Air Fryer Tater Tots: The Perfect Timing

Tater tots are bite-sized potato snacks that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They can be made from grated potatoes, flour, salt, and seasonings, and are usually deep-fried before being flash-frozen. Air fryer tater tots are a healthier alternative to deep-fried tater tots, as they use hot air to crisp up the frozen potato snacks. The cooking time for air fryer tater tots varies depending on the desired level of crispiness, the size of the tots, and the model of the air fryer. However, on average, it takes around 10 to 15 minutes to cook 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 recipes suggest that preheating is not necessary for cooking tater toots, others recommend preheating your air fryer to 400°F for 1 minute or 5 minutes. This short preheating time allows the air fryer to reach the optimal temperature for cooking the frozen tater tots.

It is important to note that different air fryer models may have specific preheating instructions, so be sure to refer to your air fryer's user manual for precise instructions. Additionally, when cooking tater tots, it is recommended to place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray to ensure even cooking. This may require cooking the tater tots in multiple batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.

By preheating your air fryer, you create the ideal cooking environment for your tater tots, ensuring they turn out crispy and delicious.

Use frozen tater tots

Frozen tater tots are a great snack to have on hand. They can be whipped up in a flash and are a perfect crispy, crunchy, and delicious side dish. You can serve them with burgers, chicken, hot dogs, or even as a snack on their own.

To make frozen tater tots in an air fryer, first, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the frozen tater tots in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Avoid stacking or overlapping the tots so they cook and crisp evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may only be able to fit half a bag of tater tots at a time.

Cook the tater tots for 7 to 12 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through cooking to toss the tater tots and ensure even browning and crisping. For extra crispy tots, cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, until they are a dark golden brown.

Once the tater tots are golden brown and crispy, transfer them to a serving bowl. If you are cooking a large batch, repeat the air frying process with the remaining tater tots. You can sprinkle the tater tots with seasoned salt or your favorite spice blend for extra flavor.

Frozen tater tots can go straight from the freezer into the air fryer. There is no need to defrost or pre-cook them first. This makes them an incredibly convenient and quick snack or side dish.

You can also reheat leftover tater tots in the air fryer. Place them in the air fryer tray and set it to 400°F for 2 to 3 minutes. Unlike when cooking them for the first time, it is okay to stack the tater tots when reheating. Give the basket a good shake halfway through to ensure even heating.

Don't overfill the basket

When cooking tater tots in an air fryer, it's important to remember not to overfill the basket. This is because the tater tots need room to cook evenly and get crispy. If you fill the basket too full, the hot air won't be able to circulate properly, and your tater tots may end up soggy or unevenly cooked.

The best way to cook tater tots in an air fryer is to place them in a single layer in the basket or tray. They can touch, but for maximum crispness, it's best to give them a little space. If you have a lot of tater tots, it's better to cook them in batches. That way, you can ensure they all get nice and crispy.

It's also important to shake the basket halfway through cooking. This will help to ensure that all sides of the tater tots are exposed to the hot air and will prevent them from sticking together. If you're cooking a large batch, you may need to shake the basket more than once to ensure even cooking.

So, when making tater tots in your air fryer, remember to give them plenty of space and don't overfill the basket. Your patience will be rewarded with a delicious, crispy treat!

Shake the basket during cooking

Shaking the basket during cooking is an important step to ensure your tater tots cook evenly. This is because air fryers cook by circulating hot air, so shaking the basket helps to move the tots from the centre to the outside, and vice versa, allowing them to all get even exposure to the hot air. The more you fill the basket, the more often you should shake it. For one or two servings, shaking once should be enough, but if you're cooking the whole bag, you should shake the basket three or four times.

It's also important not to overfill the basket, as this will prevent the hot air from circulating properly. It's recommended that you fill the basket no more than halfway.

Don't add extra oil

When cooking frozen tater tots in an air fryer, it is important to note that you should not add any extra oil. Frozen tater tots already contain oil, and adding more can make them too greasy. The air fryer's cooking method also means that additional oil is unnecessary.

Air fryers use hot air circulation to cook food, and this method can even mimic deep-fried results without the need for submerging food in oil. In fact, some air fryer manufacturers, like Philips, specifically instruct users not to pour oil directly into the pan of the air fryer. Instead, they recommend adding oil directly to fresh ingredients, like chicken or potatoes, before placing them in the air fryer.

For frozen foods like tater tots, the oil already present will be sufficient for cooking in the air fryer. Adding more oil can make the food greasy and may even be unsafe if it drips into the air fryer during the cooking process.

So, when preparing frozen tater tots in your air fryer, simply place them in the basket or tray in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap or stack. Depending on your desired level of crispiness, cook them for 7 to 15 minutes at around 400°F, shaking the basket halfway through.

By following these steps, you'll end up with perfectly crispy tater tots without the need for any extra oil!

Frequently asked questions