Air Fryer Tater Tots: How Long Until They're Golden?

Tater tots are a popular snack and side dish that can be made in an air fryer for a healthier, crispier alternative to deep-fried tater tots. The cooking time for tater tots in an air fryer varies depending on the desired level of crispiness, but generally, they take around 12 to 15 minutes to cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your tater tots cook evenly and get that extra crispy texture that makes them so delicious. Here are some detailed instructions to help you preheat your air fryer to 400°F:

• Check your air fryer model: Not all air fryers require preheating, so it's important to refer to your specific model's instructions. Some air fryers may have a preheat setting, while others may need to be manually heated.
• Set the temperature: Adjust the temperature dial or settings to 400°F. This temperature is ideal for cooking tater tots as it gives them a crispy exterior while keeping the interior soft and fluffy.
• Allow time for preheating: Depending on your air fryer, preheating can take around 2-3 minutes or even up to 5 minutes. This step is crucial, as it ensures that your air fryer reaches the desired temperature before you start cooking.
• Prepare the air fryer basket: Some recipes suggest preparing the air fryer basket by brushing or spraying it with olive oil, avocado oil, or another suitable cooking oil. This step can help prevent sticking and enhance the crispiness of your tater tots.

By following these steps, you'll be on your way to making perfectly cooked tater tots with that signature crispy texture. Remember to refer to your specific air fryer model's instructions for any additional guidance on preheating.

Place the frozen tater tots in a single layer

Placing the frozen tater tots in a single layer is an important step when cooking tater tots in an air fryer. This is because it ensures even cooking and helps to avoid overcrowding, which can hinder airflow and result in soggy tater tots. By arranging the tater tots in a single layer, hot air can circulate around each tot, crisping up the exterior while keeping the interior fluffy and hot.

Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the tater tots in batches. This is because the basket needs to be filled no more than halfway to ensure there is enough space for the hot air to circulate and for the tater tots to cook evenly. If you are cooking for a larger group, it may be more efficient to cook the tater tots in the oven on sheet pans.

When placing the frozen tater tots in the air fryer, it is also important to note that they should not be stacked or overlapped. This will ensure that each tot cooks evenly and achieves the desired level of crispiness. If you are using mini tater tots, the cooking time will be shorter, so be sure to check on them more frequently to avoid overcooking.

To get the best results, it is recommended to preheat the air fryer to 400°F before placing the frozen tater tots in a single layer in the basket. Cooking spray can be used to enhance crispiness and prevent sticking, but it is not necessary. Some recipes also suggest sprinkling salt or other seasonings on the tater tots before cooking to add extra flavor.

Once the tater tots are placed in the air fryer, they will need to cook for around 12 to 15 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispiness. It is important to shake the basket every few minutes to ensure even cooking and to prevent sticking. For extra crispy tater tots, you can cook them for an additional minute or two until they are a dark golden brown.

Spray with cooking spray

Spraying your tater tots with cooking spray is an important step in the air-frying process. While it is not essential, it is highly recommended. The cooking spray will help to ensure that your tater tots come out extra crispy, and it will also help to prevent them from sticking to the air fryer basket.

It is best to use a non-aerosolized cooking spray, as these have a higher smoke point and will not leave a bitter or rancid taste on your food. Avocado oil, vegetable oil, and olive oil are all good options.

To apply the cooking spray, place your frozen tater tots in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray them. Then, toss the tater tots and spray them again. This will ensure that they are evenly coated.

In addition to the cooking spray, you can also sprinkle your tater tots with salt or other seasonings to add extra flavor. Some suggested seasonings include garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, and taco seasoning.

Once your tater tots are coated with cooking spray and seasoned to your liking, you can proceed to air fry them according to your air fryer's instructions.

Cook for 12-15 minutes

So, you've decided to cook tater tots in your air fryer—great choice! You'll have crunchy, hot, and delicious tater tots ready in just 12 to 15 minutes. Here's a step-by-step guide to ensure you get perfect results:

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. This step is important as it ensures the tater tots cook quickly and become nice and crunchy. Preheat for about 5 minutes or until the air fryer reaches the desired temperature.

Step 2: Prepare the 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 stack or overcrowd them. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the tater tots in batches.

Step 3: Apply Cooking Spray and Seasonings (Optional)

Lightly spray the tater tots with cooking spray. This step is optional but recommended as it helps to enhance the crispiness of the tater tots and prevents them from sticking to the air fryer. You can use avocado oil, vegetable oil, or a similar cooking spray. After spraying, sprinkle your desired seasonings onto the tater tots. Coarse salt is a popular choice, but you can also experiment with other seasonings like garlic powder, paprika, or Italian seasoning.

Step 4: Air Fry for 12 to 15 Minutes

Now, it's time to air fry! Cook the tater tots for 12 to 15 minutes at 400°F. Shake the basket gently every 5 minutes during the cooking process to ensure even crisping and browning. The exact timing within this range will depend on your desired level of doneness and crispiness. If you prefer them extra crispy, cook them for a little longer, checking every minute or so until they're as crispy as you like.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy!

Once the tater tots are golden brown and crispy, it's time to serve them! Be careful, as they will be very hot. You can enjoy them as a snack or as a side dish. They go great with burgers, chicken, or even breakfast foods like pancakes and bacon. Don't forget to dip them in your favorite sauce, such as ketchup, BBQ sauce, or ranch.

There you have it! By following these steps, you'll have perfectly cooked air fryer tater tots in just 12 to 15 minutes. Enjoy the crunchy, delicious results!

Shake the basket halfway through

Shaking the basket of your air fryer halfway through the cooking process is an important step to ensure your tater tots cook evenly and achieve that coveted crispy texture. Here's a detailed guide on why and how to do it:

Shaking the basket helps to ensure that your tater tots cook evenly on all sides. By giving the basket a good shake, you're effectively rotating the tots so that they crisp up nicely on multiple sides, rather than just the side that was initially facing the heat source. This results in a more consistent texture and colour across all your tater tots.

Additionally, shaking the basket can help prevent sticking. By moving the tots around, you reduce the chance of them becoming stuck to the basket or to each other, which can cause uneven cooking and make it more difficult to remove them from the air fryer once they're done.

When to Shake the Basket

The optimal time to shake the basket is about halfway through the cooking process. Most recipes for air fryer tater tots have a cooking time of around 12 to 15 minutes, so you'll want to shake the basket after about 5 to 7 minutes. You can do this by simply removing the basket from the air fryer and giving it a few firm shakes, or by using tongs or a spatula to gently stir the tots if you're concerned about them spilling out.

It's also a good idea to shake the basket a second time towards the end of the cooking process, especially if you're aiming for extra crispy tots. This will help ensure that all sides of the tots get a chance to face the heat source and crisp up.

Other Tips for Crispy Tots

In addition to shaking the basket, there are a few other things you can do to ensure your tater tots come out crispy:

• Preheat your air fryer: This ensures that your tater tots start cooking immediately upon being placed in the basket, resulting in a crispier exterior.
• Don't overcrowd the basket: Give your tots enough space by arranging them in a single layer. This allows hot air to circulate around each tot, promoting even cooking and crisping.
• Use cooking spray: A light coating of cooking spray (such as avocado oil or vegetable oil spray) will help your tater tots achieve that deep-fried crunch without becoming greasy.
• Season generously: Experiment with different seasonings like garlic powder, smoked paprika, or seasoned salt to enhance the flavour and texture of your tots.
• Serve immediately: Tater tots lose their crispiness as they cool down, so serve them straight out of the air fryer while they're still hot and crispy.

Frequently asked questions