Air Fryer Tater Tots: How Long To Fry?

Tater tots are a popular side dish, and cooking them in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get them crispy and golden. The cooking time will depend on the desired level of crispiness, the size of the tater tots, and the type of air fryer being used. However, on average, it takes around 10-15 minutes to cook tater tots in an air fryer.

How to get the crispiest tater tots

Tater tots are bite-sized potato snacks that are a favourite among kids and adults alike. They are usually deep-fried, but air fryers have emerged as a healthier alternative to get that crispy texture and golden-brown finish. Here's how you can get the crispiest tater tots using an air fryer:

Preheat the Air Fryer

Set your air fryer to 400°F/205°C. Most air fryer models require preheating for about 1 minute to 5 minutes. This step is crucial for achieving the desired crispiness.

Prepare the Tater Tots

Place the desired amount of frozen tater tots into the air fryer basket or tray. Ensure that they are in a single layer, with enough space between them for air to circulate. This arrangement ensures even cooking and maximum crispness. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the tater tots in batches.

Spray the tater tots lightly with cooking spray. This step is optional, as frozen tater tots already contain oil, but it can help achieve a deeper-fried texture. You can also sprinkle coarse salt or other seasonings of your choice over the tater tots for added flavour.

Cook the Tater Tots

"Fry" the tater tots for 5 minutes, then shake the basket to prevent them from sticking together and to expose all sides to the hot air. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes.

Check if the tater tots have reached your desired level of crispiness. If not, cook for additional 1-minute intervals until they are perfect.

Serve the Tater Tots

Tater tots can be served as a side dish or a snack. They go well with burgers, sandwiches, steak, or even seafood. For dipping, try ketchup, ranch, barbecue sauce, or something spicier like sriracha. You can also sprinkle shredded cheese on top and let it melt for a few minutes after turning off the air fryer. Enjoy!

How to store and reheat tater tots

If you have any leftover tater tots, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Make sure they are cooled down before storing them to prevent condensation and sogginess.

When you're ready to reheat your tater tots, avoid the microwave at all costs! Microwaving tater tots will result in a soggy, unevenly heated mess. Instead, use an air fryer, oven, or skillet for crispy, evenly heated tater tots.

Reheating Tater Tots in an Air Fryer

Place your cold tater tots in the air fryer basket. You can stack them this time, but make sure they're not piled on top of each other too much. Set the air fryer to 350°F to 400°F and cook for 2 to 5 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through to ensure even heating.

Reheating Tater Tots in an Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F to 400°F. Spread your tater tots on a baking sheet in a single layer, leaving some space between each tot. Cover the sheet with aluminium foil and bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Halfway through, shake the sheet or flip the tots with a spatula to ensure even heating.

Reheating Tater Tots in a Skillet

Heat a skillet on the stove over medium heat. Add a thin layer of oil to the skillet and place the tater tots in a single layer. Fry for about 1 minute on each side, or until crispy and heated through. Place the tater tots on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil, then serve immediately.

What to serve with tater tots

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

As a Side Dish

Tater tots can be a great side dish to burgers, chicken, hot dogs, chicken tenders, grilled cheese, fish sticks, and more. They can also be served as a snack or appetizer, providing a crispy and delicious alternative to french fries.

Breakfast Options

For breakfast, tater tots can be paired with pancakes, bacon, eggs, and even turned into a breakfast casserole or waffle. Try making tater tot nachos (tot-chos) by topping them with cheese, eggs, peppers, onions, and your favourite breakfast meats. You can also use tater tots as a base for breakfast burritos or sandwiches, providing a crunchy and salty contrast to the other ingredients.

Creative Combinations

Tater tots can be used in a variety of creative ways, such as in a tater tot shepherd's pie, chilli cheese tots, or even as a crust for a quiche or chicken pot pie. They can also be turned into a sweet treat by making churro-style dessert tots with a dulce dipping sauce.

