Crispy Tater Tots in Air Fryer

Name: Crispy Tater Tots in Air Fryer
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 bag (28 oz / 800 g) frozen tater tots (Ore-Ida); to coat basket olive oil spray; a pinch salt; 1.8 oz (50 g) shredded mozzarella (optional)

Frozen tater tots become golden and crispy in the air fryer, ready in just 15 minutes. A quick and delicious side dish.

Time: 20 min4 servingsDifficulty: Easy200°CVegetables

Steps

1
Preheat air fryer to 200°C (400°F) for 5 minutes.
2
Spray air fryer basket with nonstick spray. Add frozen tater tots in a single layer.
3
For half a bag: cook 10 minutes, shaking basket halfway. For full bag: cook 15 minutes, shaking every 5 minutes.
4
Optional: sprinkle shredded mozzarella over tots and cook 2 more minutes at 200°C.
5
Serve immediately with ketchup, extra salt, and enjoy their extra crispy texture.

Shopping list

1 bag (~800g) frozen tater tots (Ore-Ida), olive oil spray, a pinch of salt, 50g shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)

Recipe story

Tater tots are an American variation of potato fries, popularized by the Ore-Ida brand in the 1950s. This recipe adapts their preparation in an air fryer, preserving the characteristic crispy texture.

Ingredient Secrets

Sea salt

Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.

Olive oil

Originating in the Mediterranean basin, olive oil was already produced in ancient Crete 5,000 years ago. In ancient Greece, it was considered a gift from Athena and used in lamps, cosmetics, and religious ceremonies. The Romans spread it throughout the empire, and in the Middle Ages, monasteries preserved the tradition of its production.