Cold Weather Recipe: Grown-Up Tater-Tots (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with frozen tater tots? ›

You want them crispy, tater tots need to be cooked at a high temperature for this to happen. 375-400F is great, I find 375F the sweet spot to get them crispy but to also cook the inside before the outside burns.

To keep things easy and healthier, we bake the tots instead of frying them. A microwave and food processor makes quick work of the potatoes. Shaping the mixture is a little tricky — but with a bowl of cold water next to you, you'll quickly get the hang of it (see our notes in the recipe).

A longer cook time will cause the tots to shrink and dry out a little, which makes them even crispier all around on the outside with a potato-y center that's more dense and creamy.

Unopened bags of frozen tater tots can last up to 2 years in the freezer beyond the printed date. Once the bag has been opened, the tater tots are good for about 2 months, but they're best when consumed within a few weeks so they don't develop freezer burn.

When you take a handful of tater tots and throw them into a fryer the oil is only crisping the exterior of the tots and heating them through. They're already cooked, remember? If you were to put some tater tots into a microwave they would become hot but never crispy. It takes hot fat to get them crispy.

Yes, you can bake frozen tater tots without thawing them first. In fact, it's recommended to bake them from frozen to ensure they cook evenly and become crispy on the outside. What temperature should I bake frozen tater tots at? Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) before baking the frozen tater tots.

We know that what keeps the Tater Tots stuck together is a combination of two pretty sticky things: moist starches and proteins. The more they come in contact with each other, the stickier they become, and the tighter/gummier the Tater Tots will be.

Warning: There's absolutely nothing healthy or nutritionally redeeming about “tater tots.” They're straight up junk food, loaded with fat and salt. But they're also crispy, salty and simply irresistible — no matter what your age. Ore-Ida's Tater Tots were invented in Oregon in 1953 as a way to use up potato scraps.

Heat oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lower potato nuggets carefully into the hot oil in batches, about 5 to 10 at a time. Fry until golden brown and crispy, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Are tater tots or fries more unhealthy? ›

Tater tots are made from grated deep-fried potato. The fact they are grated, means there is more surface area to soak up the frying oil compared to french fries, making the tater tots fattier by comparison.

Each homemade, oven-baked tater tot is delicious…and even a little healthier too since these are not fried. The secret? Rolling each tot in a little olive oil before baking for a crispy on the outside, soft on the inside tater tot.

The crispy, craveable potato nuggets have a deep-fried crust and lightly salted flavor that makes them downright irresistible. Nobody does tots like Sonic.

Yes, you can cook frozen tater tots on the stovetop. This method involves pan-frying the tots, which gives them a delicious crispy exterior. Heat some oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Place the frozen tots in the pan, making sure they have enough space between them.

Tater tots – Use frozen tater tots straight from the freezer without thawing first, this stops them from overcooking in the oven.

Tots add a nice crunch to any sandwich, especially a melty grilled cheese. Change up the meat and cheese depending on what you and your kid's like. Grilled ham and Swiss sandwiches, and turkey cheddar melts, are both even better with tots.