Tater tots are a beloved side dish, snack, or appetizer made of deep-fried or oven-baked grated potatoes. Their crisp exterior and fluffy interior make them an irresistible treat. But can you take tater tots straight from the freezer and grill them? Let’s take a look at whether grilling frozen tater tots is possible and how to do it successfully.
The Short Answer
Yes, you can absolutely grill frozen tater tots! Grilling frozen tater tots works well as long as you are willing to allow a bit more time for them to cook through and crisp up. Grilling frozen tater tots directly requires adjusting the temperature and cook time to account for their frozen state. With a few simple tips, grilling frozen tater tots can yield tasty, crispy results.
Thawing vs. Grilling Frozen
Tater tots are usually prepared by deep frying or baking from their frozen state. So grilling frozen tater tots is definitely doable. However, there are some differences between grilling frozen tater tots versus thawed tater tots:
- Thawed tater tots will cook faster on the grill than frozen ones.
- Frozen tater tots require a lower grill temperature and longer cook time.
- Frozen tots may cook unevenly if not spread out properly.
- Thawed tots absorb more seasonings and flavored oils for extra taste.
Neither method is necessarily better or worse. Thawing ahead of time saves time and can allow more flavor absorption. But grilling directly from frozen is convenient if you decide to make them at the last minute. Just be prepared for frozen tots to need 25-50% longer on the grill.
How to Grill Frozen Tater Tots
Here are some tips for successfully grilling frozen tater tots:
1. Use a Lower Heat
Cooking frozen foods on a grill requires using a lower temperature than you would for thawed or fresh foods. This is because the cold interior of frozen foods brings down the temperature inside the grill. A hot grill may end up scorching the outside of frozen tots before the middle has thawed.
Instead of high heat, medium heat between 300-375°F is ideal for grilling frozen tater tots. This allows time for the cold interior to warm gradually as the tots cook.
2. Preheat the Grill Thoroughly
Make sure to preheat your grill fully before adding the frozen tater tots. Preheating will bring the grill up to the proper temperature initially. Adding frozen tots to a cold grill will dramatically bring down the temp, making it hard to gauge timing and doneness.
3. Use a Grilling Basket
Cooking small frozen items like tater tots directly on the grill grates can lead to them sticking and potentially falling through the cracks. Using a grilling basket, grill pan, or skewers can allow the tots to cook evenly without sticking.
4. Don’t Overcrowd the Grill
Be sure to leave some space between each tot on the grill. Crowding them together brings down the temperature and prevents them from crisping up properly. Leave about 1/2 inch between each tot.
5. Flip Frequently
Frozen foods require frequent flipping during grilling to ensure evencooking. Tater tots have a high surface area compared to their volume, so they can burn easily if left in one spot too long. Flip the tots every 2-3 minutes for best results.
6. Brush with Oil
Lightly brushing or spraying the frozen tater tots with vegetable oil before and during grilling helps promote browning and a crispy texture. The oil conducts heat efficiently to the tots’ surface.
7. Season Generously
Since frozen tater tots won’t absorb seasonings as well, be generous with seasonings on the outside. Try cajun seasoning, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
8. Allow Extra Cook Time
Frozen tater tots will take longer to cook through than thawed or fresh ones. For medium 1/2 inch tots, allow about 25-30 minutes of total grill time, flipping occasionally. Larger tots may need up to 50 minutes. Use a food thermometer to confirm they reach 165°F internally when finished.
9. Let Them Rest
Allow the grilled tater tots to rest for 2-3 minutes off direct heat after cooking. This allows the inside to finish cooking gently while the outside stays crispy.
Choosing the Best Tater Tots for Grilling
Not all tater tots are created equal when it comes to grilling. Here are some things to look for:
- Size: Opt for medium or large tater tots over mini. The increased surface area helps speed up grilling time.
- Coating: Tots with a batter coating tend to get too dark on the grill. Stick to plain grated potato or Panko coated.
- Shape: Traditional cylinder shaped tots grill the most evenly. Avoid novelty shapes that may cook unevenly.
- Add-ins: Skip things like cheese or pepper filling, which can leak out during grilling.
