Cody Casey
Tater tots are a staple in many households, and for good reason—they're easy to make, delicious, and versatile. While they can be baked in the oven, air frying is a faster, healthier, and more convenient option that yields crispier results. With an air fryer, you can cook frozen tater tots straight from the freezer, eliminating the need for defrosting or pre-cooking. The cooking time varies depending on the desired level of crispiness, but generally, it only takes around 12 to 15 minutes at 400°F to achieve golden brown, crunchy tater tots.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 375-400°F (196°C) |
| Time | 7-20 minutes |
| Preparation | Place frozen tater tots in a single layer in the air fryer, shaking the basket every 3-5 minutes |
| Oil | Optional, but can be used to make the tots crispier and to help spices or flavours stick |
| Salt | Optional |
| Spices | Optional, but can be added for extra flavour |
| Serving size | 1 serving |
| Calories | 206-218 kcal |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer
Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your appliance reaches the ideal temperature before you begin cooking your tater tots, helping to avoid undercooking your food. To preheat your air fryer, simply turn it on and wait for around 2 to 5 minutes. Set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Preheating your air fryer is similar to preheating your oven. It is a crucial step as it ensures your tater tots start crisping as soon as they are placed in the basket. The hot air will be able to properly circulate, cooking your food evenly and thoroughly.
It is important to note that different air fryers may vary slightly when it comes to cooking time and temperature. Therefore, it is always a good idea to refer to the original instructions of your air fryer and check on your tater tots frequently during the cooking process.
Once your air fryer has preheated, you can proceed to the next step of placing the frozen tater tots in the basket and cooking them to crispy perfection!
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Arrange tater tots in a single layer
When cooking tater tots in an air fryer, it is important to arrange them in a single layer to ensure even cooking. This allows the hot air to circulate properly and helps to avoid overlapping or stacking, which can lead to uneven cooking and prevent the tots from getting crispy. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the tater tots in batches to achieve a single layer.
To arrange tater tots in a single layer, start by gathering your frozen tater tots and placing them in the air fryer basket or tray. Spread them out so that they form an even layer with no stacking or overlapping. Make sure there is space for the hot air to circulate around each tot. If you are using a large air fryer, you may be able to fit the entire bag of tater tots in a single layer. However, if you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.
It is important to note that the size of the tater tots can also affect the cooking time and the arrangement in the air fryer. If you are using mini tater tots, they will cook faster and may require a shorter cooking time to avoid burning. Be sure to check on them frequently to ensure they don't overcook. Regular-sized tater tots will also cook more evenly when arranged in a single layer.
By arranging the tater tots in a single layer, you can ensure that they cook evenly and achieve the desired level of crispiness. This simple step can make a big difference in the final result, ensuring that your tater tots turn out crispy and delicious!
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Shake the basket to toss the tots
Shaking the basket is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that the tater tots cook evenly on all sides and don't burn. By shaking the basket, you're effectively tossing the tots so that they move around and don't stay in one place for the entire cooking time. This is especially important if your air fryer doesn't have good airflow underneath the tots. By shaking the basket, you're also able to check on the tots and make sure they're not getting too crispy.
When shaking the basket, you'll want to pause the air fryer and remove the basket. Then, simply shake the basket gently to toss the tots. You can do this every 3-5 minutes, or halfway through the cooking process, depending on your preference and the airflow in your air fryer. If you're cooking a large batch, you may need to shake the basket more frequently to ensure even cooking.
It's important to note that you should only fill the basket of your air fryer halfway when cooking tater tots. This allows the hot air to circulate properly and ensures even cooking. If you're cooking a large amount of tots, you may need to work in batches.
Shaking the basket is a simple yet crucial step in air frying tater tots. It ensures even cooking and gives you the opportunity to check on the tots to make sure they're cooking to your desired level of crispiness. So, don't forget to shake that basket!
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Add spices, herbs, or seasoning
Tater tots can be seasoned in a variety of ways to add extra flavour. While some frozen tater tots come pre-seasoned, many do not. You can add a little olive oil and toss the tots in your favourite spices, herbs, garlic, or seasoning blends to make them pop.
For example, you could use garlic and herb seasoning, or blends such as Cajun seasoning, taco seasoning, or Old Bay seasoning. If using a blend, toss the tater tots in the seasoning and air fry. You can also use olive oil to help other spices or flavours stick to the tots. However, this is an optional ingredient, as is salt, especially if your tots are pre-seasoned or pre-salted.
If you want to add some spice, you can toss the tater tots in olive oil and your choice of spices, such as paprika, cayenne pepper, or chilli powder. You could also add some dried herbs, such as oregano or thyme, for extra flavour.
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Reheat any leftovers
If you have any leftover tater tots, you can reheat them in the air fryer and they will still taste delicious. Set your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place the tater tots inside. It will take between three and five minutes for them to be warmed through and crispy again.
Reheating in the air fryer is a great way to get that crispy texture back, but you can also reheat your tater tots in the oven. Set your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and place the tater tots inside. They will take between 12 and 15 minutes to reheat.
If you are reheating a large batch of tater tots, the oven may be a better option as you can fit more inside. You can also reheat frozen tater tots in the same way, straight from the freezer.
Tater tots are a great, quick, and easy snack or side dish, and reheating any leftovers means you can enjoy them for longer.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes 12 to 15 minutes to cook tater tots in an air fryer. However, if you want them extra crispy, you can cook them for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
The temperature should be set at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are cooking them at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, you should cook them for 15 minutes.
Place the frozen tater tots in a single layer in the air fryer and spray the tops with cooking spray or olive oil. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking the tray halfway through for even cooking and crisping.
