Air Fryer Tater Tots: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Tater tots are a delicious snack, side dish, or appetizer that can be made in an air fryer. They are a healthier alternative to deep-fried tater tots as they use less oil and produce the same crunch. You can make tater tots from scratch or use frozen tater tots, which can go straight from the freezer into the air fryer. The cooking time for tater tots in an air fryer is around 15 minutes, and they are done when they turn golden brown and crispy.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the tater tot-making process. It ensures that your cooking surface is hot enough to start crisping up your tots as soon as they hit the basket, helping them to achieve that perfect golden brown finish.

Different air fryer models have different preheating requirements. Some sources suggest preheating to 400°F for 5 minutes, while others recommend 10 minutes. It's important to refer to your air fryer's instructions to determine the optimal preheating time for your specific model.

While your air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your tater tots. If you're making them from scratch, you'll need to grate your potatoes and mix in any desired seasonings. You can also form them into the classic cylinder shape at this stage. If you're using frozen tater tots, simply coat them with a light layer of cooking spray or oil, such as avocado oil, and a sprinkle of salt.

Once your air fryer reaches the desired temperature of 400°F, you're ready to start cooking your tater tots. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking. Avoid stacking them to prevent uneven cooking and sticking. Depending on your desired level of crispiness, cook your tater tots for 7 to 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

By preheating your air fryer to 400°F, you create the ideal environment for your tater tots to transform into crispy, golden treats. This step sets the foundation for a delicious side dish or snack that's hard to beat!

Use frozen tater tots

Using frozen tater tots in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a delicious snack or side dish. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Preheat Your Air Fryer

Firstly, you will need to preheat your air fryer. Set the temperature to between 350-400°F (around 175-200°C). The exact temperature will depend on your air fryer model, so check the manufacturer's instructions. Preheat for about 4-5 minutes, or up to 10 minutes if your air fryer has a preheat setting.

Step 2: Prepare the Frozen Tater Tots

Take your desired amount of frozen tater tots and place them in the air fryer basket or tray. It is important to arrange them in a single layer, ensuring they are not overlapping or stacked. This allows for even cooking and crispiness. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the tater tots in batches.

Step 3: Cook the Tater Tots

Once your air fryer is preheated, it's time to cook the tater tots. Close the air fryer and cook them for 7-9 minutes initially. For mini tater tots, check on them around the 5-minute mark.

Step 4: Shake the Basket and Continue Cooking

After the initial cooking time, open the air fryer and shake the basket or tray to toss the tater tots. This helps ensure even cooking and browning. Close the air fryer again and continue cooking for another 4-6 minutes, or until the tater tots reach your desired level of crispiness.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Once the tater tots are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately. Enjoy them as a snack or side dish. You can even pair them with your favourite dipping sauces, such as ketchup, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or ranch.

Tips and Variations:

• For extra crispiness, cook the tater tots for an additional 1-2 minutes until they are a dark golden brown.
• Avoid using cooking spray, as frozen tater tots already contain oil. However, if they look dry halfway through cooking, you can spritz them lightly with oil.
• If you're cooking a large batch of tater tots, work in batches to ensure even cooking.
• You can use your favourite brand of frozen tater tots, such as Ore-Ida, Alexia, or Great Value.
• If you want to add more flavour, try seasoning the tater tots with garlic and herb seasoning, Cajun seasoning, taco seasoning, or Old Bay seasoning. Simply toss the frozen tater tots in the seasoning before placing them in the air fryer.

Cook for 7-15 minutes

Once you've got your air fryer preheated and your tater tots seasoned and coated, it's time to cook them! Place the tater tots into the air fryer basket in a single layer, taking care not to overlap or stack them. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the tater tots in batches.

Cook the tater tots for 7-15 minutes, shaking the basket every now and then to ensure even cooking. The exact cooking time will depend on your desired level of crispiness, so keep an eye on them and adjust the timing accordingly. If you're using mini tater tots, they'll take less time to cook, so check on them after around 5 minutes. For regular-sized tater tots, start checking for doneness after about 10 minutes.

If you like your tater tots with extra crisp, continue cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes or until they're a dark golden brown. Once they're done to your liking, remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately with your favourite dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Flip halfway through

Flipping your tater tots halfway through the cooking process is an important step to ensure they cook evenly. Depending on the air fryer you have, you may need to flip them manually or you can simply shake the basket.

If you are making your own tater tots, it is recommended to flip them after 6 minutes of cooking time to allow them to crisp on the bottom and not stick to the basket. If you are using frozen tater tots, you can shake the basket or flip them after 5 minutes or halfway through the cooking time.

If you are making a large batch of tater tots, you may need to cook them in several batches to ensure they cook evenly and don't stick to the basket. It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the size of your air fryer and the desired level of crispiness.

By flipping your tater tots halfway through, you can achieve that perfect golden brown colour and crispy texture that makes them so delicious!

Add extra time for crispier tots

If you like your tater tots extra crispy, you can add a little extra time to the cooking process. Depending on the air fryer you have, the size of the batch, and the level of crispiness you're looking for, you can add anywhere from one to five extra minutes to the cooking time.

For example, if you're cooking your tater tots at 400°F, you can cook them for 15 minutes, flipping them in the basket every five minutes or so. If you want them crispier, simply add a few more minutes to the cooking time.

Similarly, if you're cooking your tater tots at a lower temperature, such as 350°F, you can cook them for around six minutes and then shake the basket. You can then cook them for an additional four minutes or until they are crispy to your liking.

It's important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the brand of tater tots you're using and whether they are regular or mini-sized. Mini tater tots will generally take less time to cook, so be sure to keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

Additionally, when cooking frozen tater tots, it's best to cook them in a single layer to ensure even cooking. If you're cooking a large batch, you may need to work in batches.

By adjusting the cooking time and following these tips, you can achieve the perfect level of crispiness for your tater tots.

Frequently asked questions