Want to hear a potentially controversial option? Waiting 60 minutes for baked potatoes to cook in the oven is a waste of time and effort. Sure, it's classic comfort food, but no one has the patience to wait for such a busy weeknight. And if you're in charge gala dinner this year you might want to get food on the table quickly.
Obviously, an air fryer is better for getting that steakhouse-style crispy crust, but the real game-changer is a special way to speed up the process. By starting the cooking process in the microwave and finishing in the air fryer, you can have perfectly fluffy potatoes in just 12 minutes. It's the perfect hybrid method and makes the traditional oven method completely obsolete.
Don't believe us? Try it yourself.
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My 12 Minute Baked Potato Recipe
The microwave and air fryer will give you the best baked potato of your life.
What do you need
- One russet potato
- 1 teaspoon olive oil or butter
- A microwave oven
- An fryer
- Kosher salt for serving
Directions
- Step 1: Use a fork to poke 10-12 air holes in the potatoes and season generously with salt.
- Step 2: Microwave potatoes on high for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender and cooked through.
- Step 3: Cut the potatoes in half and toss with melted oil or olive oil. You can also stuff the potatoes with pieces of cheese or bacon.
- Step 4: Fry over high heat, skin side up, for 2 minutes.
- Step 5: Flip and cook for another two minutes until desired crispiness is achieved. (If you add cheese, vegetables or bacon, cook skin side down only.)
Feel free to stuff or stuff the potatoes to your heart's content.
For more tips, check out my list seven foods I will only air fry from now on and find out the best way reheat any leftover food.






