The Fastest Baked Potato You’ll Ever Make

Let’s face it, nobody wants to wait 60 minutes for a baked potato.

Here’s a method that gives you crispy skin and fluffy inside in under 15 minutes: microwave + air fryer.

Why Bother With Baked Potatoes?

Because they’re:

• Cheap

• Nutrient-dense

• Ridiculously easy to track

They’re also perfect for any phase of your nutrition:

• Cutting? Baked potatoes are high volume and filling, especially when paired with lean protein and low-fat toppings.

• Maintaining? Easy to portion control and flexible with toppings.

• Bulking? Add butter, cheese, sour cream, and beef; you’ve got a calorie bomb that digests well and fuels training.

If you’ve been obsessively weighing every gram of spinach or broccoli on your plate, potatoes offer a welcome break from that madness. Why Measuring Veggies is a Waste of Time breaks this down and why freeing up your mental energy matters.

Now let’s get into the fastest way to make one.

Step-By-Step: Microwave + Air Fry Baked Potato

1. Wash & Stab It
Scrub and dry it (or don't, I never do 😂), and poke it a few times with a fork or knife so it doesn’t explode. 

2. Microwave
Toss it on a plate and microwave for:

• 3-4 minutes per side (small to medium potato)

• 5-6 minutes per side (larger potato)

3. Air Fry
Once it’s soft inside, transfer it to your air fryer:

• 400°F for 4-6 minutes

• Skin will crisp up beautifully. Watch for burning if it’s already well-done.

Optional: Rub the skin with a tiny bit of oil and salt before air frying for max flavor and crunch.

How to Use It (Based on Your Goals)

Here’s how I adjust mine depending on the phase I’m in:

• Cutting:

  • Raw dog it. Only salt and pepper.

  • Or add a small amount of butter, low fat sour cream, or cheese

• Maintaining/Bulking:

  • Add some butter, shredded cheese, and/or sour cream, etc.

And if you’re wondering whether this kind of flexibility still works for fat loss… it does. What’s the Most Effective Way to Lose Weight? walks through why structure matters more than a specific food list.

The Takeaway

Baked potatoes are underrated, especailly when cutting.

They’re:

• One-ingredient

• Easy to prep

• A blank canvas for any phase of your diet

And with this microwave + air fryer method, they go from raw to perfect in under 15 minutes.

And they pair well with all kinds of meat.

If you like simple, goal-friendly meals like this, click here if you want help building a plan around real food.

P.S. I share more training and nutrition insights on:

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