How long do tater tots last? Tater Tots were discovered in 1953 by an American frozen food company in Northern Oregon, USA, and have been developed since then.
It contains 130 kcal of energy per serving.
The ingredients contained are potatoes, corn flour, vegetable oil, salt, dehydrated onion, sodium acid sulfate, dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate, and natural flavor.
They contain protein, carbohydrates, sodium, fat, vitamin C, and iron.
They are mainly served as a side dish and can be eaten as snacks.
So, how long do tater tots last unrefrigerated?
Tater tots can only be left at room temperature for a maximum time of 2 hours. If it has been left unrefrigerated for over 2 hours, it should be disposed of immediately because it has already been contaminated by bacteria.
Bacteria grow rapidly in perishable foods that have been left at room temperature for more than two hours,
Consuming tater tots after this time may lead to food poisoning, reheating it won’t make them safe from bacteria.
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Do Tater Tots Need To Be Refrigerated?
Yes, tater tots need to be refrigerated, any leftovers should be placed in the refrigerator immediately.
Tater tots can get contaminated easily when left at room temperature,
They should be kept in an airtight container before placing in the refrigerator where they are safe from bacteria.
Remember not to store any tater tots that have been left out for more than two hours,
keeping them in the refrigerator is just a waste of time as they have already been infected.
How Long Does Tater Tots Last In The Fridge?
Tater tots will last in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.
All you have to do is store them properly by wrapping them with aluminum foil before putting them in an airtight container,
Ensure the container is intact before placing it in the fridge, if unopened, you can store it with its original packaging in an airtight container.
Note that their texture will change the longer they remain in the fridge, it’s best they are reheated and consumed the following day.
Can You Freeze Tater Tots?
Yes, you can freeze tater tots. They can be stored in the freezer for a long period of time and thawed when needed.
They can be stored without any fear of deterioration in quality or going bad.
You need to follow the necessary steps in the storage pattern and freeze for the stipulated amount of time.
Wrap them with aluminum foil, then place them in an airtight container or freezer bag before freezing, in this way they’ll be safe from freezer burn.
When needed, thaw them in the fridge for some hours.
How Long Do Tater Tots Last In The Freezer?
They can last in the freezer for 6 to 12 months, of top quality without you having to worry about safety.
When needed, remove from the freezer and thaw in the fridge for some hours or overnight before reheating in the microwave.
It is best you freeze tater tots after baking if you’re not consuming them immediately.
As soon as it cools, place them in a layer of the baking sheet, then put them in the freezer for about 30 minutes, remove them and wrap them with aluminum foil,
Then place them in a freezer bag before putting them back in the freezer.
How Long Does Tater Tots Last After Thawed?
After thawing, tater tots will last for 2 hours and should be consumed within this time.
Bacteria grow rapidly in tater tot that has been left out for a long,
You should discard tater tot if it has been left for more than 2 hours at room temperature.
You can safely refreeze that tater tot that can not be consumed immediately after thawing by wrapping them with a baking sheet before placing them in the fridge for a few hours,
Then you wrap them with aluminum foil and place them in a freezer bag before putting them in the freezer.
Do Tater Tots Go Bad?
Like every other food, tater tots go bad.
Tater tots get contaminated within a short time and get spoiled if not preserved properly in a fridge or freezer.
They should be consumed immediately after baking or opening because they become infected with bacteria,
which are the main cause of food spoilage.
When left at room temperature for more than two hours, they should be disposed of if they exceed this period of time.
Even when preserved in the refrigerator, they begin to go bad after 5 days.
Any leftovers of tater tots which exceed 5 days should be discarded,
do not try to consume them as you will put yourself at risk of food poisoning.
How Long Does Tater Tot Casserole Last In The Fridge?
Tater tot casserole will last for up to 5 days in the fridge without losing its quality.
After making, allow it to cool, cover it with plastic wrap, then cover it with a lid before placing it in the fridge.
You can thaw the tater into a casserole using an oven or a microwave.
When using an oven put your Tater Tot casserole in an oven-safe dish and cover it with aluminum foil, heat for about 30 minutes.
If you’re using a microwave put your tater tot casserole on a microwave-safe plate and heat on high power for 2 mins
Note that Tater Tot will lose its crispiness when using the microwave.
Can Tater Tots Give You Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning is an illness that develops when you consume bad food.
