Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
Get the perfect baked sweet potato experience without the long wait. This air fryer method delivers a wonderfully crisp, salty skin and a soft, fluffy interior in just 30 minutes. It's an easy, reliable side dish.
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- 1.5 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Scrub the sweet potatoes well under running water, then dry them thoroughly with a paper towel. Dry skin helps the oil cling evenly and gives you a better chance at a crisp, lightly blistered finish.
- Pierce each potato several times with a fork, then rub them all over with olive oil and sprinkle with the coarse sea salt. The fork holes let steam escape as the potatoes cook, and the oiled skin should look evenly coated rather than wet or heavy.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 to 5 minutes, then place the potatoes in the basket in a single layer with space around them. Do not crowd the basket because hot air needs room to circulate for even browning and crisping.
- Cook at 400°F for 25 to 30 minutes, turning the potatoes halfway through. As they cook, the skin should start to look taut and slightly blistered instead of dull.
- Check for doneness after 20 minutes by sliding a fork or knife into the thickest part, and keep cooking in 5-minute bursts if needed before resting briefly and fluffing the inside. They are ready when the utensil slips in with no resistance, almost like piercing soft butter, and the centers feel tender all the way through.
Notes
Texture Tip: For the crispiest skin, make sure to dry the sweet potatoes completely before rubbing them with oil. Any moisture on the skin will cause it to steam rather than crisp.
Even Cooking: Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leaving space around each potato allows the hot air to circulate properly, ensuring the skin gets crispy on all sides.
Doneness Test: The best way to check if your potatoes are done is to pierce the thickest part with a fork. It's ready when the fork slides in easily with no resistance.
Storing and Reheating: Store cooled leftover potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To restore their crispiness, reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F until warmed through.
Nutrition information is an estimate based on common ingredients and serving sizes. Values may vary depending on brands, portions, and substitutions.