Air Fryer Jacket Potatoes
Air fryer jacket potatoes come out with a crisp, salty skin and a light, fluffy middle, and they need far less energy than a full-size oven. All the preparation is a scrub, a prick and a rub of oil and salt. After about 40 minutes at 200°C, they are ready for butter, grated cheddar or a ladle of baked beans.
- Total
- 47 min
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Serves
- 4
- Per serving
- 220kcal
Ingredients and swaps for air fryer jacket potatoes
A floury, high-starch potato gives the fluffiest middle, so look for Maris Piper, King Edward or a bag labelled "baking potatoes". Waxy salad potatoes stay firm inside and are better boiled.
Olive oil can be swapped for rapeseed or sunflower oil, and coarse sea salt gives a better crust than fine table salt. Try to choose potatoes that are all about the same size so they finish together.
Air fryer jacket potatoes method
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Prepare the potatoes Scrub the potatoes under cold running water and dry them very well with a clean tea towel. Prick each one 6–8 times with a fork so steam can escape.
- Oil and salt Brush the potatoes all over with the olive oil, then sprinkle with the salt flakes and rub them in so they stick to the skin.
- Air fry Set the air fryer to 200°C. Put the potatoes in the basket in a single layer, not touching, and cook for , turning them over after .
- Check Squeeze one gently with an oven glove or tongs. The skin should be crisp and the flesh should give easily. If it is still firm, cook for more and check again.
- Rest and serve Lift the potatoes out with tongs and leave for . Cut a deep cross in the top of each, squeeze the sides to open them up, and add butter, cheese or beans.
Fillings, basket size and oven alternative
Four large potatoes fit in one layer in a 5 litre or larger basket. In a smaller one, cook two at a time and keep the first pair warm under foil.
The classic toppings are butter with grated cheddar, baked beans or tuna mayonnaise. For something more substantial, scoop out the middles, mix them with cheese and refill the skins as stuffed potatoes. If you want a different potato side, air fryer hasselback potatoes are another good way to cook potatoes in the basket.
Common problems and fixes for Air Fryer Jacket Potatoes
- The skin is soft instead of crisp.
- The potatoes were damp when oiled, or were wrapped in foil. Dry them thoroughly, cook them unwrapped and give them a little more time at 200°C if the skin still feels soft.
- The middle is hard while the skin is dark.
- The potatoes were bigger than average. Choose potatoes of a similar size, and for ones over 300g add 10 minutes, covering the skin loosely with foil if it is getting too dark.
- A potato splits open in the basket.
- Steam built up with nowhere to go. Prick the skin properly all over before cooking.
Frequently asked questions about Air Fryer Jacket Potatoes
How long do jacket potatoes take in the air fryer?
About 40 minutes at 200°C for potatoes of around 250g, turning them halfway. Larger potatoes need 5–10 minutes more.
Do you need to wrap jacket potatoes in foil?
No. Foil steams the skin and makes it soft, so cook them unwrapped for a crisp jacket.
How do you cook jacket potatoes in the oven?
Put them directly on the oven shelf at 200°C (180°C fan), gas 6 for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, until the skin is crisp and the middle is soft.
How do you store and reheat leftovers?
Cool them within 2 hours and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 180°C for 10 minutes, until steaming hot all the way through.
How did you like the recipe?
4.9 / 5 · 59 ratings
