Posted by Who can resist the temptation of perfectly crisp roast potatoes? The crunch, the golden exterior, and the fluffy inside it’s a crowd-pleaser for any meal. While traditional oven methods take time and often require parboiling, this air fryer method skips that step entirely, delivering deliciously crispy potatoes in just 20 minutes. Plus, there’s no need to sacrifice flavor for speed. This recipe is the perfect side dish for any meal, from a Sunday roast to a midweek quick fix.
The Magic of Air Frying Potatoes: No Parboiling Needed
You might be used to parboiling your potatoes to achieve that perfect roast texture. However, with this air fryer recipe, you can skip that step entirely! Using the right technique, your potatoes will still have that ideal combination of a crispy outside and a fluffy center, all without the need for boiling.
Whether you’re short on time or looking to lighten up the preparation process, the air fryer becomes your go-to tool. But it’s not just the speed that makes this recipe a winner—it’s the texture and taste, too. You’ll be impressed with how simple it is to get crispy roast potatoes using your air fryer.
Key Technique: Air Fryer Basket vs. Tray Insert
Through experimentation, we’ve found that using a shallow tray insert in your air fryer basket is the key to achieving maximum crispiness. When the potatoes are cooked directly in the basket, much of the oil drains away, leading to a less crispy texture. The tray insert allows the potatoes to maintain full contact with the oil, which results in crunchier, tastier results.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To create these delightful crispy air fryer roast potatoes, here’s what you’ll need:
- 700 g (1 ½ lbs) floury potatoes: Go for varieties like Maris Piper or red-skinned Rooster potatoes, known for their fluffy texture when roasted.
- 2 tbsp neutral oil: Choose oils with a high smoke point like rapeseed, avocado, or sunflower oil to ensure the potatoes cook evenly and get crispy without burning.
- 1 tsp Maldon salt: Adds a burst of flavor to elevate the natural taste of the potatoes.
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves: Adds a hint of earthiness and freshness to the crispy potatoes.
Optional for extra crunch: An additional 1 tbsp neutral oil to further enhance the crispiness during cooking.
Step-by-Step Guide to Crispy Perfection
Step 1: Preparing Your Potatoes
Start by peeling and chopping your potatoes into chunks about 2.5cm (1 inch) in size. It’s important to keep the pieces uniform so that they cook evenly. Once chopped, rinse the potatoes under cold water to remove any excess starch, then pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel. Dry potatoes allow for better crisping, as moisture prevents the outer layer from becoming crunchy.
Step 2: Set Up the Air Fryer
Now, place the shallow tray insert into your air fryer basket. This is a crucial step to achieving the right texture. The tray allows the oil to coat the potatoes fully, without it draining away through the holes of the basket. It’s this contact with the oil that helps create that golden, crispy crust.
Step 3: Oil and Season the Potatoes
Drizzle the potatoes with 2 tablespoons of neutral oil. Toss them in the tray to ensure they’re evenly coated. The oil helps to fry the outside of the potatoes, creating a crispy outer layer while keeping the inside fluffy. You can give the tray a little shake or stir to make sure all the potatoes are covered.
Step 4: Start Cooking
Preheat your air fryer to 200°C (400°F) and cook the potatoes for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, open the fryer, flip the potatoes, and cook them for another 5 minutes.
Step 5: Roughen the Potatoes for Extra Crisp
After 10 minutes of cooking, remove the air fryer tray and use the back of a spoon to gently bash the potatoes. This step is key to creating extra crispy edges, as it roughens the surface of the potatoes. Rough surfaces will crisp up more during cooking.
Step 6: Add More Oil for Extra Crunch
For that irresistible crispy texture, drizzle on another tablespoon of oil at this stage. This additional oil will help to further brown the potatoes during the final cooking stage.
Step 7: Final Cook Time
Place the potatoes back into the air fryer and cook for another 10 minutes. By the end of the 20-minute total cook time, your potatoes should be golden brown and irresistibly crispy.
Step 8: Season and Serve
Once your potatoes are done, sprinkle them with Maldon salt and fresh thyme leaves for an added burst of flavor. Serve immediately to enjoy their full crispiness!
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Roast Potatoes
- Use floury potatoes: Potatoes like Maris Piper or Rooster are best for roasting. Their high starch content makes the inside fluffy while the outside crisps up beautifully.
- Don’t overcrowd the tray: Make sure your potatoes are in a single layer in the air fryer. Overcrowding will result in uneven cooking.
- Add herbs for flavor: Fresh thyme is a great addition, but you can also experiment with rosemary or garlic for extra flavor.
- Increase crunch: If you prefer your potatoes extra crispy, consider adding an additional tablespoon of oil halfway through cooking.
Optional Variations
- Garlic & Herb Potatoes: Toss your potatoes with finely minced garlic and fresh rosemary for an added burst of flavor.
- Cheesy Potatoes: After air frying, sprinkle the hot potatoes with Parmesan or cheddar cheese and let it melt over them.
- Spicy Roast Potatoes: Add a pinch of smoked paprika or cayenne pepper to the oil before tossing the potatoes for a spicy kick.
Air Fryer Roast Potatoes
No need to parboil these crispy roast potatoes—just 5 minutes of prep and 20 minutes in the air fryer!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
- 700 g (1 ½ lbs) floury potatoes (e.g., Maris Piper or Rooster)
- 2 tbsp neutral oil (rapeseed, avocado, or sunflower)
- 1 tsp Maldon salt
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
Optional for extra crunch:
- 1 tbsp neutral oil
Instructions:
- Peel and chop the potatoes into 1-inch chunks. Rinse under cold water and dry thoroughly.
- Place a shallow tray insert into your air fryer basket.
- Toss the potatoes in 2 tbsp oil until evenly coated, and place them in the tray.
- Cook at 200°C (400°F) for 5 minutes, then turn and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Gently bash the potatoes with a spoon to roughen them up. Drizzle with 1 tbsp oil.
- Cook for a final 10 minutes, until crispy and golden brown.
- Sprinkle with Maldon salt and fresh thyme. Serve hot!
Nutritional Information (Per Serving)
- Calories: 252 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 11g
- Fiber: 6g
- Sodium: 645mg