You can have food poisoning when you eat bad Tater Tot,
If you have symptoms like fever, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pains after consuming tater tots,
It is likely that you have eaten bad tater tots and you should seek medical attention immediately.
Dispose of any tater tot that has been left out for a long or has been left in the fridge for more than 5 days to be safe from food poisoning.
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How Long Do Tater Tots Take In An Air Fryer?
Tater Tots take just a few minutes in an air fryer.
First, you need to preheat your air fryer to 400° for about a minute,
you load the basket with frozen tater tot and fry for 7 minutes,
Then you shake the basket well and continue frying for 5 to 7 minutes until they are crispy enough to your liking.
When using an air fryer it takes about 15 minutes for your tater tots to be ready.
Can You Eat Leftover Tater Tots?
You can only eat leftover tater tots that have been kept in the fridge or freezer.
Any leftovers which have been left at room temperature for more than 2 hours should not be eaten
As you will face the risk of food poisoning if consumed.
Leftover Tater Tot should be stored properly in an airtight container in the fridge and should be consumed within 5 days,
Any leftover that exceeds this period of time should be discarded as they are already bad.
How Long Will Popsicles Last Without Refrigeration
Popsicles should not be brought out of the freezer if you are not ready to consume them immediately.
They will melt and go bad within 3 hours when left at room temperature,
you can only keep them in a cooler or fridge for a maximum time of 1 hour, make sure the fridge is lower than 5 degrees.
You can refreeze your popsicles but they won’t retain their shape.
How To Tell If Tater Tots Are Freezer-Burned
You can tell if tater tots are freezer burned if you notice any discoloration, dry spots, or white splotches on them.
Freezer-burned tater tot is still safe for consumption,
Though they may not look appetizing because the texture and taste have been messed up.
Wrapping your tater tot with aluminum foil and putting them in a freezer bag is recommended to keep them safe from freezer burn.
How Long Do Ice Lollies Take To Freeze
It takes about 4 to 8 hours for ice lollies to freeze completely.
This depends on the ingredients you use to make them, the higher the water of sugar ratio, the faster your ice lollies will freeze.
If you use alcohol when making them, it will take longer to freeze.
What Does Freezer Burn Look Like?
Freezer burn mostly appears as ice crystals on foods.
If your food appears tough, shriveled, or has any discolored or dry spots, they are likely to be freezer burnt.
Foods may become grainy in texture and might have a weird flavor if they are freezer burnt.
What Do Tater Tots Taste Like?
Tater tot has a deep-fried potato taste. They have this unique, salty, savory, and satisfying taste.
They have this crunchy outer texture and a smooth inner texture when eaten which makes them a favorite side dish for many people.
10 Best Substitutes For Tater Tots
Many forms of tots can substitute tater tots but it is still unique on its own.
Substitutes for tater tots can be;
- Cauliflower tots
- Pumpkin tots
- French fries
- Quinoa tots
- Spaghetti squash tots
- Caramelized onion tots
- Zucchini tots
- Hash browns
- Buffalo Cauli-tots
Parmesan rosemary cauliflower tots Any of these listed above can be substituted for beef tallow.
How To Store Tater Tots
To store tater tot, you just need to follow some easy steps:
- After cooking, allow them to cool,
- Then wrap them with plastic wrap and put them in an airtight container before placing them in the fridge.
- If you want to store them in the freezer, after wrapping them with plastic wrap, wrap them with aluminum foil, and put them in a freezer bag
This way they will be safe from freezer burn.
Can Frozen Tater Tots Get Mold?
Frozen tater tots can not grow mold as long as they are frozen in a perfectly working freezer.
They may begin to grow mold if they are brought out of the freezer and left at room temperature for more than 2 hours
Or if they are stored in a freezer that has been unplugged for a while or is not functioning properly.
Are Frozen Tater Tots Good After Expiration Date?
Frozen tater tots will still remain safe for consumption after their expiration but will no longer remain of top quality.
The shelf life of tater tots is extended when stored in the freezer
But you should heed to the expiry dates as they will begin to lose their texture and taste once they exceed the printed dates.
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Conclusion
Tater tots are sliced potatoes, rolled into small cylinder shapes, and deep fried.
Its crunchy outer texture and smooth inner texture make it unique and are commonly served as a side dish or eaten as a relatively healthy snack.
It should not be consumed in excess as fat is one of its ingredients.
Remember that I started from the question ”how long do tater tots last”