Dipping Sauces

Don't forget the dipping sauces! Tater tots are perfect for dunking into your favourite sauces, such as ketchup, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, ranch, Big Mac sauce, nacho cheese sauce, or honey buffalo sauce.

How to season tater tots

Tater tots are a versatile dish that can be served as a side or a snack. They can be seasoned in a variety of ways to add flavor and variety. Here are some tips and suggestions for seasoning tater tots in an air fryer:

Pre-cooking Seasoning

Before cooking your tater tots, you can season them with a variety of spices and herbs. Lightly spray the frozen tater tots with cooking spray, then sprinkle them with coarse salt or other seasonings of your choice. Toss them gently to ensure an even coating of the seasoning. Here are some specific seasoning suggestions:

• Old Bay Seasoning
• Montreal Steak Seasoning
• Smoked Paprika
• Jerk Seasoning
• Taco Seasoning
• Aleppo Pepper
• Italian Seasoning
• Seasoned Salt
• Garlic Powder

Post-cooking Seasoning

After cooking your tater tots, you can also add seasonings to enhance their flavor. For a simple option, sprinkle seasoned salt over the hot tater tots. This will give them an extra boost of flavor. You can also try other seasonings like garlic and herb seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or taco seasoning. Simply toss the cooked tater tots in the seasoning of your choice.

Dipping Sauces

In addition to seasoning, you can serve your tater tots with a variety of dipping sauces. This adds moisture and flavor to the crispy tater tots. Some popular dipping sauce options include:

• Ketchup
• BBQ Sauce
• Honey Mustard
• Ranch Dressing
• Blue Cheese Dressing
• Sriracha
• Marinara Sauce

Cheese

For a hearty and indulgent option, try adding some shredded cheese to your tater tots. Turn off the air fryer, add the shredded cheese, and let the tater tots sit for a couple of minutes until the cheese melts. You can also add toppings like crumbled bacon, sour cream, chives, or green onions to create loaded tots.

How long to air fry tater tots

Air fryer tater tots are a quick and easy way to get crispy, hot, and delicious tater tots. They go from frozen to crunchy in just 10 to 15 minutes! Here's a step-by-step guide on how long to air fry tater tots and some tips for the best results.

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. This step is important for achieving crispy tater tots. The preheat time can vary depending on your air fryer, but it usually takes around 1 minute to 5 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the Tater Tots

Place the desired amount of frozen tater tots into the air fryer basket or tray. It's important to arrange them in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap or stack. This allows for even cooking and maximum crispness. If you need to cook a large quantity, you may need to do it in batches.

At this stage, you can also spray the tater tots lightly with cooking spray and add seasonings if desired. A sprinkle of coarse salt or your favorite seasoning blend can enhance the flavor.

Step 3: Air Fry the Tater Tots

Now, it's time to air fry! Place the basket or tray into the preheated air fryer and set the timer. The cooking time can vary slightly depending on your desired level of crispiness, but it typically ranges from 10 to 15 minutes.

It's important to shake the basket or tray halfway through the cooking process. This prevents the tater tots from sticking together and ensures even crisping. After shaking, continue air frying for the remaining time.

Step 4: Check for Doneness and Adjust as Needed

Once the timer goes off, check if the tater tots have reached your desired level of crispiness. If they need a little more time, air fry them for an additional minute or two until they're perfect.

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Tater Tots:

• Cooking spray: While not necessary, a light coating of cooking spray can give the tater tots a more deep-fried texture.
• Seasonings: Experiment with different seasonings like Old Bay, Montreal steak seasoning, smoked paprika, or taco seasoning to add extra flavor to your tater tots.
• Batch cooking: If you're cooking a large quantity, you may need to cook the tater tots in batches to ensure even cooking and crispness.
• Reheating: To reheat leftover tater tots, place them in the air fryer at 400°F for 2-3 minutes. You can stack them when reheating.

Frequently asked questions