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Food & Recipes

How to Reheat a Baked Potato So It’s Crispy on the Outside + Fluffy on the Inside

This chef's trick creates an extra crunchy skin you'll want to munch on!

While baked potatoes are delicious fresh out of the oven, you can reheat leftover cooked spuds to crispy and tender perfection. All it takes is a few steps to warm up a cold baked potato in the oven or air fryer. On top of this, the skin becomes even crunchier with the help of a simple chef’s tip. The reheated spud is perfect for enjoying as a side or meal, especially if you add a variety of toppings. Keep reading to learn how to reheat a baked potato in no time!

The basics of baked potatoes

Baked potatoes are whole skin-on spuds cooked in the oven until they’re fork-tender. Spud varieties like russet, Yukon gold and sweet potatoes are ideal for baking as their starch produces a fluffy interior and crispy outside. Although baked potatoes are usually loaded with toppings, leaving extra spuds plain allows you to store them in the fridge for 3 to 4 days to enjoy later.

Chef’s secret to crispy reheated baked potatoes

Whether you’re reheating the spuds in the oven or air fryer, be sure to coat the skin with oil or cooking spray first. “Adding a little oil to the surface of the baked potato helps the skin crisp up nicely as it reheats,” Jenny Catton, blogger and owner at The Air Fryer Kitchen, says. Once the spuds are lightly coated, they’re ready to reheat to reheat using your preferred method.

How to reheat a baked potato

Below, you’ll find two ways to reheat baked potatoes so they’re perfectly soft and crispy.

For a small batch of spuds: reheat baked potatoes in the air fryer

If you’re looking to warm up one or two potatoes, the air fryer is your friend. Since this appliance distributes hot air around food, your potatoes will crisp nicely in 15 minutes or less. Use these five steps from Catton when reheating spuds in your air fryer.

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F.
  2. Lightly coat your leftover baked potatoes with cooking spray or olive oil.
  3. Arrange the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Leave space around them to allow the air to circulate.
  4. Air fry your potatoes for 10 to 15 minutes, until they’re browned and heated throughout.
  5. Remove potatoes from the air fryer basket and cool slightly before serving.

For a large batch of spuds: reheat baked potatoes in the oven

Reheating baked potatoes in the oven is a better option if you have multiple spuds. Follow these simple tips from chef Claudia Sidoti, to “re-bake” the spuds until they’re warm.

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
  2. Coat each spud in a thin layer of oil or cooking spray.
  3. Evenly space the potatoes on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  4. Place the tray in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes.
  5. Take the potatoes out of the oven, let them cool and enjoy.

5 ways to dress up your reheated baked potato

Chili stuffed baked potato as part of a guide on how to reheat a baked potato
mage Professionals GmbH/Getty

Add more flavor to your naturally buttery baked potato by topping it with any of these five ingredients. (Plus, click through for tips on how to build a baked potato bar.)

1. Chili

A scoop of beef or vegetarian chili infuses the spud with a burst of spice.

2. Flavored butter

Spreading butter flavored with seasonings or herbs onto the potato provides it with a richer taste. (Click through to our stories on cowboy butter and whipped butter.)

3. Cooked vegetables

Sautéed peppers, roasted carrots or are all yummy veggie choices for topping your potato with.

4. Shredded meat

Leftover chicken or pot roast can be shredded and placed on the spud to turn it into a hearty meal.

5. Cheese sauce

Pouring warm cheese sauce onto the potato adds creaminess and a nice tang.


Continue reading for more tips on reheating your go-to dishes!

How to Reheat Rotisserie Chicken So It’s as Delicious as the Day You Bought It

How to Reheat Fries So They’re Crispy, Tender + Delicious — Plus the Surprise Step You Should Actually Skip

Top Chef’s Easy Trick for Reheating Burritos So They’re Crispy, Not Soggy

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