Creative Ways: How to Cook Tater Tots in Air Fryer
The air fryer is a great cooking tool. Cooking potato balls with it is quite interesting. So how exactly can we cook it well in the air fryer? Here is the method for you in detail.
How to Air Fry Tater Tots?
Preheat: Preheat the air fryer to 180 degrees for 3 minutes.
Add ingredients: Put the frozen potato balls directly into the frying basket, leaving space between them. Fry 10-12 at a time, no need to defrost in advance.
Set to bake: Set the temperature to 180 degrees for 15 minutes, turn it over every 5 minutes, and set it to 200 degrees for the last 2 minutes.
Seasoning: Sprinkle with salt and black pepper after baking, and you can dip it in ketchup or garlic sauce.
Tips: If you make it for the first time, you can try a few less. If you feel it is not cooked enough, bake it for 2-3 minutes longer. It tastes best when it is hot.
Are tater tots better in the oven or air fryer?
The air fryer is better. Because the air fryer can make the potato balls crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It can be completed in just 15 minutes, saving half the time compared to an oven. Moreover, it will not be as easily charred as an oven.
Although the oven can bake more at one time, the temperature is not precise enough and it is easy to be undercooked or charred. It is recommended to use an air fryer for daily family use and choose an oven for parties or when there are many people dining together.
Why are my tater tots mushy?
Excessively high oil temperature is the main reason for potato balls to be burnt. When frying potato balls, the oil temperature should be maintained between 160 and 170 degrees. If it exceeds 180 degrees, the surface is likely to be charred while the inside is still not fully cooked.
First, use an edible oil thermometer to control the temperature. If there is no thermometer, you can test the oil temperature with chopsticks. When fine bubbles appear when inserted into the oil, it is the appropriate temperature. Secondly, control the heat. Medium-low heat is relatively stable to avoid sudden changes in temperature.
Finally, pay attention to the frying time. Generally, it can be fried to golden yellow in 5-7 minutes. Exceeding this time is likely to cause charring.
It is recommended not to put too many potato balls at the same time each time to avoid a too rapid drop in temperature affecting the uniformity of heating. It is better to fry in batches, so that it is easier to control the heat and ensure the taste.
What happens if you overcook tater tots?
If potato balls are cooked too thoroughly, they will lose their texture and shape.
Potatoes that are overcooked will absorb too much water and become sticky and difficult to form. When coated with flour, they are prone to shedding, and after frying, they will not be crispy.
Overcooked potatoes can be made into mashed potatoes and seasoned with butter, milk, and salt, or made into potato pancakes to avoid wasting ingredients.
Should I thaw tater tots before cooking?
There is no need to thaw the potato balls. Just cook them directly.
Frozen potato balls taken out of the refrigerator can be put into the pot for cooking immediately. In this way, the skin will be crispier and the inside will be softer. Cooking directly also saves preparation time and will not make the potato balls become soft and deformed during thawing.
For specific cooking methods, you can choose frying or using an air fryer. When frying, control the oil temperature at around 170 degrees. It can be fried to a golden and crispy state in 5 to 7 minutes. If using an air fryer, set it to 180 degrees and fry for 12 to 15 minutes, turning over once in the middle.
Pay attention to the heat when cooking. Ensure that the inside of the potato balls is completely heated. When the skin is golden and crispy, take them out. After draining the oil, it tastes best when eaten while hot. If you are afraid that the inside is not cooked, you can insert a toothpick to check. If it can be easily inserted, it means it is cooked.
Can I microwave tater tots?
It is not recommended to heat potato balls in a microwave oven. Heating in a microwave oven will make the potato balls become moist and tasteless, losing the crispiness of the skin and seriously affecting the taste and eating experience.
The most ideal heating methods are using an air fryer or an oven, which can make the potato balls become crispy on the outside and soft on the inside again. Set the air fryer to 160 degrees and heat for 3-4 minutes. The oven needs to be heated at 180 degrees for 5-6 minutes. Both can restore the potato balls to the delicious taste just like when they were freshly fried.
If there are no such devices at home, you can heat with a small fire in a frying pan. Put a little oil and turn them from time to time to avoid burning. This can also maintain a good taste.
