Air Fryer Frozen Tater Tots: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Tater tots are a popular side dish or snack, and cooking them in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to achieve a crispy, golden texture. This guide will explain how to make frozen tater tots in an air fryer, including pre-fry preparation, cooking time and temperature, and serving suggestions.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F

Preheating your air fryer to 400°F is an important step in achieving crispy tater tots. While some recipes suggest that preheating is not necessary, others recommend preheating your air fryer to 400°F for about 5 minutes. This step may depend on the model of your air fryer, so be sure to check if preheating is required.

Preheating your air fryer ensures that your tater tots cook evenly and helps to achieve that desired crispiness. By reaching the optimal temperature, you create the ideal environment for the tater tots to transform from frozen to crunchy and golden brown. This initial heat preparation is key to getting that deep-fried texture and taste without actually deep-frying your potatoes.

When preheating, it is also important to ensure that your air fryer is not placed right up against the wall. The vent at the back of the air fryer releases hot air, which could potentially damage the wall or any nearby objects.

Once your air fryer has reached the desired temperature of 400°F, you can proceed with the next steps of cooking your tater tots to crispy perfection.

Cook for 10-15 minutes

Now it's time to cook your tater tots! Place the frozen tots into your air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overlapping. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches. Spray the tops of the tots with cooking spray, or toss them in a little avocado oil, and add some salt for seasoning. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, smoked paprika, or Old Bay Seasoning.

Set your air fryer to 400°F and cook for 10-15 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure the tots cook evenly and don't stick together. Depending on your desired level of crispiness, you may want to cook them for a further 1-2 minutes. If you are cooking mini tater tots, check on them around the 5-minute mark to ensure they don't overcook.

Once they are golden brown and crispy, your tater tots are ready to serve! Enjoy them as a side dish or a snack with your favourite dipping sauce.

Shake the basket halfway through

Shaking the basket halfway through is an essential step when making tater tots in an air fryer. This is because it ensures that the tots cook evenly. If you don't shake the basket, the tots in the centre may not cook as thoroughly as those on the outside. Shaking the basket moves the tots around, allowing them all to get equal exposure to the hot air in the fryer.

How often you need to shake the basket depends on how full it is. If you're cooking a large batch of tots, you may need to shake the basket three or four times throughout the cooking process. If you're only cooking one or two servings, shaking once halfway through should be sufficient.

It's also important not to overfill the basket. Air fryers work by circulating hot air, and if the basket is too full, this can be impeded. Try not to fill your basket more than halfway.

Don't overfill the basket

When using an air fryer, it is important not to overfill the basket. This is because air fryers use hot air to cook food. If the basket is overfilled, there will be little space for the hot air to circulate, resulting in unevenly cooked food. The food at the top may burn, while the food at the bottom may be undercooked. This can also cause the air fryer to overheat, potentially leading to a fire or a blow-up.

To avoid overfilling the basket, it is recommended to fill the air fryer basket only halfway. This will ensure that there is enough room for the hot air to circulate freely and cook the food evenly. If you are cooking a large batch of food, it is better to cook in batches rather than overfilling the basket.

Additionally, avoid stacking food in the air fryer. Stacking may require a higher temperature to cook the food, which can cause the air fryer to overheat and pose a fire risk. It will also result in unevenly cooked food due to the lack of air movement.

By following these guidelines and not overfilling the basket, you will achieve perfectly crispy and evenly cooked tater tots every time.

Add seasoning

Adding seasoning to your frozen tater tots is a great way to elevate this simple dish. While tater tots are delicious on their own, adding a sprinkle of seasoning can take them to the next level. Here are some tips and suggestions for seasoning your frozen tater tots in the air fryer:

• It is recommended to preheat your air fryer to 400°F (205°C) for the best results. This will help ensure that your tater tots come out crispy.
• When placing the frozen tater tots in the air fryer basket, arrange them in a single layer if possible. This will allow for more even cooking and crispiness. If you need to cook a large batch, consider cooking in multiple batches to ensure even cooking.
• Lightly spray the tater tots with cooking spray, such as avocado oil or another neutral-flavoured oil. This will help them crisp up and turn golden brown.
• Now it's time to add your seasoning! You can simply sprinkle your chosen seasoning(s) over the tater tots and gently toss to coat. Alternatively, you can place the tater tots in a bowl, add the seasoning, and toss to coat before placing them in the air fryer basket.
• Some suggested seasonings include: coarse salt, garlic powder, Old Bay Seasoning, Montreal Steak Seasoning, smoked paprika, jerk seasoning, taco seasoning, Aleppo pepper, Italian seasoning, and seasoned salt. You can also combine seasonings to create your own unique blend.
• For a one-ingredient upgrade, simply sprinkle some seasoned salt over your cooked tater tots and toss to combine.
• If you're feeling adventurous, try adding some shredded cheese to your seasoned tater tots. Turn off the air fryer and let the tots sit for a couple of minutes until the cheese melts. You can also add toppings such as crumbled bacon, sour cream, chives, green onions, or chili for loaded tots.
• Once you've added your seasoning, it's time to "fry" your tater tots. Cook for 5 minutes, then shake the basket and continue cooking for another 5 minutes. Don't skip shaking the basket as this will help prevent the tater tots from sticking together and ensure even cooking.
• Check if the tater tots are as crispy as you like them. If not, cook for another minute at a time until they're perfect!
• Serve your seasoned tater tots with your favourite dipping sauce, such as ketchup, BBQ sauce, ranch, or blue cheese dressing.

Frequently asked questions