Can I Microwave Tater Tots: Quick Cooking Guide

Can I Microwave Tater Tots

Tater tots are a beloved side dish and snack made of minced or ground potato that is shaped into small cylinders and then deep fried until golden brown and crispy on the outside. Their delicious taste and texture make them an American classic.

However, sometimes you may want to enjoy tater tots but don’t have the time or equipment to fry them. So can you microwave tater tots to make them crispy and delicious?

Yes, You Can Microwave Tater Tots for a Quick and Easy Snack

The good news is that you can microwave tater tots to reheat them or cook frozen tater tots with a few tricks to help them get crispy in the microwave. While microwaved tater tots won’t get quite as crispy as deep-fried or oven-baked, they will still get hot and can develop a crispy texture on the outside while remaining soft and fluffy on the inside.

Microwaving is a fast and convenient way to enjoy tater tots when you don’t have access to an oven or fryer. Below are some tips for microwaving tater tots to get them as crispy as possible.

Cook Them in a Single Layer

Cooking tater tots in a single layer is key for microwaving. Overlapping tater tots will steam each other and prevent getting crispy. Spread the tater tots out in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate or paper towels. For a full 32-ounce bag of tater tots, you’ll need multiple plates or do batches.

Use Shorter Cooking Times

Microwave the tater tots in short bursts like 1-2 minutes instead of cooking them all at once. Check and rearrange or flip them halfway through. This allows you to better control the cooking and prevent them from getting mushy.

Allow Standing Time

After microwaving tater tots, let them stand for 1-2 minutes. The hot interior steam will continue cooking the tots to get them extra crispy on the outside.

Use a Microwave Crisping Sleeve or Paper

Special microwave crisping sleeves or papers that are lined with a heat susceptor material can help to promote browning and crisping in the microwave. Place tater tots on this paper or in the sleeve before microwaving.

Add a Small Amount of Oil

Lightly brushing or spraying a bit of oil on the tater tots can help them get crisp in the microwave. Use just enough to lightly coat – about 1 tsp for a full bag.

Get a Microwaveable Version

Look for tater tots that are specially made to get crispy in the microwave. These contain less moisture and often have a crunchy coating or breading to help them crisp up. Follow package instructions.

Microwaving Instructions per Batch

Place a single layer of tater tots on a microwave-safe plate or crisping sleeve

• Microwave on high for 2 minutes
• Remove, stir, or flip tots and rotate the plate
• Microwave for 1 more minute
• Let stand for 1-2 minutes before serving

Adjust cooking times as needed based on the amount of tater tots. For best results, cook in batches to prevent overcrowding.

Microwave Frozen Tater Tots

You can also microwave frozen tater tots and cook them without thawing first. This does take a bit longer than reheating already cooked tots but can still produce hot and somewhat crispy tater tots straight from the freezer.

To microwave-cook frozen tater tots:

• Arrange frozen tots in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate
• Microwave on high for 4 minutes
• Stir or flip tots, rotate the plate
• Microwave for 2 more minutes
• Check and continue microwaving in 1-minute intervals if needed
• Let stand 2 minutes before serving

This method can take 10+ minutes depending on the amount. Watch closely to prevent mushiness. You may also need to separate any tots that are stuck together before microwaving.

Microwave Leftover Tater Tots

Have some leftover tater tots from a previous meal? You can easily reheat them in the microwave to enjoy them again. Microwaving is ideal for getting refrigerated cooked tater tots hot and a bit crispy again.

To reheat leftover tater tots:

• Place leftover tater tots in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate
• Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes until hot
• Let stand 1 minute to crisp up before eating

Adjust times based on the amount of leftover tater tots you are reheating. It takes a shorter time than cooking frozen tots. Monitor to avoid drying them out.

Other Quick Ways to Cook Tater Tots

While the microwave can work in a pinch, there are some other fast options for cooking up hot and crispy tater tots when you want something better than microwaved.

Oven Bake

You can bake tater tots in the oven without having to deep fry them. This produces a nice crispy exterior and fluffy interior. To oven bake:

• Preheat oven to 425°F
• Place tater tots in a single layer on a baking sheet
• Lightly coat tots in oil or cooking spray
• Bake 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway
• Baking gives a crunchier texture than the microwave. Bake frozen tots for about 28-32 minutes.

Air Fryer

An air fryer is ideal for getting tater tots crispy. The hot swirling air surrounds the tots to produce a crunchy exterior. To air-fry:

• Place tots in a single layer in the air fryer basket
• Cook at 400°F for 14-18 minutes, shaking halfway
• Air frying makes the tater tots taste deep fried. Cook frozen tots for up to 22 minutes.

Grill

You can also grill tater tots for a tasty outdoor treat. The hot grill sears the outside while heating them through.

• Place tots on a grilling basket or tray
• Grill over medium heat for 20-22 minutes total, flipping occasionally
• Grilling gives fun grill marks and char flavor. Make sure tots don’t fall through grates.

Tips for the Best Homemade Tater Tots

While microwaving is convenient, you can also try making homemade tater tots for the freshest taste and texture. Here are some tips:

• Use starchy russet potatoes – they get the crispiest
• Squeeze out excess moisture from grated potatoes
• Chill the grated potato in the fridge before shaping the tots
• Pack the potato tightly when shaping into cylinders
• Roll shaped tots in flour or panko before frying or baking

Homemade lets you season and customize with herbs, cheese, or other mix-ins. Enjoy your crispy tater tots!

FAQs

How long do you microwave tater tots?

Cook tater tots in the microwave in 1-2 minute intervals, checking frequently. Cook time depends on the amount but will be 2-4 minutes per batch. Cook in single layers and allow standing time for maximum crispness.

Should you flip tater tots when microwaving?

Yes, flip or stir tater tots halfway through microwaving for more even cooking. Rotating the plate can also help prevent cold spots.

Can you put frozen tater tots directly in the microwave?

Yes, you can microwave-cook frozen tater tots without thawing first. Cook them in a single layer and use slightly longer cook times, around 4-6 minutes.

How can you crisp up microwaved tater tots?

Letting them stand for 1-2 minutes after cooking, using lower microwave power, and microwaving in short intervals can all help microwaved tater tots get crispier.

What is the best way to reheat tater tots?

The oven or air fryer works best for reheating leftover cooked tater tots. But the microwave can also reheat them nicely in just 2-3 minutes per batch.

Conclusion

While the microwave can’t match deep frying or baking for ultimate tater to crispiness, it can provide a quick and convenient cooking method when you have a craving. Using the right techniques and recipes, you can achieve hot and somewhat crispy tater tots from the microwave.

For best results, cook them in small batches and experiment with standing time, stirring, and microwavable crisping sleeves or papers. With a bit of practice, the microwave can be a surprisingly decent option for enjoying tasty tater tots in a pinch.