Air-Fryer Tater Tots: Quick, Crispy, Golden Goodness

Air fryers are a convenient way to make tater tots, with many people saying they are even better than oven-baked ones. They are quick, easy, and produce a crispy texture. This guide will take you through the steps to make tater tots in an air fryer.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the process of making tater tots. It ensures that your tater tots cook evenly and get that extra crispiness we all crave. Depending on the model of your air fryer, preheating times may vary, but generally, it should take around 2 to 5 minutes to preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

For example, if you're using an air fryer that requires preheating, like the one mentioned in the "Air Fryer Tater Tots" recipe, you'll want to preheat it to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes. On the other hand, if you're using an air fryer that doesn't require preheating, you can simply set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and let it heat up while you prepare the tater tots.

It's worth noting that some sources recommend preheating your air fryer to a higher temperature, such as 450 degrees Fahrenheit, especially if you're using an oven-style air fryer. This higher temperature setting can help ensure that your tater tots get nice and crispy.

While your air fryer is preheating, you can prepare the tater tots by placing them into the air fryer basket or tray. Make sure they are in a single layer and that they don't overlap too much. This ensures even cooking and crispiness. If you're making a large batch, you might need to cook them in multiple batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer.

Once your air fryer has preheated, you can proceed with the cooking process, following the specific instructions provided by your air fryer's manufacturer.

Use frozen tater tots

Frozen tater tots are a great option for a quick and easy snack or side dish. They can go straight from the freezer into the air fryer, making them even more convenient. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieving crispy, golden tater tots using your air fryer:

Step 1: Preheat Your Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to around 400°F. Most air fryers will take about 2-5 minutes to preheat. This step is important as it helps ensure even cooking and crispiness.

Step 2: Prepare the Tater Tots

Take your desired amount of frozen tater tots and place them in the air fryer basket or tray. It's best to arrange them in a single layer for even cooking, but they can touch if needed. Avoid stacking them to ensure crispiness. If you're cooking a large batch, you may need to cook them in multiple batches.

Step 3: Air Fry

Once your air fryer is preheated, it's time to cook your tater tots. The cooking time will vary depending on your desired level of crispiness, but generally, they will take around 10-15 minutes to cook at 400°F. For extra crispy tots, add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time.

It's a good idea to shake the basket or flip the tater tots halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking and browning. However, be careful when doing this, as the tots can break apart easily before they are fully crisped.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

Once your tater tots are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and serve them immediately. They go well with various dipping sauces, such as ketchup, BBQ sauce, cheese sauce, or honey mustard.

Tips for the Best Results:

• No need to defrost the tater tots; cook them straight from frozen.
• Avoid using cooking spray, as frozen tater tots already contain oil. However, if they look dry halfway through cooking, you can spritz them lightly with oil.
• For the crispiest results, arrange the tater tots in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray.
• If you're cooking mini tater tots, they will take less time to cook, so check on them around the 5-minute mark.
• If you want to enhance the flavor, you can sprinkle your favorite seasonings on top of the tater tots before air frying.

Don't overlap the tots

When cooking tater tots in an air fryer, it's important to ensure they are in a single layer and not overlapping. This is because the hot air needs to circulate evenly around each tot to achieve that desired crispiness. If they are overlapping, the hot air won't be able to reach all the surfaces of the tots, and you'll end up with unevenly cooked results. Some tots may remain soggy, while others will be overcooked.

Additionally, cooking in a single layer ensures that the tots cook evenly and efficiently. This means you'll have a shorter cooking time and can enjoy your crispy, fluffy tots sooner!

If you have a large batch of tots to cook, it's best to cook them in smaller batches to ensure they cook evenly and don't overlap. It's worth the extra effort for that perfect tot!

Shake the basket halfway through

Shaking the basket halfway through is an important step in ensuring your tater tots cook evenly. It helps them to crisp up on all sides and prevents them from breaking apart. If you don't shake the basket, you may find that your tater tots are stuck together or to the basket in clumps.

When you shake the basket, you are essentially tossing the tater tots, which helps them cook evenly on all sides. This is especially important if you are cooking a large batch of tots, as it ensures that they all get exposed to the hot air in the fryer and don't end up burnt on one side and raw on the other.

It's also important not to use a spatula to flip the tots. Shaking the basket is a much gentler way to move them around and prevents them from breaking apart. So, if you want perfectly crispy, intact tater tots, don't forget to shake the basket halfway through!

Reheat any leftovers

Reheating tater tots in an air fryer is a great way to get them crispy again. If you have any leftover tater tots, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

To reheat, preheat your air fryer to 350-400°F. Place the tater tots in the air fryer basket and heat for 2-5 minutes. You can stack the tater tots when reheating, but if you have a large amount, you may need to add an extra minute or two and shake the basket halfway through to ensure even heating.

Frequently asked questions