The humble baked potato has long been a staple of British comfort food. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and endlessly versatile with toppings, it’s one of those dishes that never goes out of style. But there’s always been one small problem: time. Traditionally, a perfectly baked potato demands at least an hour in the oven, and for hungry weeknight diners, that can feel like a lifetime.
Now, there’s a new kitchen hack that promises to deliver the same delicious results in under 20 minutes – and it’s taking the internet by storm. Searches for “cooking baked potatoes in the air fryer” have spiked by over 5,000% in the past week, showing that Britain is keen to give the method a go.
And to settle the question once and for all, Mimi Morley, Senior Recipe Development Manager at food box delivery service HelloFresh, has revealed her foolproof approach to achieving the perfect baked potato using an air fryer.
“I’ll admit, I’ve always been a bit of an air fryer sceptic,” she says with a laugh. “But this hack is unbeatable. It creates a baked potato so good, you’ll be the envy of your friends. The skin is beautifully crisp, the inside stays fluffy, and it’s all ready in a fraction of the usual time.”
The Method: Microwave Meets Air Fryer
So how exactly do you transform a basic spud into something sensational in just 20 minutes? Morley’s method combines the speed of the microwave with the finishing power of the air fryer.
Here’s how she does it:
- Scrub your potato and pat it completely dry.
- Using a fork, pierce holes all around the potato (careful with your fingers).
- Microwave the potato on high for 10 minutes until cooked through.
- Drizzle the potato with oil and season generously with salt.
- Cut in half, mash butter into the centre with a fork, and add cheese if desired.
- Transfer the halves to a preheated air fryer, cut side up, and cook for 5 minutes on high.
- Add your favourite toppings and dig in.
“It’s such a game-changer,” Morley explains. “The microwave does the hard work of cooking the potato through, while the air fryer gives you that gorgeous golden crispiness that makes a baked potato so moreish. No more waiting around for the oven to slowly do its job.”
Topping Ideas: From Classic to Bold
Of course, no baked potato is complete without toppings. Butter and cheddar remain beloved classics, but Morley encourages experimenting.
“As someone who loves bold flavours, I like to mix it up,” she says. “Blue cheese instead of cheddar adds a wonderful depth and pairs beautifully with bacon crumb, sour cream, and chives. It’s rich, tangy, and perfectly complements the crisp skin you get from the air fryer.”
Other ideas include a Mexican-inspired topping of chilli con carne, sour cream, and jalapeños, or a Mediterranean twist with roasted vegetables, feta, and a drizzle of olive oil. For plant-based eaters, a topping of vegan cheese, guacamole, and salsa offers just as much indulgence.
“The world is your oyster when it comes to toppings,” says Morley. “It’s a dish that invites creativity, whether you’re cooking for the family or making a quick solo lunch.”
Why the Air Fryer Works
The air fryer, once seen as a passing fad, has firmly cemented itself in British kitchens. Loved for its speed and efficiency, it replicates the crisp finish of frying with less oil and less hassle. For baked potatoes, it’s the perfect match.
By combining microwave speed with the air fryer’s convection heat, the method avoids the soggy skin that microwaving alone often produces, while dramatically cutting down on the lengthy oven time. The result? A crisp, golden potato that tastes like it’s been slow-baked, ready in just 15–20 minutes.
A British Classic, Reimagined
For Morley, this hack isn’t just about convenience – it’s about reintroducing the baked potato into everyday cooking. “It’s such a British classic, but lots of people don’t cook it as often as they’d like because of the time it takes. With this method, you can bring it back into regular rotation. It’s quick, filling, and adaptable for whatever flavours you fancy.”
And with autumn nights drawing in, there’s something deeply comforting about sitting down to a hot, crisp-skinned potato, piled high with toppings of your choice. Whether you’re feeding the kids after school, grabbing a quick solo meal between meetings, or making a casual dinner with friends, the air fryer hack makes the baked potato fit into modern life.
As Morley puts it: “Sometimes, the simplest dishes are the ones worth perfecting. With this trick, the baked potato really shines again.”
So if your air fryer has been gathering dust, it might be time to put it to work. With just a potato, a microwave, and 20 minutes to spare, you could be serving up Britain’s favourite comfort food in its most convenient form yet.
Discover more British food recipes or continue your hunt for the perfect potato with HelloFresh today.