Why aren't my tater tots getting crispy?

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.

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.

How do I get the crispiest tater tots?

A slightly longer cook time makes the most delicious difference in both the taste and texture of tater tots. 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.

Should tater tots be thawed before baking?

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.

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

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 .

Are tater tots better in the oven or air fryer?

Cooking tater tots in the air fryer is quicker than in the oven and they come out crispy and crunchy on the outside and tender and fluffy on the inside. These golden potato puffs are a great alternative to french fries and kids seem to love them.

What are tater tots called in Australia?

In Australia and New Zealand, they are known as " potato gems ", "potato royals" or "potato pom-poms".

What are tater tots called in UK?

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.

Are frozen tater tots previously fried?

The formed tater tots are then pre-fried in vegetable oil to partially cook them and give them a crisp exterior. After pre-frying, the tater tots are quickly cooled using industrial coolers or freezers to maintain food safety standards and preserve the quality of the product.

How do you crisp frozen tater tots?

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. Cook them for about 10-15 minutes, flipping occasionally, until they are golden brown and crispy.

How to get crispy tots in the oven?

Brush/mist each tot with olive oil, be generous. Transfer to the oven and bake 10-12 minutes, slide a spatula underneath the tots, then flip and bake 10 more minutes. Flip once to the uncooked side, bake 10-12 minutes, until golden and crisp.

How do you know when tater tots are done frying?

Fry until they're golden brown and crispy , about 3-4 minutes, turning occasionally for even cooking.

How long to cook tater tots at 400?

If you're using the air fryer you can reheat the frozen tater tots at 400 degrees for 12 minutes . You can also cook them in the oven at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots Recipe (Sweet & Spicy!)

By: Becky HardinPosted: 12/16/17Updated: 11/16/23

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Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots are a must make appetizer for any celebration. You should make a triple batch of these SWEET & SPICY BACON WRAPPED TATER TOTS because they’re always gone in seconds! Spices and a little sweetness make this easy bacon wrapped appetizer a favorite for the holidays and tailgating. Tater Tots have never been better. SO ADDICTING!

Table of Contents

Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots

Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots will be your new favorite appetizer! Learn how to make tater tots wrapped in bacon for game day, New Year’s Eve, and beyond.

A few years ago I posted our favorite bacon wrapped appetizers, Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts. They’re always a favorite and gone before we know it. I love the crunch, the flavor, and the ease.

These Sweet and Spicy Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots are similar, but I feel like they’re a big upgrade. Not only are these bacon tater tots just as easy to make, but they have a soft yet crispy potato center, just the right amount of sweet and spicy, and of course lots of bacon. They’re pop-able, bite sized, and so fun.

I love these bacon tater tots for game day, New Year’s Eve, Christmas, or any party. Is it okay if I eat 10-20 of these myself? Like I said, you better make a triple batch!

These Sweet and Spicy Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots are one of the tastiest appetizers yet! If you like Tater Tots, these will take it to a whole new level.

Easy Bacon Wrapped Appetizers

Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots are the Best Easy Appetizer for Game Day

This Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots Recipe is one of those easy appetizers that you can prep really quick, bake, and eat within minutes. It’s great to take to a party on a baking sheet and cook there, so its nice and hot for your friends and family. You can dip these bacon tater tots in any of your favorite sauces, or eat them on their own. We love them for family parties throughout the year, but especially for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and of course, these tater tots are one of the best Super Bowl Appetizers.

I’m stocking up on all the great appetizers for the big game for the ultimate party. We have you covered with Guacamole Egg Rolls, Baked Provolone, Pepper Jelly Hogs in a Blanket, Bacon Ranch Fries, and more. You’re in the right place if you’re looking for any and every starter!

And don’t forget the rest of the bacon wrapped appetizers!

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
Bacon Wrapped Crackers
Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Appetizer
Bacon Wrapped Pineapple with Brown Sugar
Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus with Dijon
Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles

How to Make Tater Tots

Everyone should know how to make tater tots. They’re a tasty alternative to typical french fries, they’re absolutely delicious, and they go with just about everything. Tater tots work as a side dish, a quick snack, or (in this case) a fun bacon wrapped appetizer.

If you just want plain old regular tater tots (I mean, those are pretty tasty served with a few fun dipping sauces), just buy a bag of them and throw them in the oven. No need to make it too complicated, right? But this tater tot recipe is a little more fun that that.

How to Make Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots

Now, if you want to learn how to make these Sweet & Spicy Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots, I can help you there. All you need for this tater tots recipe is a bag of tater tots, bacon, dark brown sugar, and cayenne pepper. Let the tater tots thaw to room temperature before starting, and line your baking sheet with parchment paper.

Sweet and Spicy Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots

4.56 from 89 votes

Author: Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie

Prep: 15 minutes minutes

Cook: 20 minutes minutes

Total: 22 minutes minutes

Serves6

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Ingredients

▢ 24 frozen tater tots room temperature
▢ 6 slices bacon
▢ ¼ cup dark brown sugar packed
▢ 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and the cayenne pepper.
Sprinkle the brown sugar/cayenne pepper mix on top of the bacon and rub the mixture into the bacon.
Cut each slice of bacon into 4 equal pieces.
Wrap the bacon around the tot and secure with a toothpick.
Place the tot seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
Repeat the process with all tater tots.
Bake the tots at 400°F for 20-25 minutes and flip halfway through cooking.
Cool, to touch, and serve.
Note – If making the tots the day ahead, allow them to cool, after cooking, to room temperature and refrigerate in an airtight container overnight. When ready to serve, reheat the tots in a preheated 350°F oven for 10 minutes or until hot.
Enjoy!

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 191kcal (10%) Carbohydrates: 18g (6%) Protein: 3g (6%) Fat: 11g (17%) Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) Cholesterol: 14mg (5%) Sodium: 304mg (13%) Potassium: 152mg (4%) Sugar: 8g (9%) Vitamin A: 15IU Vitamin C: 2.7mg (3%) Calcium: 12mg (1%) Iron: 0.3mg (2%)