Air Fryer Hack: Frozen Tater Tots, Anytime

Air fryers are a convenient way to cook frozen foods and get them super crispy. Tater tots are no exception, and you can easily cook frozen tater tots in an air fryer. In fact, air fryer tater tots are even better than oven-baked ones as they are ready in less time and are supremely crispy and delicious. They are also a healthier alternative to deep-fried restaurant-style tots.

How long to cook frozen tater tots in an air fryer

Cooking frozen tater tots in an air fryer is a quick and convenient way to get crispy, delicious tater tots. Here's a step-by-step guide on how long to cook them for the best results:

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. This is an important step to ensure even cooking and the best results. Most air fryers will require preheating, so don't skip this step.

Step 2: Prepare the Frozen Tater Tots

Place the frozen tater tots into the air fryer basket or tray. It's important to arrange them in a single layer to ensure even cooking. Don't overcrowd the basket, and cook them in batches if necessary. You can spray the tops of the tater tots with a light coating of cooking spray, but this is optional as frozen tater tots already contain oil.

Step 3: Cook the Tater Tots

Now, it's time to cook the tater tots. The cooking time will depend on your desired level of crispiness, but on average, they will take between 7 to 15 minutes in the air fryer. Shake the basket or tray halfway through cooking to ensure even browning and crisping. For extra crispy tater tots, cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes until they are a dark golden brown.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

Once they're cooked to your liking, remove the tater tots from the air fryer and serve them immediately. They go well with various dipping sauces, such as ketchup, BBQ sauce, or honey mustard. You can also sprinkle them with seasonings like garlic salt, Cajun seasoning, or Old Bay seasoning to add extra flavor.

Tips for the Best Results

• Always use frozen tater tots straight from the freezer. There's no need to defrost or pre-cook them.
• Regular-sized tater tots are recommended. If you're using mini tater tots, adjust the cooking time accordingly, as they will cook faster.
• Check on your tater tots a few times during cooking to determine your optimal cooking time.
• If you're cooking a large batch, you may need to do multiple batches in the air fryer.

How to make frozen tater tots in an air fryer

Ingredients

• Frozen tater tots
• Olive oil (optional)
• Salt (optional)
• Cooking spray (optional)

Utensils

• Air fryer
• Large bowl (optional)
• Air fryer basket or tray

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
• If you are using olive oil, salt, or other seasonings, toss the tater tots in a large bowl until they are well coated.
• Place the tater tots into the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer.
• Cook for 7 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
• Remove the tater tots from the air fryer and serve immediately.

Tips

• Always cook in a single layer for even cooking.
• If you are using mini tater tots, check on them after 5 minutes to prevent burning.
• For extra crispy tater tots, cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
• If you are reheating tater tots, cook at 350°F for 3 to 5 minutes.

How to store and reheat tater tots

Tater tots are a great snack, but what do you do when you have leftovers? Here's how to store and reheat tater tots to keep them tasting great.

Storing Tater Tots

If you have cooked tater tots that you want to save for later, let them cool to room temperature first. Then, place them in an airtight container and put them in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 5 days.

Reheating Tater Tots

There are several ways to reheat tater tots, but the best methods are using an air fryer, oven, or frying pan.

#### Air Fryer

To reheat tater tots in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 350-380°F. Place the tater tots in the basket and cook for about 3-5 minutes.

#### Oven

To reheat tater tots in the oven, preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the tater tots on an oven-safe dish and cover them with aluminium foil. Bake for 15-25 minutes, checking occasionally to make sure they don't burn.

#### Frying Pan

To reheat tater tots in a frying pan, coat the pan with cooking spray or oil and place it on the burner. Add the tater tots to the pan and heat for one minute on each side. Place the tater tots on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil before serving.

Reheating tater tots is a great way to enjoy them again without sacrificing taste or texture. So, go ahead and make a big batch, because now you know how to store and reheat them like a pro!

What to serve with tater tots

Tater tots are a versatile side dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas on what to serve with tater tots:

As a Side Dish

Tater tots can be a great alternative to French fries and can be served as a side dish with a variety of mains. They go well with hamburgers, pork loin, sloppy joes, or London broil. They can also be paired with grilled cheese and fish sticks.

Breakfast Options

Tater tots can be a tasty addition to your breakfast plate. Pair them with pancakes, bacon, or even eggs in various forms, such as breakfast bowls or breakfast burritos.

Casseroles and Bakes

Tater tots are a key ingredient in several casseroles and bakes. You can make a tater tot casserole by browning ground beef with diced onions and mixing it with cream of celery soup. Place this mixture in a casserole dish, top it with tater tots, and bake. Another option is a cheesy bacon tater tot pie, where you mix tater tots with cheese and bacon, serving it with a side of steamed veggies or a salad.

Tot Sandwiches and Burgers

Tater tots add a nice crunch to sandwiches, especially grilled cheese. You can also add them to burgers for a unique twist.

Totchos

A fun play on nachos, totchos are made by using tater tots as the base and piling on your favorite nacho toppings. You can add protein with shredded rotisserie chicken, leftover chili, or pulled pork.

Dipping Sauces

Tater tots are delicious on their own, but you can take them to the next level by serving them with dipping sauces. Some popular options include Big Mac sauce, BBQ sauce, nacho cheese sauce, honey buffalo sauce, or ketchup for the kids.

Creative Combinations

Think outside the box and try some unique combinations. For instance, you can make tater tot pizza, using Canadian bacon and eggs as toppings. Or, for a fun snack, try air fryer tater tots with a side of zucchini sticks.

With their convenience, versatility, and kid-approved status, tater tots are a great option to have in your culinary arsenal.

Seasoning ideas for frozen tater tots

Frozen tater tots cooked in an air fryer are a quick, easy, and tasty snack or side dish. While some people enjoy eating them plain, there are many seasoning ideas to elevate the flavour of your tater tots.

Garlic and Herb Seasoning

A popular seasoning option is garlic and herb. This blend can be tossed with the tater tots before air frying to give them a flavour boost.

Cajun Seasoning Blend

For those who like a little kick, a cajun seasoning blend can be used. This adds a spicy and savoury note to the tater tots.

Taco Seasoning

Taco seasoning is another tasty option, especially if you're serving the tater tots with Mexican-inspired dishes. It adds a bold and zesty flavour.

Old Bay Seasoning

Old Bay Seasoning is a versatile blend that can enhance the taste of your tater tots. It's a unique combination of herbs and spices that gives a distinct flavour.

Seasoned Salt

A simple yet effective option is seasoned salt. This can be sprinkled over the tater tots after cooking for an easy one-ingredient upgrade. It adds a savoury touch to the crispy bites.

Garlic Powder, Paprika, Italian Seasoning

For those who enjoy experimenting with spices, creating your own blend with garlic powder, paprika, or Italian seasoning can be a fun option. These individual spices can be mixed and matched to your taste preference.

Dipping Sauces

In addition to seasonings, serving your tater tots with dipping sauces can take them to the next level. Popular options include ketchup, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, ranch, Big Mac sauce, nacho cheese sauce, and honey buffalo sauce.

Feel free to get creative and mix and match different seasonings and sauces to find your favourite combinations!

Frequently asked questions