How to cook a jacket potato in an air fryer – 3 quick and easy steps for perfect spuds every single time

If there's one thing for certain, it's that the beloved air fryer craze sees no future in coming to a halt anytime soon. So, we may as well get comfy and learn more quick and easy recipes, like how to cook jacket potato in an air fryer.

If you're anything like me and have been going toastie-crazy after learning how to make a toastie in the air fryer, then consider this low-effort high-reward jacket potato method your next kitchen conquest for those days when you want a delicious meal without all the hassle.

How to cook jacket potato in air fryer

A jacket potato is our personal air fryer queen Molly Cleary's favourite go-to dinner.

'I'm very obsessed with the girl dinner trend on TikTok, and if there's one girl dinner that says low effort and high reward to me, then it's an air fryer jacket potato,' she says. 'There's no need to blow a fuse by using your microwave to try and soften your potato, and it takes way less time than using your oven.'

Ding ding, cooking jacket potatoes in the air fryer is definitely one of the things an air fryer does better than an oven. Whether you've got a dual-zone air fryer, an oven-style one (like the Lakeland Digital Mini Oven), or just your standard drawer-style model, this method is the go-to.

Molly Cleary

Molly is the Ecommerce Editor for Ideal Home and is always on the lookout for the next must-buy product for your home. She's also a certified Customer Advisor when it comes to air fryers, having completed her five-step plan to become a true expert in these exceptionally useful appliances.

She regularly joins our Head of Reviews, Millie Fender, at Future's Test Facility in Reading to thoroughly put products through their paces. She's always up to date with the newest releases from brands such as Ninja, Instant, COSORI, Tower and more. The air fryer she loves best and uses at home every day is the Instant Vortex Dual Basket. 

1. Preheat your air fryer

If there's one thing we'll always remind you to do, it's to preheat your air fryer. Forgetting to preheat is one of the most common air fryer mistakes people make, but it certainly pays.

Molly uses the Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 air fryer and sets it to 200 degrees Celcius for a couple of minutes while she prepares her potatoes.

2. Prepare your potato

'I take my potato and poke lots of holes in it with a fork,' starts Molly. 'Then I rub olive oil all over it and season generously with salt and pepper.'

3. Pop it in the air fryer

Now you've prepared and seasoned your potato, it's time to pop it in the air fryer. Consider using a spray bottle filled with olive oil to lightly coat the basket beforehand.

'I put mine in the air fryer for 40 minutes and just make sure to check on it at the halfway stage,' says Molly. And voila, a great jacket potato, if we do say so ourselves. 

Of course, at this point, feel free to add your toppings of choice so you can really give it your personal seal of approval.

'My expert tip is to slice it in half for the last five minutes and get the insides a little crispier too, but it's all down to personal preference,' finishes Molly.

If there's one thing we're always down for, it's a low-effort high-reward task, and this jacket potato method definitely makes the top of the ranks for us. So the next time you've had one of those days at work, at least you have the comfort of knowing you can go home to a hassle-free meal that's still ever so tasty.

Now, excuse us while we eat this at least 3 times a week (sorry, not sorry).