Air Fryer Tater Tots: Crispy & Golden Perfection

Tater tots are a popular snack, side dish, or appetizer that can be made in an air fryer. They are crispy, golden potato bites, made by grating skin-on potatoes into tiny pieces and mixing them with flour, salt, and seasonings. The mixture is then shaped into mini barrels and deep-fried, flash-frozen, and finally, crisped up in an oven or air fryer. Air fryer tater tots are a quick, easy, and healthy alternative to traditional deep-fried tater tots, and can be made in just 10-15 minutes.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F

Preheating your air fryer is essential to achieving a crispy exterior for your tater tots. Set the air fryer temperature to 400°F (200°C) and let it preheat for a few minutes. Two to three minutes should be enough, and then you can get started on cooking your tater tots.

Preheating the air fryer for a few minutes before adding the tater tots helps ensure they cook evenly and get extra crispy. It's a small step, but it makes a big difference in the final texture of your tater tots.

While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare the tater tots. Take them straight from the freezer and arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. They can touch, but for maximum crispness, it's best to have them in a single layer. If you're making a large batch, you might need to cook them in shifts.

Once the air fryer has preheated to 400°F, you can move on to the next step of cooking your tater tots. This is when the magic happens, and your tater tots transform into crispy, golden treats.

Use frozen tater tots

Frozen tater tots are a convenient option for a quick and easy snack or side dish. Here's a step-by-step guide to making crispy tater tots in an air fryer using frozen tater tots:

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). This step is important to ensure your tater tots get that crispy exterior. Preheat for around 2-5 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the Air Fryer Basket

If needed, prepare the air fryer basket by giving it a light coating of cooking spray or brushing it with a small amount of oil. This will prevent the tater tots from sticking to the basket.

Step 3: Arrange the Frozen Tater Tots

Place the frozen tater tots into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they are not overlapping or stacked. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.

Step 4: Cook the Tater Tots

Set the air fryer temperature to 400°F (200°C) and cook the tater tots for 7 to 15 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even crisping and browning. For extra crispy tots, add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy!

Once the tater tots are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool slightly. Serve them as a snack or a side dish with your favourite dipping sauces. Enjoy!

Tips for Crispy Frozen Tater Tots:

• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed to ensure even cooking and maximum crispiness.
• Shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even browning and crisping.
• For extra crispy tots, add a light coating of cooking spray before cooking.
• Season your tater tots with your favourite seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, or Italian herbs for extra flavour.

Arrange in a single layer

When making tater tots in an air fryer, it's important to arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. This ensures even cooking and maximum crispiness. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the tater tots in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket. It's okay if the tater tots slightly overlap, but they should not be stacked or touching each other.

When arranging the tater tots in the air fryer basket, start by placing them in a single layer, filling the basket up to about halfway. This will allow for proper air circulation and help achieve that desired crispness. If you are using frozen tater tots, there is no need to defrost or pre-cook them. Simply take them straight from the freezer and arrange them in the air fryer basket.

If you are making a large batch of tater tots, you may need to cook them in multiple batches. This is because the tater tots need room to breathe and crisp up. Cooking them in a single layer ensures that each tot gets its fair share of hot air circulation, resulting in an even and consistent cook.

While arranging the tater tots, it's also important to note that you should not use any cooking spray or oil. Frozen tater tots already contain oil, so adding more is unnecessary and can affect the final texture. However, if your tater tots look a little dry halfway through cooking, you can give them a light spritz of oil to enhance crispiness.

In summary, arranging your tater tots in a single layer in the air fryer basket is crucial for achieving that perfect crispiness and even cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches, ensuring the tater tots are not stacked or touching each other. With proper arrangement and cooking techniques, you'll be on your way to delicious, crispy tater tots made right in your air fryer!

Spray with cooking oil

Spraying the tater tots with cooking oil is an optional step when making them in an air fryer. It is not necessary as the frozen tater tots already contain oil, but it can enhance the crispiness of the final product. If you do decide to spray them with oil, it is important to do so lightly and in a single layer to ensure even cooking.

When spraying the tater tots with cooking oil, it is best to use an oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil, olive oil, or canola oil. This is because the air fryer cooks at a high temperature, and you want an oil that can withstand the heat without smoking or burning.

Additionally, when using cooking spray, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper usage and safety. Some cooking sprays may release harmful chemicals if sprayed too closely or onto a hot surface, so always spray from a safe distance and only onto cool surfaces.

If you don't have cooking spray, you can also brush the tater tots with a small amount of oil before placing them in the air fryer. This will help them crisp up and turn a golden brown.

Remember, if you are using store-bought frozen tater tots, they already contain oil, so adding too much extra oil can make them greasy. A light coating is all you need to enhance the crispiness without making them overly oily.

Shake the basket halfway through

Shaking the basket halfway through cooking is an important step in achieving evenly cooked and crispy tater tots. By giving the basket a good shake, you can ensure that the tater tots don't stick to the air fryer and that they cook evenly on all sides. This technique helps to distribute the heat evenly and prevents any sticking or burning.

When shaking the basket, be careful not to use a spatula to flip the tots as they can easily break apart, especially if they are not fully thawed. Simply shaking the basket will be enough to toss and turn the tots, ensuring they cook evenly without breaking apart.

Additionally, shaking the basket can help to develop that irresistible crunchy exterior that makes air-fried tater tots so delicious. It's a simple step that makes a big difference in the final texture and appearance of your tater tots.

Remember, if you are cooking a large batch of tater tots, you may need to cook them in batches to ensure even cooking. Don't overcrowd the basket, and always shake it halfway through for the best results.

Frequently asked questions