All you need is 12 minutes for a perfect baked potato. Here’s how it’s done

Baked potatoes go with almost anything, and you can fill them with cheese, meat or vegetables for a complete meal. But waiting an hour for one or two taters to cook is kind of a buzzkill. That’s why this foolproof 12-minute method for making baked potatoes has risen up the rankings of my favorite food discoveries for 2024, along with salmon from the air fryer and 1 minute Microwave poached eggs.

With this CNET-tested method to make the historically long-lasting recipe in under 15 minutes, I use the microwave to cook a potato soft and tasty in about 8 to 10 minutes. Then the air fryer makes the skin crispy in less than 4 minutes without the need for preheating time. That’s 12 minutes, give or take, for a baked potato that’s as good or better than anything you make in the oven.

Finally, this super side dish can be made in a snap for one weekday dinner. Or fill it with broccoli, bacon and cheese for a perfectly filling lunch or snack.

As a bonus: air fryers and microwaves usage less energy than a large oven and are particularly easy to operate and clean. This way you can make the best and fastest baked potato of your life in 12 minutes.

What you need:

Directions:

• Step 1: Poke air holes in the potato with a fork.
• Step 2: Microwave the potato on high for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender and tender.
• Step 3: Cut the potato halfway and mix with melted butter or olive oil. You can also fill the potato with cheese or bacon.
• Step 4: Air fry with the high skin side up for 2 minutes. Turn and cook for another two minutes until desired crispiness is achieved. (If you put cheese, vegetables, or bacon on top, cook only with the skin side down.)

For more tips, see my list of the seven foods that I only fry in the air from now on and learn how to do it best Reheat all types of leftovers.