Air Fryer Tater Tots: Quick, Crispy, Golden Treats

Tater tots are a tasty snack or side dish that can be cooked in an air fryer. They are quick and easy to make, and can be served with a variety of dips or seasonings. You can also adjust the cooking time to make them more or less crispy, depending on your preference.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for one minute. You can then gently spray the air fryer racks with nonstick cooking spray. This will help to ensure your tater tots don't stick to the air fryer and will help them to crisp up. Place the frozen tater tots in a single layer, gently shaking the rack to help spread them out. Make sure there's enough room between the tater tots for air to flow through; since air fryers cook by rushing hot air down onto the food, leaving space allows the hot air to circulate.

Place the frozen tater tots in the air fryer basket

If you're using a basket-style air fryer, cook the tater tots for 7 minutes, then shake the basket and continue air-frying for another 5-7 minutes. If you're using a tray-style air fryer, cook them for 7-9 minutes.

It's worth noting that air fryers cook by rushing hot air down onto the food, so leaving space between the tater tots will allow the hot air to circulate and ensure they cook evenly.

Spray the tater tots with cooking spray

To cook tater tots in an air fryer, you'll need to spray them with cooking spray. This will help them to crisp up and turn golden brown. You can use a non-stick cooking spray to lightly coat the frozen tater tots before placing them in the air fryer basket. Make sure to shake the basket well to ensure an even coating of the cooking spray on the tater tots.

It's important to note that you should only use a light coating of cooking spray. A quick spritz or a gentle spray is enough to do the trick. Overdoing it may result in an uneven or excessive coating, which can affect the overall crispiness of the tater tots.

Additionally, the type of cooking spray you use can make a difference. Opt for a non-stick cooking spray to ensure the tater tots don't stick to the air fryer basket or each other. This will help you achieve that perfect, crispy texture.

By following these simple steps and spraying the tater tots with cooking spray, you'll be well on your way to enjoying delicious, crispy tater tots straight from your air fryer!

Shake the basket and continue air-frying

After the first 7 minutes of cooking, shake the basket well and continue air-frying for another 5-7 minutes. This will ensure that the tater tots cook evenly and become crispy and golden brown. You can also spritz the tater tots with cooking spray before returning the basket to the air fryer. This will help to achieve the desired level of crispness.

If you prefer your tater tots extra crispy, you can cook them for a little longer, checking them every minute or so until they reach your desired level of crispness. It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the size of your air fryer and the number of tater tots you are cooking. If you are cooking a large batch, you may need to cook them in smaller batches to ensure even cooking.

Additionally, when placing the frozen tater tots in the air fryer basket, ensure that they are in a single layer with enough space between them for air to flow through. This will allow the hot air to circulate properly and cook the tater tots evenly.

Serve with ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce or other condiments

Tater tots cooked in an air fryer can be served with ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce or other condiments. This is a simple way to serve them, but you can also zhuzh them up by sprinkling them with your favourite spice blend. Taco seasoning or chilli lime seasoning would be good choices, but you can experiment until you find your favourite.

To make your tater tots, preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 1 minute. Place the frozen tater tots straight into the air fryer basket in a single layer, gently shaking the rack to help spread them out. You’ll want to make sure there’s enough room between the tater tots for air to flow through; since air fryers cook by rushing hot air down onto the food, leaving space allows the hot air to circulate. Spray the potato puffs lightly with cooking spray and cook for 7 minutes. Shake the basket well, then continue air-frying the tater tots for another 5-7 minutes until they’ve crisped up to your liking. Allow them to cool for about 2 minutes before serving.

Frequently asked questions