Tater Tots

[Bearcarver]

Sounds like maybe your chicken thighs are quite big. :rolleyes: I can get 4 in as a rule.
I just use the pre-set menu. I do do a 10 minute pre-heat at the drumstick (Chicken) setting. (Where you move it around to the Drumstick), do a 20 minute, turn it over and do the second run of 20 minutes. The second run seems to crisp it up.
I use a seasoning called Chef Merito Pollo Seasoning. Learned that trick from the DIL's parents.
http://www.chefmerito.com/storelocator.aspx

I did learn the hard way to start with the skin side up. Otherwise the crispy skin you are trying to achieve gets stuck to the pan. :mad:

Most recently, we had the Son and Grand-kids over for chicken dinner, I managed to get 3 thighs, and 4 drumstick in and they came out good in spite of me.
We buy large packages of skin on thighs (12) and drumsticks, and I repackage them into 3t and 4d for the freezer. Or sometimes just 4 and 4 separate. Then pull what we need.
In fact, you talked me into it. I got out some to Air Fry tonight.

Anyway, maybe smaller thighs, 360 degrees, and 20-20 turns? That's all I can think of Bear.
But the smoke then Air Fry was a winner-winner chicken dinner to me. :D

My french fries tend to come out a tad done, but I like them that way anyway.

Maybe folks with a preference for Deep Frying wouldn't like the Air Fryer as much? But we do.

Yup, the only thing you did that I didn't was Cold Smoking them first.
I kept putting them back in after their time was done, and they never dried out any with even Doubling the time.

My Tater tots were perfect, my Fries are always right on, Great Stromboli, Awesome Fresh Sausage and Smoky Links.
But Lousy Chicken!!
So I said Screw-it---I got more important things to do.

Bear

 

[mike243]

Love tots but the ones with onions are the best,diabetic so dont have them often

 

[bluewhisper]

Got the onion tots finishing in the oven now.

 

[js0813]

38 and we destroy some tots with our kids! We found a new love for them...defrost some and put them in a greased & hot waffle iron. Then throw a sausage patty and some cheese on top when done. Maybe some Yellowbird Habenero hot sauce. Game over.

 

[Jeff Wright]

I love tater tots, well basically any kind of fried potato. But I have recently given up all fried foods and anything to do with potatoes, need to find some tasty but healthy alternatives.

Just joking, but have you ever looked up an Hawkeye in an urban dictionary?

Oh my!!!

And I am firmly in the Tater Tot side...although I love mine cooked in my air fryer.

 

[illini40]

Don't mean to thread jack...but does anyone do tots on their smoker? Or need higher temps?

 

[TomKnollRFV]

I've seen a bunch of people with tater tots on their plates in the past few months. I don't think I ever bought tater tots.. I do believe my mom made tater tots for us kids back in the 70s maybe..
I never knew so many 50+ age people bought tater tots.
Learn something new everyday. :D

When I'm in my 50+ Bracket, I'll still like tater tots! They're the best form of taters next to mashed!

 

[Rings Я Us]

I think they do those on the grill in like a basket.

 

[SlickRockStones]

Bunny’s go to meal when nothing sounds good....Sloppy Joes and Oreida Crispy Crowns with apple sauce.

 

[MeatSkull]

I just discovered Tater Tots in my new air fryer, oh yeah!

 

[MeatSkull]

In the fryer for sure! I know some of you guys have AIR FRYERS... How does that work with tots? I'm on the fence on buying one... I need a push.

I have to think with my heart and not my stomach these day after my surgery, I even made some hash browns along with fries and tots and they were all actually better without all that grease.

 

[SonnyE]

In the fryer for sure! I know some of you guys have AIR FRYERS... How does that work with tots? I'm on the fence on buying one... I need a push.

If you're still holdin out, I'd say get one.
Bear and I have the larger model.
I use mine for chicken thighs and legs with the skin on, and for cabin fries.
It's really convenient, and if I can run it, anybody can run it. There is a lot of pre-programmed stuff it can do.

My only error so far was to do my chicken with the skin down first. It's better with the skin side up for the first run. Then turn it over for the second half. Doing it wrong stuck the skin to the non-stick pan. :confused:
(40 minutes total)

 

[Steve H]

My favorite is take a 10" CI skillet. Fry up about 6 slices of bacon till crispy. Remove bacon. But leave the grease. Put one layer of crispy crowns in pan and let them cook a few minutes. Flip the crowns. Then add a layer of cheddar cheese. Then crumble up the bacon. And place on top of cheese. Put in preheated broiler for a couple of minutes to melt the cheese. Take out, throw a couple tablespoons of sour cream on top and dig in.

 

[browneyesvictim]

I have to think with my heart and not my stomach these day after my surgery, I even made some hash browns along with fries and tots and they were all actually better without all that grease.

If you're still holdin out, I'd say get one.
Bear and I have the larger model.
I use mine for chicken thighs and legs with the skin on, and for cabin fries.
It's really convenient, and if I can run it, anybody can run it. There is a lot of pre-programmed stuff it can do.

My only error so far was to do my chicken with the skin down first. It's better with the skin side up for the first run. Then turn it over for the second half. Doing it wrong stuck the skin to the non-stick pan. :confused:
(40 minutes total)

A couple of things are stopping me from getting an air fryer- counter space and I already have a convection oven. I am trying to learn how to utilize that feature more but I cant quite get the same "deep fried" effect. As I understand it you just cant get the same results with "fresh-battered" things like fresh deep fried beer battered fish. Now like tater tots, or pre-made fish sitcks, yeah. I have done a panko coating and that has been pretty good, but just not the same as if fried in oil.

A handy tater tot cups- Use a pre-oil a muffin pan and place a few tater tots in the bottom. Oil the bottom of another muffin pan and push it down on top of the other. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes. Viola! Tater tot cups!
(My favorite use is- add shredded cheese, chopped onion, a fried egg, and then sausage gravy.)

 

[SonnyE]

A couple of things are stopping me from getting an air fryer- counter space and I already have a convection oven. I am trying to learn how to utilize that feature more but I cant quite get the same "deep fried" effect. As I understand it you just cant get the same results with "fresh-battered" things like fresh deep fried beer battered fish. Now like tater tots, or pre-made fish sitcks, yeah. I have done a panko coating and that has been pretty good, but just not the same as if fried in oil.

A handy tater tot cups- Use a pre-oil a muffin pan and place a few tater tots in the bottom. Oil the bottom of another muffin pan and push it down on top of the other. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes. Viola! Tater tot cups!
(My favorite use is- add shredded cheese, chopped onion, a fried egg, and then sausage gravy.)

I don't think you need no Air Fryer gizmo.
I think you have too much fun figuring out funner ways to do stuff. LOL!
Sounds great!
Ever try doing what you do with some shredded tators, or hash brown patties?

 

[TomKnollRFV]

Fun fact about the Tex Mex Chain Taco John <Actually some of ya'all might REMEMBER when it was this way..>

The Potato Oles used to have a bit of refried beans in the middle.

I know they are more hashbrown rounds then tater tots but still it's sort of relevant..

Also Poutine made with tater tots to me is a bit better then the fries version. <Canadians forgive me> Because I like more crispy bits.