Air Fryer Tater Tots: The Perfect Timing

Tater tots are bite-sized, crispy potato snacks that can be made in an air fryer in a matter of minutes. They are a convenient and tasty side dish or snack, and can be served with a variety of sauces and dips.

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F

Preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in achieving the perfect crispy tater tots. By circulating super-hot air around the appliance, preheating ensures that your tots start cooking immediately, resulting in that coveted golden-brown, crunchy exterior. While some air fryers have a preheat setting, others require manual preheating. To preheat your air fryer to 400°F, follow these simple steps:

• Ensure your air fryer is turned on and everything is clean, plugged in, and ready to go.
• If your air fryer has a preheat button, simply press it, set the temperature to 400°F, and let the air fryer do its magic.
• If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat button, no worries! Just set the temperature to 400°F and let it heat up for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Once the desired temperature is reached, you're ready to start cooking those delicious tots!

Remember, preheating can speed up your cooking time and enhance the crispiness of your tater tots. It's a great idea to refer to your air fryer's manual for specific instructions and always follow the recipe's recommendations. Now, go ahead and enjoy those perfectly cooked, crispy tater tots!

Place the frozen tater tots in a single layer

Placing the frozen tater tots in a single layer is an important step in the air fryer cooking process. This is because it allows the hot air to circulate evenly around each tot, ensuring they cook and crisp uniformly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may only be able to fit half of the tater tots in one layer, meaning you'll need to cook them in batches. This is the case even if you're cooking for just a few people.

When placing the tater tots in the air fryer, be sure not to stack or overlap them. They can touch, but they'll achieve maximum crispness if they're in a single layer. If you're using an oven-style air fryer, gently shake the rack after placing the tater tots in a single layer to help spread them out and create space between them. This means you won't have to flip the tots while they're cooking.

If you're using a basket-style air fryer, be careful not to flip the tots with a spatula halfway through cooking, as they can easily break apart before their crusts have crisped. Instead, shake the basket to toss the tater tots and ensure even cooking.

By placing the frozen tater tots in a single layer and following the other cooking instructions, you'll end up with hot and crispy tater tots that taste just like they came from your favourite burger joint!

Cook for 7-15 minutes

Cooking Time

It takes 7-15 minutes to cook tots in an air fryer, depending on the desired level of crispiness and the type of air fryer being used. For example, basket-style air fryers take less time, usually around 7-9 minutes, while oven-style air fryers can take up to 13 minutes.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Preheat your air fryer to 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2: Place the desired amount of frozen tots into the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer. Make sure they are not overlapping or stacked. For best results, shake the basket or tray halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking.

Step 3: Cook the tots for 7-15 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispiness. For basket-style air fryers, cook for 7 minutes, shake the basket, and then cook for an additional 5-7 minutes. For oven-style air fryers, cook for 13 minutes.

Step 4: Remove the tots from the air fryer and serve immediately. For an extra crispy texture, consider adding a minute or two to the cooking time.

Tips for Extra Crispy Tots

• Use cooking spray: Giving the frozen tots a quick spritz of cooking spray before air frying can help achieve a golden, crispy texture.
• Don't stack the tots: For even cooking and maximum crispness, it is important to arrange the tots in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray.
• Flip or shake during cooking: Flipping the tots or shaking the basket halfway through the cooking process can help ensure even crisping and browning.
• Use organic frozen tots: For the healthiest version, opt for organic frozen tots.

Shake the basket halfway through

Shaking the basket halfway through cooking ensures your tater tots cook evenly and achieve that coveted crispiness. It's important to do this gently, as the tots can break apart before their crusts have crisped.

For basket-model air fryers, shake the basket well after the initial 7 minutes of cooking, then continue air-frying for another 5-7 minutes. If you're using an oven-style air fryer, there's no need to flip the tots, as the hot air circulates through the spaces between them. However, you should still shake the rack gently to help spread them out and ensure even cooking.

If you're cooking a large batch of tots, you may need to work in batches to ensure they cook evenly. It's best to cook them in a single layer, with no overlapping or stacking, and fill the basket no more than halfway.

For extra crispy tots, spritz them with cooking spray before cooking. You can also add seasonings like garlic and herb, Cajun spice, taco seasoning, or Old Bay seasoning.

Add seasoning

There are many ways to season your tater tots to elevate their flavour. You can add seasoning before or after cooking them in the air fryer.

Before cooking

You can coat the frozen tots with a little cooking spray, like avocado oil. Then, sprinkle them with salt and toss to coat.

After cooking

Place the hot tots into a large bowl and sprinkle with your favourite spice blend. Toss well to coat. Taco seasoning, Cajun seasoning, Old Bay seasoning, and chilli lime seasoning are all recommended.

If you want to keep it simple, you can just sprinkle seasoned salt over the top.

Frequently asked questions