How can you cook tater tots in the microwave? This question and many more on this will be thoroughly trashed in this blog post.
Tater tots are a mainstream food, incredibly tantalizing and delicious. They are savory to the fullest with an exemplified taste.
No words would totally measure up to the sweetness that lies with them.
Although out of culinary curiosity, you might find yourself on the verge of cooking tater tots in the microwave.
But then you might be held back for fear of the unknown.
You will then find yourself asking whether you can prepare your Tater Tots using a microwave or not.
Despite the fact that this may not be the best option, the simplest answer is Yes. But their crispy touch may not be there.
In this article, we will show you how to cook tater tots in a step-by-step guide.
Can You Cook Tater Tots In The Microwave?
Adding Tater Tots to your meal makes it an accomplishment like no other. They can be used together with any diet.
And still, make it look like a match curated in heaven. However, there is the worry most people are faced with while cooking Tater tots in the microwave.
And that is whether the taste and texture shall be affected. Truth be told, you can cook tater tots in the microwave.
Although they can hardly measure up to how tasty they would have been if done without it.
Is There Any Limitation on Cooking Tater Tots in the Microwave?
Cooking tater tots in the microwave has proved to significantly affect their taste.
It does this by denying its crispy texture and making it become soft and mushy instead. Nonetheless, do not leave them to stay so long in the microwave.
This will make the tater tots become as hard and tough as a stone and rock.
Consequently causing them to be rendered inedible and if eaten, may cause lots of constipation.
Therefore, the most crispy, and tasty tater tots are either those cooked by grilling, deep-frying, or baking.
How To Cook Tater Tots In The Microwave
While cooking tater tots in the microwave, chances are high that they may not end up as crispy and tasty as they would if you cook them the recommended way.
However, we will still show you how to still get the best results from cooking them in the microwave.
Tater tots can still be crispy and tasty from the microwave only if you deploy the right mechanisms. They guarantee you a fun, inexpensive, and simple dish.
Whether you want to have it for breakfast, with lunch, dinner, or solo, it’s a great dish still.
You can still use the microwave to bake exciting tater tots. One would even think there were right from the oven.
Step-by-Step Guide
You are required to cautiously follow the below guidelines for well-baked tater tots from the microwave.
Step #1. Scrub The Potatoes Clean And Peel Them Off
A good diet is a clean one. It has always been advised, for one’s good, that all meals be washed before cooking.
Potatoes are no less. Wash them clean, rinse them, wash your hands and peel them off.
You can do this using a crater while soaking them in water. Once they are all peeled, wash and rinse them again thoroughly.
Step #2. Cut The Potatoes Into Smaller Pieces
Once they are washed sparkling clean, cut them into smaller edible sizes. Tater tots shouldn’t be so large.
Instead, they should be smaller with regular shapes.
Step #3. Stab The Potatoes With A Fork From Both Sides
Stab all the potatoes carefully with a fork from both sides from the center.
Stabbing is meant to allow steam to vent through the potatoes as they cook. And also to increase the speed with which they cook.
Step #4. Microwave The Potatoes
Now, this is the most important and careful part. This is the part that determines how your tater tots shall be.
You need to be very vigilant while at this point. You should microwave them for at most five minutes.
Then, transfer them with a lot of care from the microwave to the sheet pan.
Drizzle virgin oils over them evenly to coat the taters. Handle them with a lot of care since they are hot at this point and can be dismembered or crushed at the slightest pressure.
The above steps are going to take you through the process of cooking tater tots in the microwave. But remember, the aim is to get them crispy and tasty.
To ensure that the tater tots you plug out of the microwave are crispy, there are very important things you should do.
Tip: You can get a complete guide for cooking tater tots in the microwave by following the steps correctly
How To Ensure Tater Tots From The Microwave Are Crispy
Below are the steps to follow if you wish to make tater tots from the microwave crispy.
Ensure you follow these steps adequately to achieve the best result.
Step #1. Spray Them With Cooking Spray
On top of the taters, ensure that they are all evenly sprayed with a cooking spray.
Sprays such as that one used for microwave-grilled cheese can be used.
Ideally, you can as well wipe them off by dipping a paper towel into vegetable oil, then you can use the towel for it.
The purpose of this action is to deter them from becoming as dry as a rock. But instead, make them remain so soft and edible.
Step #2. Add Them All In A Row
Put the tater rows in a row and only bake in little amounts. Arrange them well in a row inside the microwave.
Step #3. Sprinkle Salt On Them & Microwave it
Even distribute a layer of salt on the Tater Tot. This seasoning should be according to your taste.
When you are done with this step, go ahead and Microwave them under high power for about 5 to 6 minutes at most.
What Can be Served With Tater Tots?
What do you plan to have your tater tots served with? Taters are diverse and there is no perfect time for having them as a meal.
You can devour them at any time of the day, be it with breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Whatever you need to ensure that they are hot, they are crispy and tasty, especially if you baked them in the microwave.
Tip: You can have Tater Tots as breakfast together with a cup of tea or coffee.
You can even add them on top of anything during the day. It could be Casseroles, burgers, or salads to enjoy a tasty meal.
What Other Variations For CrispyTater Tots Can You Use?
If you feel like you are up for something tasty such as the tater tots themselves, then the good news is that there are several variations for it.
These variations are still tasty and can be prepared in the microwave.
- Olive oil rosemary tots.
- Cheesy Tots.
- Tots and Alfredo Dunking Sauce.
- Tots, Bake O’s, and Pulled Pork
Can You Microwave Frozen Tater Tots?
Frozen tater tots can be cooked, however, a little differently from unfrozen ones.
If baking a frozen tater tot is what you’re concerned about, kindly follow the steps below:
- Pre-heat the oven to about 450° F (230 degrees Celsius).
- Using a shallow pan or a baking sheet, arrange the Tater Tots in a single layer.
- Cook it until it turns golden brown. It may take up to 20 – 25 minutes to achieve this. In order to get the best result, do turn the tots just once.
Tip: If you're only making a few tater tots, you can cut the cooking time in half.
Can Leftover Tater Tots Be Frozen?
Yes, you certainly can. In the microwave, tater tots can be warmed up in one minute.
That implies each side should be reheated for 30 seconds.
Note: The tots will become soggy and mushy if you leave them in the microwave for too long.
Conclusion
Can you cook tater tots in the microwave? The absolute answer to this is Yes. In this blog post, we have shared how you cook frozen tater tots in your microwave.
However, the clarion call is that you must be very keen on how you do it.
This is because the microwave isn’t the best place to cook tater tots nor is it advised.
But if for whatsoever reason you decide to cook using the microwave, you have been duly equipped.
The ball is now in your court. Go ahead and even try out other variations for crispy tater tots.
And in case you come up with new discoveries, feel free to share with us.
Thanks for reading!