AirFriday: Roast potatoes in your air fryer — the updated edition

When I finally caved and bought an air fryer, I cooked air fryer “roast” potatoes. They turned out much like roast potatoes, they looked right, they tasted okay, if plain. In 2022, I wrote...

Were they the best roast potatoes I’ve cooked? Not close. I make super-crunchy roasties. They’re steamed or parboiled first, drained, and shaken in the hot pan t0 remove any remaining water. Then they’re plunged into hot oil which has been preheated in the oven in a loaf tin. In half an hour to 45 minutes or so at a high heat, they turn out so crunchy that they’re noisy to eat. The centre is soft and fluffy. They’re a delight. That is a roast potato.

I don’t set out on any recipe expecting, or hoping, that it will be anything less than wonderful. I want it to work. But I won’t share recipes I’m not happy to eat myself. So, I did enjoy eating these “roast potatoes” which were cooked by hot, dry air and a tiny film of olive oil spray.

That was then...

I wrote the above in November 2022, and two-and-a-half years later I have roasted potatoes in an air fryer many times.

I don’t even think about a recipe any more. I don’t measure anything. I don’t use much oil at all.

I just pour a little cooking oil (canola or sunflower) into a metal bowl — I’d say about 3 Tbsp if measured — and add salt and pepper. The peeled potatoes are tossed in that six or seven times, and they go into the preheated air fryer.

Both of my air fryers have drawers you can pull out. I don’t know how you roast potatoes in the ones with shelves. I suspect it won’t be as effective.

Every few minutes I open the drawer, give it a vigorous shake, and put it back in to continue roasting.

The key difference here is that I always use oil now, never cooking oil spray. And I don't time them. They're done when they soft inside and crispy outside.

Ingredients

Potatoes, peeled and halved or quartered

Salt and pepper to taste

3 Tbsp cooking oil such as canola or sunflower

Method

There’s no need to give quantities as the recipe is the same regardless of how many potatoes you’re cooking. Just enough for one layer in the basket of your air fryer, and enough oil to coat them well.

Add oil to a bowl, season with salt and pepper, and add the peeled potatoes, which you can quarter or halve depending on their size. Toss them several times to be sure they're coated with seasoned oil.

Preheat the air fryer to 180℃. Add potatoes and cook for 10 minutes. Lower the heat to 160℃ and cook for about 30 minutes, to get them tender to the centre. If they're not soft inside, cook them for longer.

Finally, increase the heat to 200°C and cook for a further 50 to 10 minutes to crisp them on the outside.

Salt to taste, if more salt is needed, and serve immediately. DM