Reheating a baked potato in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to enjoy a hot, crispy potato again without having to bake it from scratch. While an air fryer doesn’t offer the same fluffy interior as oven baking, it can revive and crisp up the skin of a previously baked potato very nicely. Using aluminum foil in the air fryer protects the potato and helps it reheat evenly.
Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?
Yes, you can use aluminum foil to cook food in an air fryer. The foil acts as a protective barrier, shielding food from direct exposure to the heating element. This allows food to cook slowly and gently, rather than crisping up quickly. Foil is safe to use in an air fryer as long as it doesn’t come into close contact with the heating element.
When using foil in an air fryer, be sure to:
- Use heavy-duty aluminum foil that won’t tear easily
- Avoid letting the foil touch the sides or come within 1-2 inches of the heating element
- Keep foil smooth and taut, not loosely crumpled
- Fold up foil edges to prevent catching or burning
As long as these guidelines are followed, aluminum foil can be very useful for protecting food and moderating cooking temperatures in an air fryer.
How to reheat a baked potato in an air fryer
Reheating a baked potato in an air fryer is a quick and easy process with delicious results. Here are step-by-step instructions:
- Start with a previously baked and cooled russet or sweet potato. Leftover baked potatoes can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- Cut a large piece of heavy duty aluminum foil, about 14-16 inches long.
- Place the baked potato in the center of the foil and wrap it up tightly, sealing the seams. Wrap each potato separately if reheating multiple potatoes.
- Preheat air fryer to 370°F.
- Place foil-wrapped potato in air fryer basket. Make sure foil packet doesn’t touch sides or heating element.
- Cook for 15-20 minutes, until heated through. Gently shake basket halfway through. Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature, which should reach 165°F.
- Remove potato packet from air fryer and unwrap carefully to avoid steam burns. Potato skin should be hot and crispy.
- Top with desired toppings like butter, cheese, salsa or chili. Enjoy immediately.
The aluminum foil pouch steams and crisps the potato perfectly in the hot air fryer. Letting it preheat helps the air fryer quickly transmit heat through the foil for fast, even reheating. Shaking the basket midway through prevents the bottom from over-browning. Test doneness by temperature rather than time as size of potato affects cook time.
Benefits of reheating baked potatoes in an air fryer
Using an air fryer has several advantages over conventional oven reheating when reviving previously baked potatoes:
- Speed – Air fryers preheat and cook very rapidly, reheating a potato in just 15-20 minutes instead of 40-60 minutes in an oven.
- Convenience – Simple foil packets eliminate the need to wrap potatoes in bulky aluminum foil for oven reheating. Just unwrap and serve.
- Crispy skin – The hot circulating air crisps up the potato skin nicely.
- Moist interior – The steam from the foil pouch keeps the inside tender and moist.
- Accuracy – The confined space and circulating air allows for very even, controlled reheating.
Air fryers provide a quick crisping blast of heat that ovens can’t match. The contained foil pouch prevents moisture loss for great results in minimal time. An air fryer lets you enjoy piping hot baked potatoes on demand.
Tips for reheating baked potatoes in an air fryer
Follow these tips for the best results when reheating baked potatoes in an air fryer:
- Choose baked potatoes stored in the refrigerator, not at room temperature. Cold potatoes take longer to reheat.
- Rub potatoes with oil or butter before wrapping in foil to improve browning and flavor.
- Use heavy duty foil rated for high heat to prevent burning or tearing.
- For food safety, reheat potatoes to an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Let potatoes stand 5 minutes before unwrapping to allow steam to dissipate.
- Reheat sweet potatoes and thicker-skinned russets longer than thinner-skinned potatoes.
- Add an extra 1-2 minutes to time if reheating potatoes right from the refrigerator.
Potatoes reheated properly in the air fryer should have a crispy, browned skin and a hot, fluffy interior. The foil pouch is crucial for trapping in steam to preserve the inner texture.
