The air fryer is a new pan-frying device that has come onto the market in recent years. It has caused some disruption in the frying industry, allowing for less oil usage and healthier foods!
Air fryers work by circulating hot air around the food, heating it through thermal heat transfer, and then drying it with the fan. This process takes a bit longer than traditional frying, but it works!
Air frying is becoming more popular as people become aware of its benefits. It is starting to become more recognizable as a fryer type, which is nice because it means people are noticing how good your food tastes!
There are several factors that influence the time it takes to cook something in the air fryer. The most obvious one is whether or not the food is breaded or coated in batter. These two things take up more space so there is less room for air to move around your food. Thus, it takes longer to cook through thermal heat transfer.
Put desired amount of tater tots into air fryer rotating basket
Once you have washed and dried your tater tots, you are ready to fry them! Place the frozen tater tots into the air fryer basket. Make sure they are not too crowded or they will not cook properly.
Once in the air fryer, set your machine to 360 degrees and let them cook for twenty minutes. Once done, take them out and enjoy! You can either shake them out onto a plate or keep them in the basket and rotate it using the air fryer rotating feature. This way, all of your tater tots are crisped evenly.
Sending your tater tots through the air fryer a second time may make them crispy on just one side, so make sure you check each one before removing them.
Pour oil into air fryer rotating basket
Once you have chosen which type of food you will be cooking in your air fryer, it is time to pour the oil into the appliance.
Many recipes call for just a few tablespoons of oil, but in reality, more oil is better in the air fryer! You want enough oil to completely cover the food being cooked.
That is why we recommend pouring in at least two to three cups of oil into the basket. This way all of your food will be completely coated and fried!
If you do not use enough oil, your food may taste crunchy and dry. To avoid this, make sure to use enough oil and switch up the type of oil you use. Some oils absorb more flavor than others, so using different oils will enhance the taste of your food.
Set timer for desired time
Once your tater tots are in the basket, set your air fryer for the desired time. Most recipes call for twenty minutes, but you can set it for longer if you want them more cooked through.
Some brands have a higher maximum temperature, so if that is the case, set it for the highest setting and let them cook for a few more minutes until they are golden and crispy!
Air frying takes a little bit longer than conventional frying, but it is still quick. This is because the air fryers circulate hot air to cook the foods rather than putting them in hot oil.
Cook until crispy and golden brown
Once your tater tots are all rolled up in the air fryer basket, it is time to cook them until they are crispy and golden brown. This can take a few minutes, so be patient!
Air frying takes a little bit longer than traditional frying, so this is a good time to do something else while you wait. Once they are done, be sure to rotate the basket so that all of the tater tots are cooked evenly.
Once they are all cooked and looking golden brown and delicious, serve them up! If you want them even crunchier, let them cool off before eating or reheat them in the air fryer for a slightly softer interior.
These tater tot nuggets are perfect for dipping in your favorite sauces or eating as is.
Serve with your favorite topping(s)
Once your air-fried tots are done, serve them with your favorite toppings. Some popular ones include ketchup, mustard, jalapeño sauce, vegan cheese, and/or sriracha.
Users also suggest experimenting with different types of potatoes since some have more starch which helps them hold up in the air fryer. Russet potatoes work well for tots because of this.
Some users have tried baking the tots instead of using the rotating basket method and had success. If you are not a fan of the rotating feature or do not have an air fryer that has this feature, try both methods and see which you like more!
Air frying is a fun way to cook your favorite snacks.
Re-use oil for next time
Once your oil is cool, you can re-use it. If you have enough oil to fill the required amount, you can fill it up and use it next time!
Air fryers have a small capacity, so if you do not have enough oil to fill the required amount, your best bet is to buy new oil. You can get peanut, vegetable, canola, or olive oil to re-use.
Rotating Basket Air Fryers have a special feature that lets you cook more than one item at once. This is great for saving time and space when cooking lots of foods! You can make tater tots and fries in the same basket at the same time with this feature.
You always want to make sure your oil is clean and burning-free before reusing it. Otherwise, your next batch of food may taste weird.
Store leftover tater tots in the air fryer rotating basket with the lid on
Once you have finished cooking your tater tots, let them cool for a few minutes before transferring them to a plate. Once they are cool, you can store them in the air fryer rotating basket with the lid on.
This is great if you are making multiple batches of tater tots or if you want to keep some warm while cooking more. The lid keeps them crispy as they heat up, and you can simply dump them all into a bowl when they are all cooked.
It is recommended that you use plastic containers or baskets for this to prevent burning of the material of the air fryer. Wood or metal may conduct heat away too quickly, causing the appliance to work harder to maintain temperature.
Heat up in the air fryer rotating basket when ready to eat again
When your tater tots are done baking, let them cool for a few minutes before removing them from the tray. Once they are cool, you can serve them as is or toss them in sauce.
If you choose to serve them in the air fryer, let them heat up in there until they are warm all the way through. The tater tots will stick to the basket if they are cold, so make sure they are warm before pulling them out.
Try using an oven thermometer to check the temperature of the air fryer to make sure it is heating properly. If it is not heating enough, try switching it for a higher wattage model.