Baked Potato Toppings. Also, all of these would be delicious on an air fryer baked potato:
- Chili con Carne
- Slow Cooker Bolognese
- Coronation Chicken
- Turkey Chilli
- Lentil Bolognese
- Bean Chilli
- Mushroom Bolognese
- Slow Cooker Baked Beans
Frequently Asked Questions
They are the same thing. In the UK, we call them jacket potatoes, simply because they are potatoes with the skin left on, like a jacket. But, they are still potatoes that have been baked.
Yes, the size of the potato makes a difference when it comes to cooking time and them all cooking evenly. We used large potatoes that were about 350g each. At this size, they take 40 minutes in the air fryer. But all air fryers cook differently, so check yours after 25 minutes.
If you have too many potatoes cooked, then you can store the leftovers in the fridge of freezer. Wrap them in foil and they will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days and up to 3 months in the freezer. Defrost thoroughly in the fridge for 24 hours and then heat them up in the oven.
You don't have to, but it is what gives them the nice crispy skin. You can use spray oil if you prefer.
To check that they are cooked, stick a knife in them and they should be soft and fluffy inside.
More potato recipes
If you’ve tried this air fryer baked potato recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Air Fryer Jacket Potato
Ingredients
- 700 g Potato - approx 350g/12oz per potato
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Wash and scrub the potatoes. Dry them and pierce the skin several time.700 g Potato
- Rub the potatoes all over with the oil. Season with the salt and pepper.1 tablespoon Olive oil, 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper
- Place the potatoes into the air fryer basket.
- Cook at 200°C for 40 minutes, turning over half way through.
Notes
- When the potatoes have been washed, used kitchen paper to wipe them dry.
- Make sure there is space between the jacket potatoes in the air fryer. If they are touching, then they will not crisp up.
- Don't skip the step where you prick the potatoes with a fork. This is to stop them exploding.
- If you don't want to do all of the cooking in the air fryer, then you can cook 2 potatoes in the microwave for 12 minutes and then finish them in the air fryer for 3 minutes each side.
- If you don't want your potato skins to be really crispy, then you can wrap them in foil and then remove the foil for the last 10 minutes.
- All air fryers cook things differently, so check yours after 25 minutes to see how they are going.
- To cut a potato for serving, slice a cross in the top and then pinch all four sides and push up and in so it opens up.
Tina
The perfect jacket potato recipe!
Jill
This is a great way to fix baked potatoes for just one or two people. Thanks for all the fresh ideas for toppings too!
Andrea
These easy to make jacket potatoes look fantastic. Nice crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Now to decide which toppings to use.
Sisley White - Sew White
Air fryers so magical! I can't believe how many things you can make in it. This is so easy.
Michelle
So much faster in the air fryer and just as good!
Claudia Lamascolo
Delicious air fryer recipe we just love how these came out!
Janessa
So good to know how to cook baked potatoes in the air fryer! And also, thank you for explaining that Jacket Potatoes and Baked Potatoes are the same thing- I always wondered!
Dana
These are simple and awesome and just another reason to LOVE the air fryer.
Jacqueline Meldrum
I always cook baked spuds in the air fryer now. Much quicker and so good
Romy
I love how quick and easy these are to make
kushigalu
Love potatoes in any form, and what a delicious recipe to try. Pinned to make this soon.