Common mistakes
It’s easy to end up with less than ideal results when reheating baked potatoes in an air fryer. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:
- Not preheating air fryer – this can lead to uneven cooking.
- Overcrowding air fryer – only reheat 1-2 potatoes at a time to allow air circulation.
- Poking holes in foil – this causes moisture loss.
- Insufficient reheating time – potatoes may be cold in the middle.
- Leaving in too long – can make potatoes shrivel or skins burn.
With a little trial and error, you’ll find the ideal time and temperature for reheating different types and sizes of potatoes. It’s a fast and easy way to put a hot baked potato on the table any night of the week.
Other ways to reheat baked potatoes
While an air fryer is a fast, convenient reheating option, there are a few other methods you can use to revive leftover baked potatoes:
Oven
Wrap in foil and reheat at 400°F for 30-60 minutes depending on size. Be sure to seal foil tightly.
Microwave
Pierce skin several times with a fork to vent. Reheat on high 2-4 minutes based on size.
Sous vide
Seal potato in a sous vide bag and reheat in 185°F water for 1-2 hours until heated through.
Slow cooker
Place in a slow cooker with 1/2 cup water per potato. Cook on low 2-3 hours until hot and tender.
Serving reheated baked potatoes
Reheated baked potatoes are delicious on their own but can also be elevated with creative toppings and fillings. Here are some delicious ways to serve reheated baked potatoes:
- Chili – Top with beef or vegetarian chili, shredded cheese, and sliced scallions.
- Broccoli and cheese – Smother in sautéed broccoli, melted cheddar, and crispy bacon bits.
- Taco – Fill with taco-seasoned ground beef, Tex-Mex cheese, lettuce, salsa, and sour cream.
- Greek – Fill potato skin with gyro meat, feta cheese, red onion, tomato, and tzatziki sauce.
- Potato skins – Scoop out flesh and crisp skins. Fill with cheese, bacon, and ranch dressing.
- BBQ – Top with pulled pork or chicken, barbecue sauce, and coleslaw.
Garnishes like chopped scallions, snipped chives, crumbled bacon, grated cheese, and dollops of sour cream or Greek yogurt also help enhance reheated baked potatoes.
Storing and reheating leftover stuffed baked potatoes
Leftover fully stuffed baked potatoes don’t reheat quite as well whole due to the moisture from fillings. Here are some tips for enjoying leftover stuffed baked potatoes:
- Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 4 days.
- Reheat stuffed baked potato fillings in a saucepan over medium-low until warmed through.
- Scoop fillings into a toasted potato skin or tortilla for quick nachos.
- Add chilled stuffed potato fillings like broccoli and cheddar to an omelet or breakfast hash.
The fillings from stuffed baked potatoes retain great flavor for several days after baking. Enjoy them in new ways by reheating fillings separately from skins and serving in creative combinations.
Conclusion
Reheating baked potatoes in aluminum foil in an air fryer is an excellent way to put a hot, crispy potato on the table in under 20 minutes. The foil pouch steams the interior while the air fryer crisps up the skin. Allow potatoes to rest before unwrapping, and use a thermometer to confirm they reach safe serving temperature. Top reheated baked potatoes with anything from chili and cheese to pulled pork for easy, delicious meals.
| Potato Type | Air Fryer Temp | Cook Time |
|---|---|---|
| Russet, medium | 370°F | 12-15 minutes |
| Sweet potato, large | 370°F | 18-22 minutes |
| Baby red potatoes | 400°F | 10-12 minutes |
| Russet, jumbo | 350°F | 22-28 minutes |
Cook times will vary based on size of potato and if reheating from fridge or room temp. Use a meat thermometer to confirm internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Tips
- Start with completely baked and cooled potatoes stored in the refrigerator.
- Use heavy duty aluminum foil and wrap each potato separately.
- Preheat air fryer before adding foil potato packets.
- Let potatoes rest 5 minutes before unwrapping to release steam.