Air-Fryer Tater Tots: Quick, Crispy, Golden Goodness

Cooking tater tots in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get crispy, fluffy, and tasty results. With no need for defrosting or pre-cooking, you can simply place the frozen tater tots straight into the air fryer basket, spray them with cooking oil, and let the air fryer do the rest. The cooking time will depend on your desired level of crispiness, but it usually takes around 7 to 15 minutes at 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit. For extra crispiness, you can cook the tots for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Air fryer tater tots are a convenient and tasty snack or side dish that can be served with your favorite dipping sauce or as a substitute for fries.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in the cooking process. It ensures that your tater tots start crisping as soon as they come into contact with the hot air in the basket. To preheat your air fryer, start by setting the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the ideal temperature for achieving that coveted crispy exterior and fluffy interior. Allow the air fryer to heat up for about 4 to 5 minutes. If you're in a hurry, you can shorten the preheating time to around 3 minutes, but be aware that this may affect the overall cooking time of your tots.

During the preheating process, you can prepare your frozen tater tots. There's no need to defrost or pre-cook them; they go straight from the freezer into the air fryer. Place the desired amount of tater tots into the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer with no overlapping or stacking. This arrangement promotes even cooking and browning. If your air fryer is on the smaller side, you may need to cook the tots in batches to ensure they all get that perfect crispness.

Once the preheating is complete, it's time to place the basket of tater tots into the air fryer. At this point, you can also lightly spray the tots with cooking spray. Avocado oil, vegetable oil, or olive oil (not extra virgin) are excellent choices as they have higher smoke points and won't impart any unwanted flavours to your tots. The cooking spray is not mandatory, but it does help to achieve that extra crunch and prevent sticking.

Now that your air fryer is preheated and your tater tots are prepared, you're ready to move on to the cooking stage. Set a timer and let the air fryer work its magic! Remember to shake the basket periodically to toss the tots and ensure even cooking on all sides. In just a few minutes, you'll have a batch of crispy, golden-brown tater tots ready to be devoured!

Use frozen tater tots

Using frozen tater tots is a convenient and quick way to make a tasty snack or side dish. There's no need to defrost them first—just pop them straight into the air fryer from the freezer.

Start by preheating your air fryer to 400°F. While it's heating up, take your bag of frozen tater tots and get ready to season them if you wish. You can use seasoned salt, garlic and herb seasoning, Cajun seasoning, taco seasoning, or Old Bay seasoning. You can also use cooking spray to help the tots get extra crispy, but this is optional. Frozen tater tots already contain oil, so you don't need to add too much extra.

Once your air fryer is preheated, place the tater tots into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they are not overlapping or stacked, as this will ensure they cook evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the tots in batches.

Now, put the basket into the air fryer and cook for 7 to 9 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through to toss the tots and ensure even cooking. If you want your tots extra crispy, cook them for another 1 to 2 minutes, checking regularly to make sure they don't burn.

Once they're at your desired level of crispiness, remove the tater tots from the air fryer and serve immediately. They go great with ketchup, ranch, barbecue sauce, or honey mustard for dipping!

Cook in a single layer

Cooking tater tots in a single layer in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get crispy, fluffy, and evenly cooked tots. It is important to cook them in a single layer to ensure they cook evenly and get that desired crunch. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.

First, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare the frozen tater tots. There is no need to defrost them or pre-cook them; they go straight from the freezer to the air fryer, making the process even more convenient. Place the desired amount of tater tots into the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring there is no overlapping or stacking. If you are using mini tater tots, adjust the cooking time accordingly, as they will take less time to cook.

Once the air fryer is preheated, place the basket with the tater tots into the air fryer. For extra crispy tots, you can spray the tops of the frozen tater tots with cooking spray. The cooking spray helps to achieve a crunchier texture, but it is optional. You can use non-aerosolized avocado oil, vegetable oil, or olive oil that is not extra virgin. These oils have a higher smoke point and will not leave a bitter taste on the tots.

Air fry the tater tots for 7 to 9 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to toss the tots and ensure even cooking. If you prefer softer tater tots, you can reduce the cooking time by a minute or so. For extra crispy tots, cook them for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, checking regularly to ensure they don't burn. The tots are done when they are a dark golden brown and have reached your desired level of crispness.

Shake the basket

Shaking the basket is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your tater tots cook evenly on all sides and helps them crisp up on the outside while staying soft and pillowy on the inside. Shaking the basket also gives you an opportunity to check on your tots and make sure they're not getting too crispy. If you like your tots extra crispy, you can cook them for an additional minute or two after shaking the basket until they reach your desired level of crispness.

When shaking the basket, be careful not to flip the tots with a spatula as they can easily break apart. Simply remove the basket from the air fryer, give it a good shake, and return it to the air fryer to continue cooking. This step is especially important if you are cooking a large batch of tots, as it ensures that all the tots get their time in direct contact with the heat source and cook evenly.

The timing of when to shake the basket can vary depending on the recipe and your desired level of crispness. Some recipes recommend shaking the basket halfway through the cooking process, while others suggest doing it in intervals of 3 to 5 minutes. It's important to keep an eye on your tots and shake the basket as needed to ensure even cooking and your desired level of crispness.

Shaking the basket is a simple yet crucial step in air-frying tater tots. By following this step, you'll be able to achieve evenly cooked and crispy tots that are sure to be a hit as a snack or side dish.

Add seasoning

While some people enjoy their tater tots as they are, you can always add some extra flavour with seasoning. Seasoned salt is a popular option for tater tots, and you can buy this pre-made or make your own. You could also try garlic and herb seasoning, or a blend such as Cajun seasoning, taco seasoning, or Old Bay seasoning. If you're using a seasoning blend, simply toss the tater tots in the seasoning before you air fry them.

If you're making your own seasoned salt, you can use a variety of different ingredients, such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or dried herbs. You can also experiment with different types of salt, such as kosher salt or sea salt. If you're feeling creative, you can even try adding some citrus zest or freshly ground pepper to your blend.

When seasoning your tater tots, it's important to use a light hand. You don't want to overwhelm the flavour of the potatoes, so start with a small amount of seasoning and add more to taste. It's also a good idea to taste your seasoning before you apply it to the tots, to make sure it's not too salty or spicy.

Finally, don't forget that the type of salt you use can also make a difference. Regular table salt will work just fine, but you might want to try something a little more fancy, like a flaky sea salt or a smoked salt, for an extra touch of flavour.

Frequently asked questions