Air Fryer Tater Tots: A Quick, Crispy Treat?

Air fryers are a great alternative to ovens or microwaves when it comes to cooking tater tots. They are faster, crispier, and more convenient. You can cook frozen tater tots straight from the freezer in an air fryer, without needing to defrost or pre-cook them. The result is a crunchy exterior and soft, fluffy interior.

How long to cook tater tots in an air fryer

Tater tots are a great snack or side dish, and cooking them in an air fryer is a convenient, healthier way to get them crispy without deep-frying. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to cook tater tots in an air fryer, with tips on achieving the perfect crispiness and cooking time.

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Preheat your air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Some sources suggest preheating for 1 minute, while others recommend 4 to 5 minutes. Check your air fryer's instructions for the best results.
• Prepare the tater tots: Place the desired amount of frozen tater tots into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they are not overlapping or stacked. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.
• Add cooking spray (optional): Lightly spray the tater tots with cooking spray. This step is optional, but it will help you get crunchier tater tots. You can use non-aerosolized avocado oil, vegetable oil, or olive oil spray.
• Air fry: Air fry the tater tots for 12 to 15 minutes at 400°F. Shake the basket gently every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking and crisping. For softer tater tots, reduce the cooking time by a minute or so. For extra crispy tots, cook for a few minutes longer, checking every additional minute or so. The color should be a darker brown for maximum crispiness.
• Season: Sprinkle the tater tots with salt or your favorite seasoning blend immediately after removing them from the air fryer. You can also add seasonings before cooking; experiment with different blends like garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Old Bay seasoning, or seasoned salt.
• Serve: Allow the tater tots to cool for about a minute or two before serving as they will be very hot. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces like ketchup, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or ranch.

Tips for Perfect Crispiness:

• Cooking time: The cooking time may vary depending on your desired level of crispiness. For softer tater tots, check them around the 10- or 11-minute mark. For extra crispy tots, cook for a few minutes longer, checking every additional minute or so.
• Cooking spray: Using cooking spray is optional but recommended for crunchier tater tots. It also helps prevent them from sticking to the air fryer basket.
• Batches: Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the tater tots in batches to ensure even cooking.
• Shake the basket: Don't forget to shake the basket every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking and crisping on all sides.
• Preheat the air fryer: It is recommended to preheat the air fryer before adding the tater tots so they cook quicker and become crispier.
• Don't overcrowd: Place the tater tots in a single layer and avoid overlapping or stacking them. This ensures even cooking and crisping.

Storing and Reheating:

• Storing: If you have any leftover tater tots, let them cool completely and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Reheating: To reheat, place the tater tots back into the air fryer at 400°F for 2 to 3 minutes. You can stack them when reheating, but add a minute or two if you have a large amount, and shake the basket halfway through for even heating.

How to serve tater tots

Tater tots are a great side dish for burgers, chicken, hot dogs, chicken tenders, grilled cheese, fish sticks, and more. They can also be served as a snack or breakfast food, paired with pancakes and bacon.

For a simple, classic dish, serve the tater tots hot and crispy with a sprinkling of seasoned salt.

If you're looking for a sauce to serve with your tater tots, options include ketchup, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, ranch, Big Mac sauce, nacho cheese sauce, and honey buffalo sauce.

How to reheat tater tots in an air fryer

Yes, you can put tater tots in the air fryer! In fact, cooking them in an air fryer is a good way to get them crispy and golden brown.

Now, if you have some leftover tater tots that you want to reheat, here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to reheat them in an air fryer:

• Preheat your air fryer to 380°F or 400°F.
• Place your tater tots into the air fryer basket. It is okay to stack them when reheating, but if you have a lot, you may need to add a minute or two to the cooking time.
• Reheat for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until warmed and crispy. Shake the basket halfway through to ensure even heating.
• Once they are done, take them out and enjoy!

Reheating tater tots in an air fryer helps them regain their crispiness and is a much better option than using a microwave, which can make them soggy.

How to season tater tots

Tater tots are a delicious snack, side, or breakfast food. They can be made in an air fryer and are super crispy and tasty.

• Seasoned salt is a great, easy option to season your tater tots. Simply sprinkle it on top of the tots after they are done cooking.
• For a more complex flavor, try using a garlic and herb seasoning blend. You can also use a Cajun seasoning blend, taco seasoning, or Old Bay seasoning.
• If you want to get creative, try making your own seasoning blend. You can experiment with different herbs, spices, and ingredients to find a combination that you like.
• For a one-ingredient upgrade, sprinkle some seasoned salt on top of your tater tots before serving.
• If you're looking for a crispy and golden finish, avoid flipping the tots with a spatula while they're cooking. Shaking the basket to toss them is a better option.
• For a simple and classic flavor, stick to salt and pepper. You can adjust the amount to your taste preferences.
• For a cheesy twist, sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese on top of the tater tots. You can also try other types of cheese, such as cheddar or mozzarella.
• If you're feeling adventurous, try experimenting with different types of salts, such as kosher salt, sea salt, or flavored salts.
• For a spicy kick, add some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to your seasoning blend.
• Remember to taste as you season, so you can adjust the amounts to your preference.

There are many ways to season tater tots, and you can get creative and experiment with different flavors and ingredients. These tips will help you make delicious and flavorful tater tots in your air fryer.

How to store leftover tater tots

Tater tots are a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a side or transformed into new culinary creations. Here are some tips and ideas for storing and repurposing leftover tater tots:

Storing Leftover Tater Tots:

• Allow the tater tots to cool: Before storing, it is important to let the tater tots cool down to room temperature. Do not leave them out for too long, as this can compromise food safety.
• Use an airtight container: Place the cooled tater tots in an airtight container. This helps maintain freshness and prevents moisture and contaminants from affecting their quality.
• Refrigerate or freeze: Keep the container of tater tots in the refrigerator if you plan to consume them within a few days. For longer storage, freeze them. Label the container with the freezing date to keep track of freshness. Frozen tater tots can last up to 3-4 months.

Reheating Leftover Tater Tots:

• Oven or air fryer: For the best texture, reheat the tater tots in an oven or air fryer to restore their crispiness. Preheat the oven or air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Spread the tater tots in a single layer on a baking sheet or in the air fryer basket. Reheat for 3-5 minutes in the air fryer or 10-15 minutes in the oven, shaking the basket or tray halfway through.
• Microwave: If you're short on time, you can use the microwave. Cover the tater tots with a microwave-safe lid or paper towel to prevent splattering, and reheat in 30-second intervals until warmed. However, they won't be as crispy as when reheated in the oven or air fryer.

Repurposing Leftover Tater Tots:

Leftover tater tots can be transformed into creative and delicious meals:

• Breakfast dishes: Try making a tater tot breakfast casserole by layering them in a baking dish with eggs, milk, cheese, and bacon. You can also make breakfast tot cups by pressing tots into a muffin pan and filling them with a mixture of eggs, diced onion, green peppers, and cheese.
• Lunch options: Get creative with tater tot grilled cheese sandwiches or sloppy tots (tater tots topped with ground beef and onion in sloppy joe sauce). You can also make portable tater tot skewers by threading them with leftover chicken, ham, or turkey and grilling them.
• Dinner transformations: Whip up a tater tot casserole by combining them with ground beef, cheese, and veggies. For a fun twist, make pizza tots by topping them with pizza sauce, cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings.

Frequently asked questions