Air Fryer Hack: Frozen Tater Tots, Crispy And Quick!

Tater tots are bite-sized potato snacks that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They are a convenient food to have in the freezer and can be cooked in an air fryer straight from frozen. The cooking time will depend on how crunchy you like your tater tots and how full your air fryer basket is. Generally, they will take around 10-15 minutes to cook in an air fryer preheated to 400°F.

Cooking Frozen Tater Tots in an Air Fryer

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in ensuring your tater tots cook evenly and efficiently. While some sources suggest that preheating is not necessary, doing so for at least 1 minute at 400°F or 5 minutes at the same temperature will help you achieve the desired level of crispiness for your tater tots.

The purpose of preheating is to ensure the air fryer basket or racks are sufficiently hot before adding the frozen tater tots. This initial heat allows the hot air to circulate effectively, cooking the tater tots evenly on all sides. By preheating, you create a consistent cooking environment, preventing undercooked or unevenly cooked tater tots.

Additionally, preheating helps to activate the oil or cooking spray applied to the tater tots. This activation ensures that the oil or spray performs optimally, enhancing the crispiness of the tater tots.

When preheating your air fryer, pay attention to the specific model's instructions. Some air fryers may have different preheat settings or recommendations. Always refer to the manufacturer's guidelines for the best results.

Once your air fryer reaches the desired temperature of 400°F, you can proceed to the next steps of cooking your tater tots, following your preferred recipe instructions.

Place tater tots in a single layer

Placing the tater tots in a single layer is an important step in the process of cooking frozen tater tots in an air fryer. This is because air fryers cook by circulating hot air around the food, and if the tots are overlapping or stacked, the hot air won't be able to reach all of them evenly. By placing them in a single layer, you ensure that each tot gets its fair share of hot air, cooking and crisping them up perfectly.

When placing the tater tots in the air fryer basket or tray, make sure you don't overfill it. It's recommended that you fill the basket no more than halfway full. This is to ensure that the hot air can circulate properly and that you get even cooking results. If you have a lot of tater tots to cook, you'll need to do multiple batches.

It's also important to place the tater tots in a single layer so that you don't have to flip them while they're cooking. Air fryers work by rushing hot air down onto the food, and if the tots are placed in a single layer with enough space between them, the hot air can circulate and cook the tots evenly without the need for flipping.

When placing the tater tots in the air fryer, you may want to spray them lightly with cooking spray first. This will help to get them extra crispy, although it's not essential. If you do use cooking spray, you can give the basket a gentle shake to help spread the tots out and ensure they're all coated.

By following these simple steps and placing your tater tots in a single layer, you'll be well on your way to enjoying crispy, golden, and delicious tater tots straight from your air fryer!

Spray with oil

While it is not necessary to use oil when cooking frozen tater tots in an air fryer, some people prefer to spray them with oil to make them crispier. If you want to try this, it is recommended that you use a light spray of olive oil, avocado oil, or cooking spray. You can also use canola or vegetable oil. However, it is important to note that if you have a nonstick air fryer, you should avoid using nonstick sprays as they can damage the surface.

If you decide to spray your frozen tater tots with oil, the process is simple. First, place the desired amount of frozen tater tots into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure not to overcrowd the basket, as this will prevent the tater tots from crisping up. If you need to, you can cook them in batches.

Once your tater tots are in the air fryer basket, spray them lightly with your chosen oil or cooking spray. Then, toss them to coat evenly, and spray again if needed. At this point, you can also add any desired seasonings, such as salt, chili powder, or garlic powder.

After your tater tots have been coated in oil and seasonings, it's time to air fry! Set your air fryer to 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 12-20 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispiness. For softer tater tots, air fry for less time, checking them around the 10-minute mark. For crispier tater tots, cook for a few extra minutes, checking every minute or so until they are golden brown and crispy to your liking. Be sure to shake the basket every 5 minutes during cooking to ensure even cooking.

Shake the basket

Shaking the basket is an important step in ensuring your tater tots cook evenly and achieve that desired, uniform crispiness. The shaking motion helps to move the tater tots from the centre of the basket to the outside, and vice versa, ensuring that all sides of the tots are exposed to the hot air circulation. This is especially important if you have filled your basket more than halfway, as you want to avoid an overfilled basket that prevents proper air circulation.

Depending on the recipe you follow, you may be instructed to shake the basket halfway through the cooking process, or at regular intervals of every 3 to 5 minutes. Some recipes recommend shaking the basket once or twice during cooking. It is also recommended to gently shake the rack before beginning the cooking process to help spread the tater tots out evenly. This initial shake will ensure there is enough room between the tots for the air to flow through, eliminating the need to flip the tots during cooking.

The shaking motion is a simple yet crucial step in achieving the perfect air-fried tater tots. By moving the tots around, you can avoid unevenly cooked or soggy spots and end up with a batch that is crispy and golden brown all over. This technique is key to getting even results and ensuring your tater tots are cooked to perfection.

Cook for 7-15 minutes

To cook frozen tater tots in an air fryer, it is recommended to preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 1 minute. Then, place the frozen tater tots in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap or stack. You can spritz them with cooking spray, such as avocado or vegetable oil, for extra crispness, but this is optional.

Cook the tater tots for 7 minutes, then shake the basket well to ensure even cooking. Return the basket to the air fryer and continue cooking for another 5-7 minutes. The total cooking time will be between 12 and 15 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispness. Check the tater tots after 12 minutes and add another minute or two as needed.

The tater tots are ready when they are golden brown and have reached your desired level of crispness. Remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately. They can be enjoyed as a side dish with burgers, chicken, or hot dogs, or as a snack on their own.

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