Tater tots are a perfect option for food lovers who enjoy crispy and mildly seasoned snacks. Tater tots are easy to prepare and quick to cook. It makes them a go-to choice for folks who crave a delicious snack without the fuss. The deliciousness of tater tots is enhanced by air frying.
Air frying is a fast and easy way of cooking that requires no oil or grease. It’s also healthier than traditional deep-frying methods because it locks in moisture without adding many calories. Moreover, the texture of air fryer foods like fries and tater tots is always crispy and crunchy. It makes them perfect for dipping into your favorite sauces. Cooking time is a crucial aspect of air frying and for tater tots. In this blog post, we’ll discover how long to cook tater tots in the air fryer for optimal results. So, let’s get into it.
What are Tater Tots?
Tater tots, also known as “tots” or “potato tots,” are cylindrical potato-based snacks. They are made from grated potatoes, formed into small cylinders, and deep-fried. Tater tots have a unique flavor that combines crunchy and salty. They are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. You can pair them with various sauces to make them more delicious.
Why Should You Try to Cook Tater Tots in Air Fryer?
Cooking tater tots in air fryers is the healthier and tastier option. Air frying ensures that the tater tots are cooked evenly from all sides without using any oil. It also helps lock moisture inside, giving the snack a delicious crunchy texture on the outside and a tender texture on the inside. As you place tater tots in an air fryer, hot air circulates them, cooking them quickly.
How to Cook Tater Tots in Air Fryer?
Cooking tater tots in an air fryer is a simple process. Air fryer tater tots don’t need any oil or high temperatures. Here are the steps you need to follow for air-frying tater tots:
Get The Ingredients for Tater Tots
To prepare tater tots in an air fryer, the list of ingredients is pretty straightforward. You’ll need half-boiled potatoes to make tater tots. Grate them to get potato shreds. You can peel off the potatoes’ skin before grating them. Mix garlic powder, salt, pepper, onion powder, and other herbs in a large bowl. Add corn starch in it and mix everything. Now, take small amounts of the potato mixture and form them into cylindrical shapes.
You can also buy frozen tater tots from the store. Frozen tater tots offer a convenient way to make a quick snack. You don’t have to spend time grating potatoes and making them into tater tots.
Preheat The Air Fryer
Preheating the air fryer is an essential step many people overlook. However, it can transform your tater tots into a crispy delight. Preheat your air fryer to around 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes. It prepares the air fryer for cooking the tots evenly and quickly.
This step also ensures that the air inside the fryer is hot enough to start cooking the tater tots as they get into the basket. It gives them a mouthwatering golden finish and creates that perfect crunch we love.
Cook The Tater Tots
Now comes the exciting part of cooking the tater tots. Distribute the frozen tater tots evenly in the basket. Make sure not to overcrowd them. It gives your tater tots enough room to get cooked evenly. This space allows the hot air to circulate freely, ensuring all sides of your tots get evenly cooked. It helps you achieve irresistible golden-brown color.
Set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and set the timer for about 7 to 9 minutes. The circulating hot air makes every tot perfectly crispy on the outside while keeping the inside soft and fluffy. Once the timer sounds, quickly peek to ensure they’re cooked to your desired crispiness. If you want them a bit more golden, cook for a few more minutes.
Flip The Tater Tots
Halfway through the cooking process, you’ll hit an important milestone – it’s time to flip those tater tots! This step is essential for achieving that all-around golden crisp texture. Don’t let your tots sit on one side for too long. Flipping them ensures that every side gets its chance to soak up the heat and transform into a crispy delight.
Gently turn your tater tots using a pair of tongs or a spatula. Be careful not to break them during the flipping process. This flipping routine is like a mini intermission. It allows for an even performance of crispiness on all sides. Once done, let them back in for the second act of their cooking journey. Resume cooking until the timer ends and the tater tots reach your desired golden crispiness level.
Finish Cooking and Serve
As the timer sings its final note, your air fryer ends its performance. Open the air fryer and see perfectly golden, crispiest tater tots. Use your tongs or spatula to gently lift the tots from the air fryer basket onto a serving plate. Be careful, as they’re hot and irresistibly tempting. Let them cool down. Their warmth highlights the contrast between the crispy exterior and the fluffy interior. It makes each bite a memorable experience.
But don’t stop there. Add a sprinkle of fine sea salt or grated parmesan cheese. You can serve crispy tots with your favorite sauce. Serve them warm and enjoy your homemade tater tots’ crunchy, salty taste. If you love tator tots as much as I do then you should check out our guide on how to cook frozen hash browns.
Which Dipping Sauces Do You Try with Tater Tots?
Air fry tater tots are a versatile snack. They can be enjoyed alone or with your favorite dipping sauce. The following dippings sauces are perfect matches for tater tots:
- Ketchup is a classic, all-time favorite. It pairs well with your potato tots for a sweet and savory flavor.
- BBQ sauce is another delicious option that complements the crunchy texture of tater tots.
- Ranch dressing can be used as a dip, too. It gives your tater tots an extra creamy taste.
- Don’t forget mayonnaise. It has a delightful richness that pairs great with tater tots.
- Buffalo sauce adds a spicy kick to your tater tots. It can be served as a dip or as a topping for additional flavor.
- For those who prefer natural flavors, try sea salt, lemon juice, or garlic powder. All of these ingredients will add great taste and aroma to your tater tots.
Tips To Cook Tater Tots in an Air Fryer
The following tips will help you perfectly cook frozen tater tots:
- Don’t skip preheating the air fryer. It will ensure that your tater tots cook evenly and get crispy on all sides. A warm fryer will ensure your tots start cooking as you place them in the air fryer basket.
- Shake the basket every few minutes while the tots are cooking. It will help ensure that they cook evenly and get golden brown. It also ensures tater tots’ crispy texture.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer’s basket with tater tots. Overcrowding the basket can cause uneven heating, preventing your tots from getting crispy on all sides.
- Buy frozen tots from reputable brands. Ore Ida tater tots are a popular option.
- Follow the cooking time on the packaging instructions. Different brands of tater tots may need different cooking times. Make sure to check your brand’s packaging to get the perfect result every time.
Conclusion
Tater tots are a classic snack. They’re great for parties, game nights, or just as an afternoon pick-me-up. With an air fryer, you can make the perfect tater tots in just a few minutes. Air fryers offer a healthier way to make tater tots than traditional deep-frying. Just remember to preheat the air fryer and don’t overcrowd the basket. Don’t over-fry, or your tater tots will become hard and burnt. Keep in mind how long it takes to cook tater tots in the air fryer and follow the instructions on the package. With a little practice, you can make delicious and flavorful tater tots. You know what goes great with tater tots is some yummy hot pockets and we’ll show you hot to cook them like a boss.
FAQs
How long should I cook tater tots in an air fryer?
The cooking time will vary depending on the brand of tater tots you’re using. Generally, it will take about 7 to 9 minutes at 400°F for frozen tater tots to cook in an air fryer.
How long does it take to put frozen tater tots in an air fryer?
Frozen tater tots should be cooked in an air fryer for 7 to 9 minutes at 400°F (204°C). Check your package instructions for the exact cooking time for your particular brand of tater tots.
Can you stack tater tots in an air fryer?
No, you should not stack tater tots in an air fryer. Stacking them will prevent them from getting crispy on all sides. Spread out the tots and make sure that they’re not touching each other.
What temperature of tater tots is cooked?
Tater tots should be cooked at 400°F (204°C). Even though some brands may require different cooking times, the temperature should stay the same during air frying.
