Air Fryer Tater Tots: Perfect Temperature, Perfect Crisp

Tater tots are a quick and easy snack to make in an air fryer. You can cook them straight from frozen, and they'll be ready in as little as 7 minutes. The ideal temperature for cooking tater tots in an air fryer is 400°F, although some people prefer to cook them at 350°F to avoid burning.

Cooking time: 7-9 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through

Cooking tater tots in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get crispy, tasty results.

To cook tater tots in an air fryer, preheat the fryer to 400°F. Place the frozen tater tots straight into the air fryer basket in a single layer, with no need to defrost first. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches. Spray the potato puffs lightly with cooking spray.

Shaking the basket halfway through ensures even crisping and browning. If you prefer your tater tots a little less crispy, you can cook them at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. However, cooking at a lower temperature for longer increases the risk of accidentally burning the tots.

Cooking temperature: 400°F

Cooking tater tots in an air fryer at 400°F will give you crispy, golden tater tots in around 7 to 15 minutes. This is a higher temperature than some people prefer, as it can be easy to accidentally burn the tots. However, if you keep a close eye on them, you can achieve a good result.

To cook tater tots at 400°F, preheat your air fryer to this temperature. Place the frozen tater tots straight into the air fryer basket in a single layer – there's no need to defrost them first. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches. Spray the tots lightly with cooking spray and cook for 7 to 9 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. If you prefer them a little less crispy, you can cook them for 12 to 15 minutes.

Cooking from frozen: no need to defrost

You can cook tater tots straight from frozen in an air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the frozen tater tots straight into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to fry them in batches. Spray the potato puffs lightly with cooking spray.

Cooking times vary depending on the source. Some say to cook for 7 to 9 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Others say 12 to 15 minutes, shaking the tray once halfway through. If you want to cook them at a lower temperature, try 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes.

Reheating: 350°F for 3-5 minutes

If you're reheating tater tots in an air fryer, it's best to do so at 350°F for 3-5 minutes. This is a slightly lower temperature than the 400°F recommended for cooking tater tots from frozen, which can cause them to brown too quickly and burn. However, if you're in a hurry, you can cook them at 400°F for 7-9 minutes, but you'll need to keep a close eye on them.

When reheating, it's a good idea to preheat your air fryer first. You can also spray the potato puffs lightly with cooking spray before placing them in the air fryer. This will help to ensure they're nice and crispy.

Seasoning: cajun, taco, or Old Bay

Tater tots can be cooked in an air fryer at 350°F or 400°F. If you're cooking at 400°F, you'll need to keep a close eye on them to make sure they don't burn.

For seasoning, you can use cajun, taco, or Old Bay. Just toss the tater tots in the seasoning before you air fry them.

Here's how to cook your tater tots:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
• Place the frozen tater tots straight into the air fryer basket in a single layer. You may need to cook them in batches.
• Spray the tater tots lightly with cooking spray.
• Cook for 7 to 9 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
• Remove the tater tots from the air fryer and serve immediately with your favourite dipping sauce.

Frequently asked questions