How To Deep Fry Tater Tots: The Ultimate Guide to This Delicious Snack! 6 Ways
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Tater tots are a delicious and fun snack that you can serve in any number of ways. There are so many things you can do with them, such as making tater tot hotdish, serving them as an appetizer with dipping sauces, or just eating them directly out of the bag.
However, there is one more way you can use tater tots to make an even more delightful treat: deep frying them! Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, deep-fried tater tots are a wholesome snack that tastes like something from your favorite restaurant or arcade.
This easy recipe is perfect for game day, dinner parties, or just because! Here’s everything you need to know about how to deep fry tater tots!
What is a Tater Tot?
A tater tot is a small treat made of shredded potatoes, cooked and shaped into small, round discs. They can be baked, pan fried, or deep fried, and are a popular snack or side dish in the United States.
Tater tots are often eaten with ketchup, hot sauce, or ranch dressing, and are a popular addition to many meals and snacks, such as nachos, hash brown casserole, and potato skins. They can also be eaten plain as a snack, plain or with salt, pepper, or other seasonings.
Although they are sometimes confused with hash browns, they are actually a different food entirely. Pronounced “tot-er tot,” they are named after tot, the noise made by dropping a scoop of potatoes into hot oil.
How to Deep Fry Tater Tots
First, you’ll need to decide which type of oil you want to use. You can use vegetable oil, corn oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, or other oils, as long as they are high-heat oils that can withstand the high temperatures needed for deep frying.
A deep-fry thermometer is also a great tool to use when deep frying, as it will help you keep an eye on the temperature of the oil. Next, you’ll want to put your tater tots in the freezer for about 30 minutes before adding them to the oil.
This will help them keep their shape and texture after they are fried. You can also add a few cups of ice to the oil to help keep it at the right temperature.
Finally, you’ll want to fry the tater tots for about 4 minutes, until they are a golden brown and crispy. Take them out of the oil with a slotted spoon, and let them drain on paper towels to get rid of any excess oil.
Tips for Making The Best Tater Tot Recipe
To make the best tater tot recipe, you’ll want to start with the freshest potatoes you can find. You can use Russet potatoes, or a mixture of potatoes, like Yukon Gold.
You’ll also want to make sure that they are peeled and diced before they go in the oil, to make sure that they cook evenly. You can also try adding in different spices and seasonings, such as smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, or anything else you like!
You’ll also want to make sure that your oil is hot enough before you add the tater tots. If the oil isn’t hot enough, the tater tots will absorb the oil and will come out soggy instead of crispy. You can test this by dropping a few bread crumbs into the oil. If they bubble and start to fry, you’re good to go.
6 Delicious Ways to Serve Deep-Fried Tater Tots
As we’ve mentioned, tater tots are a versatile snack that can be served in many different ways. Here are six delicious ways you can serve deep-fried tater tots at your next gathering!
Traditional Tater Tots – This is the classic way to enjoy deep-fried tater tots, with nothing but their natural flavor and a side of ketchup.
Mega Tots – If you want to take your tater tots up a notch, try topping them with nacho cheese, diced jalapenos, sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips for a mega-sized treat.
Tater Tot Casserole – A tater tot casserole is the perfect side dish for potlucks and family gatherings. You can also use it as an appetizer or snack, and serve it in individual ramekins for a delicious baked potato treat.
Tater Tot Hotdish – A tater tot hotdish is a classic Minnesota dish, and a perfect dish to serve on a cold night or at a game night gathering. You can also use it as an appetizer or side dish, or serve it with a main dish like burgers, chicken sandwiches, or barbecued ribs.
Tater Tot Skewers – If you want to take your tater tot recipe to the next level, you can skewer your tots with anything from bacon to peppers and onions. You can even make desserts with tater tot skewers, like tater tot s’mores or tater tot crème brûlée!
Tater Tot Nachos – Nachos are a delicious treat any time of year, but they are even more fun when made out of tater tots. You can top them with any number of ingredients, from pulled pork to melted cheese, salsa, and any other toppings you like.
Are frozen Tater Tots already deep-fried?
Frozen tater tots are often deep fried before being packaged, even if the bag says “made with real potatoes.” This means that they have been frozen and thawed in a factory before making it to your grocery store shelf.
While these frozen tater tots are ready to be popped in the oven or skillet to be baked, they won’t be as crispy as fresh ones that are deep fried. If you want to deep fry frozen tater tots, make sure that you thaw them before you fry them, and fry them in batches so they don’t stick together.
If you want to enjoy deep fried tater tots that are just as crispy as fresh ones, you can also make your own frozen tater tots at home.
Are tater tots fried or baked?
Tater tots are often baked, so you’ll want to make sure that you buy tater tots that specifically say “baked,” “oven-baked,” or “deep-fried” in the ingredients list. If you buy tater tots that are made with “real potatoes,” they are likely baked.
They will taste good and have a similar texture to baked tots, but they won’t be as crispy. If you want to enjoy crispy baked tater tots, you can follow a similar method to frying them.
You can freeze your tots first, and then bake them at 350˚ F for about 10 minutes, until they are crispy and golden brown.
Can tater tots be pan fried?
You can pan fry tater tots in butter, canola oil, or another fat for about 2-3 minutes, or until they are golden brown. You can also use a nonstick pan with oil, or a low-fat cooking spray, to make them healthier.
You can also toss them in a batter before pan frying. If you want to make baked tater tots that are pan fried, you can use a similar method to baking them. You can freeze your tots, and then fry them in a pan for about 10 minutes, until they are crispy and golden brown.
Safety tips
When deep frying foods, it is important to keep a watchful eye on your oil to make sure that it doesn’t get too hot. If the oil gets too hot, it can lead to the oils burning, which can cause the oil to catch on fire.
If you notice smoke coming from your oil, it has gotten too hot and is at risk of burning. Turn off the heat and let the oil cool down before you try again.
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