Air Fryer Tater Tots: Quick, Crispy, Golden Treats

Tater tots are a popular snack that can be made in an air fryer in a matter of minutes. The cooking time varies depending on the desired level of crispiness, the size of the tater tots, and the model of the air fryer. Regular-sized tater tots typically take around 10-15 minutes to cook in an air fryer, while mini tater tots may take less time, around 5-7 minutes.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in making tater tots as it ensures consistent heat throughout the cooking process. The ideal temperature for preheating your air fryer is between 350°F and 400°F. For basket-style air fryers, preheat to 400°F for 1 minute. For oven-style air fryers, preheat to the same temperature, but for 5 minutes. If your air fryer requires preheating, set it to 400°F for 5 minutes.

Preheating your air fryer will ensure that your tater tots cook evenly and achieve the desired crispiness. It is important to note that the temperature and time settings may vary depending on the model of your air fryer, so always refer to the manufacturer's instructions.

Once your air fryer is preheated, you can proceed to the next steps of making tater tots, such as placing the frozen tater tots in the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer and cooking them for the recommended time.

Use frozen tater tots

Using frozen tater tots in an air fryer is a quick and convenient way to make a delicious snack or side dish. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Preheat Your Air Fryer

First, preheat your air fryer. The ideal temperature for cooking tater tots is between 350°F and 400°F. Preheat your air fryer to this temperature for about 1 minute or according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Step 2: Prepare the Frozen Tater Tots

Take your desired amount of frozen tater tots out of the freezer. There is no need to defrost them beforehand. Place the tater tots in the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer. Make sure they are not overlapping or stacked, as this will ensure even cooking and crispiness. You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

Step 3: Add Seasonings (Optional)

Before cooking, you can add some extra flavour to your tater tots by sprinkling them with seasonings. Coarse salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, or your favourite spice blend can be great options. You can also add shredded cheese for an extra indulgent touch.

Step 4: Cook the Tater Tots

Cook the tater tots for about 10-15 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispiness. Shake the basket every few minutes to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking. For extra crispy tater tots, cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until they are a dark golden brown.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Once your tater tots are crispy and golden, remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately. They go well with various dips and sauces, such as ketchup, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or cheese sauce. Enjoy!

Tips for Cooking Frozen Tater Tots in an Air Fryer:

• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the tater tots in a single layer to ensure even cooking.
• Shake the basket occasionally during cooking to prevent sticking and promote even browning.
• You can use cooking spray on the tater tots before cooking to enhance their crispiness, but it's not necessary as frozen tater tots already contain oil.
• Experiment with different seasonings to find your favourite flavour combinations.

Cook in a single layer

To cook tater tots in an air fryer, it is recommended to cook them in a single layer to ensure even cooking and crispiness. This may mean cooking them in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.

Before cooking, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the frozen tater tots in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray. Avoid overcrowding, as this can hinder airflow and result in soggy tater tots. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may only be able to fit half a bag of tater tots at a time.

Cooking times may vary depending on your desired level of crispiness. For a basket-style air fryer, cook the tater tots for 7 minutes, shake the basket, and then continue cooking for another 5 to 7 minutes. For an oven-style air fryer, cook the tater tots for 13 minutes.

For extra crispiness, you can lightly spray the tater tots with cooking spray before cooking. You can also add seasonings such as coarse salt, garlic powder, onion powder, or smoked paprika to enhance the flavor.

Shake the basket halfway through

Shaking the basket halfway through the cooking process is an important step in ensuring your tater tots cook evenly and achieve the desired level of crispiness. By giving the basket a good shake, you can prevent the tots from sticking and promote even browning.

For basket-model air fryers, it is recommended to shake the basket well after the initial 7 minutes of cooking, and then continue air-frying for another 5 to 7 minutes. This will help to ensure that your tater tots don't break apart and achieve that perfect golden brown colour we all crave.

The same principle applies to oven-style air fryers. After preheating your air fryer to 400°F and gently spraying the racks with nonstick cooking spray, you'll want to shake the rack gently after placing the frozen tater tots in a single layer. This will help spread them out and ensure there's enough room for air to flow through, resulting in even cooking without the need for flipping.

Shaking the basket halfway through is a simple yet crucial step in achieving the perfect air-fried tater tots. Whether you're using a basket-style or oven-style air fryer, this technique will help you avoid soggy, unevenly cooked tots and ensure a consistent crispy texture.

Additionally, if you're reheating tater tots in the air fryer, it's a good idea to give the basket a shake halfway through to ensure even heating. This will help your leftover tots regain that fresh-out-of-the-air-fryer crispiness we all love.

So, don't forget to shake it up! By incorporating this simple step into your air-frying routine, you'll be well on your way to achieving the perfect batch of crispy, golden tater tots.

Add seasoning

Seasoning Your Tater Tots

While some people enjoy their tater tots as they are, you can always add some extra seasoning to give them more flavour.

When to Season

There are two options for when to season your tater tots. Firstly, you can season them before cooking. This will allow the seasoning to cook into the tater tots. Alternatively, you can season them after cooking. This will give you a stronger flavour as the seasoning won't be diluted by the cooking process.

What Seasoning to Use

There are lots of seasoning options to choose from. You can use a simple coarse salt or a blend of spices. Examples of blends include garlic and herb, Cajun, taco, Old Bay, Montreal Steak Seasoning, and smoked paprika. You could also try something more unusual, like a Caribbean-inspired spice blend with allspice, ginger, and heat, or sweet and slightly spicy pepper flakes from Syria.

How to Season

If you are using a blend, simply toss the tater tots in the seasoning before you air fry them. If you are using a single spice, you can sprinkle it on top of the tater tots and then toss them gently to coat.

Other Flavour Options

If you want to zhuzh up your tater tots even more, you can put them into a large bowl after air frying and add your favourite spice blend. Toss well to coat. Good choices would be taco seasoning or chilli lime seasoning, but you can experiment until you find your favourite.

Dipping Sauces

Of course, seasoning isn't the only way to add flavour to your tater tots. You can also serve them with small bowls of ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, or other condiments for dipping.

Frequently asked questions