Grilled Frozen Tater Tot Recipe
This simple recipe yields crunchy, flavorful grilled tater tots using basic pantry ingredients:
Ingredients
- 2 lbs frozen tater tots
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1⁄2 tsp onion powder
- 1⁄2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium heat, about 350°F.
- In a small bowl, combine cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Place frozen tater tots into a grilling basket, grill pan, or threaded onto skewers. Brush lightly with vegetable oil on all sides.
- Sprinkle the tater tots generously on all sides with the seasoning mixture.
- Place the tater tots on the preheated grill. Grill for 25-30 minutes, flipping occasionally, until golden brown and heated through.
- Remove from grill and let rest 2-3 minutes before serving.
These zesty cajun grilled tater tots pair perfectly with burgers, brats, chicken, or fish. The options are endless!
Grilled Tater Tot Ideas
Grilled tater tots aren’t just a simple side. They can be used in endless ways. Here are some fun ideas:
- Top with cheese, bacon, scallions for loaded tater tots
- Serve on mini buns for tater tot sliders
- Top with chili, nacho cheese, jalapenos for nacho tots
- Toss in buffalo wing sauce for spicy buffalo tots
- Layer in baked potatoes for twice baked potato tots
You can also dip grilled tater tots in all kinds of sauces like ranch, blue cheese, bbq, or ketchup. The possibilities are infinite!
Grilled Tater Tots vs. Baked Tater Tots
| Grilled Tater Tots | Baked Tater Tots |
|---|---|
| Golden brown exterior | Paler exterior |
| Crispy outside | Soft, pillowy texture |
| Rich, caramelized flavor | Mild potato flavor |
| Can use frozen tots | Must thaw tots first |
| Prepared on outdoor grill | Prepared indoors in oven |
Grilling gives tater tots a crunchier, more deeply browned exterior compared to baking. Grilling also imparts some smoky charred flavors. Which cooking method you choose depends on your texture and flavor preferences. Both yield delicious yet different results!
Tater Tot Grilling Tips
Follow these tips for the best results when grilling frozen tater tots:
- Use plain, cylindrical shaped tater tots rather than novelty shapes or coated varieties.
- Grill using medium heat around 350°F.
- Preheat grill fully before adding frozen tots.
- Cook in a grill basket or pan, not directly on grates.
- Brush with oil before and during grilling.
- Flip tots frequently, every 2-3 minutes.
- Allow 25-30 minutes total cooking time for fully cooked.
- Season the exterior generously.
- Let tots rest 2-3 minutes before serving.
Common Grilled Tater Tot Mistakes
It’s easy to end up with less than ideal results when grilling frozen tater tots. Avoid these common mistakes:
- Grilling at too high temperature
- Overcrowding the tots on the grill
- Not flipping frequently enough
- Undercooking the inside
- Letting the outside burn
- Using battered or coated tater tots
- Skipping preheating the grill first
Following the proper technique of using medium heat, oiling, flipping, seasoning, and allowing ample time leads to perfectly cooked grilled tater tots every time.
Storing Leftover Grilled Tater Tots
Have extras after grilling up a batch of tasty tater tots? Here are some storage tips:
- Let cooked tots cool completely before storing.
- Place in an airtight container or ziptop bag.
- Refrigerate for 3-5 days.
- Reheat in a 375°F oven or air fryer until hot.
- They won’t have quite as much crunch, but still taste great!
Properly stored grilled tater tots keep well for several days in the fridge. Reheat them using the oven or air fryer to restore some crispiness on the exterior while heating the interior.
Freeze Grilled Tater Tots
You can also freeze any uneaten grilled tater tots to enjoy later. Here’s how:
- Let grilled tater tots cool fully after cooking.
- Place in airtight freezer bag or container.
- Press out excess air before sealing.
- Freeze up to 3 months.
- Reheat directly from frozen in oven or air fryer.
Frozen grilled tater tots won’t have the same crisp exterior, but are still tasty. They can be reheated directly from frozen whenever you get a craving!
Conclusion
Grilling frozen tater tots yields deliciously crispy, browned results with the right technique. Allowing extra time and using lower grill heat lets the tots cook through fully while developing a crunchy exterior. Brushing with oil and seasoning the outside compensates for the lack of absorption from frozen tots. Resting after grilling ensures they stay crisp. Grilled tater tots make for an easy, flavorful side or snack straight from the freezer bag to the grill.