Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots Recipe (Sweet & Spicy!) - The Cookie Rookie (2024)

FAQs

How do they get tater tots to stick together? ›

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.

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.

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.

Tater tots are grated potatoes formed into small cylinders and deep-fried, often served as a side dish. The name "tater tot" is a registered trademark of the American frozen food company Ore-Ida, but is often used as a generic term.

All-Purpose Flour.

Helps bind the potatoes, so the tater tots hold their shape and don't fall apart after baking.

To prevent tater tots from sticking together while deep frying, it's important to add them to the hot oil in small batches. Overcrowding the fryer can cause the tater tots to clump together, so fry them in batches for the best results.

Instead of rummaging through your spice drawer trying to come up with the right mix of flavors, you can simply shake on some of this. In the case of tots, you'll want to pour the frozen tots onto a sheet tray, toss with a bit of olive oil, add a few shakes of seasoned salt, then toss again to coat the tots.

You might think tater tots would taste like fries, but fries are just chunks of potatoes that are fried. Tots are potatoes chopped up into tiny bits, then mixed with seasonings and binder (corn flour, I think), so they taste slightly different, as well as having a different consistency.…

The tots might also emit an off or sour smell. If you taste a piece and it seems stale or has a slightly bitter or sour flavor, then it is no longer fresh. Keep the tater tots in their original bag, squeeze out any excess air, and seal tightly before placing in the freezer.

To the surprise of absolutely no one, air fryer tater tots are even better than oven-baked. They're ready in way less time, are supremely crispy and delicious, and are by far the best way to mimic deep-fried restaurant tots at home. Here's how to do it.

Why can't you put tater tots in the microwave? ›

Keep in mind that microwaving tater tots may result in a slightly different texture compared to baking them. While they may not be as crispy as oven-baked tots, they are still a convenient option when you're short on time or don't have access to an oven.

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.

Here in the UK you won't find 'tater tots' in the supermarkets. However you will find hash browns which are basically tater tots formed into a larger, usually triangle shape.

From tater treats to imi-taters

Tater tots were invented by F. Nephi Grigg of Ore-Ida in 1953 as a way to use excess potato shavings that came from making frozen french fries. Originally, the shavings were sold as livestock feed. The term “tater tot” is a proprietary name owned by Ore-Ida.

Not Enough Fat

If your food sticks, there is a chance that you simply didn't use enough oil. That said, you don't need to get carried away with oiling your foods and cooking vessels — a thin layer of fat, combined with heat and time, should do the trick beautifully.

You might think tater tots would taste like fries, but fries are just chunks of potatoes that are fried. Tots are potatoes chopped up into tiny bits, then mixed with seasonings and binder (corn flour, I think), so they taste slightly different, as well as having a different consistency.…

Salt: Omit if the tots have salt added already. You can always salt them when they come out of the oven if needed. Cayenne: These have a mild amount of spice. Increase to ½-3/4 teaspoon to make them spicier.

There's no need to add extra oil to frozen tater tots. They are already deep fried before freezing, so they will release plenty of oil to crisp up as they cook. What are tater tots? Tater tots are bite-sized little potatoey pillows made from shredded potatoes.