1 hour ago, blue_dolphin said:Thanks!
Which method did you choose today and what guides your choice?
Today I used the first method, non microwave.
What guides my choice can be any one of several things, and sometimes a combination of things.
If, for example, I may have recently eaten something very soft, let's use whipped potatoes as an example, or hummus, I may want something with more crunch to provide strong contrast. The first cooking method can provide somewhat greater crunch ... I can get the tots almost kettle-cooked, rippled potato chip crunchy.
The choice of seasoning affects the decsion. Sometimes, like today, I'll use straight vinegar, usually malt or cider. The straight vinegar soaks into the tots more than other condiment choices, like ketchup, BBQ or hot sauce, all of which are thicker or more roughly textured. To offset the soaked vinegar somewhat, method one is helpful.
My microwave oven sits at an elevated position, and because of my complicated back issues, it may be uncomfortable to raise the plate with the tots to oven height, so method one is used. OTOH, if my back isn't bothering me, or if I've taken my pain medication, I'm more inclined to use the microwave method.
And then there's my mood. I may not want to take the extra steps to plate the tots, microwave them, crush them with a fork, and then Brevillize them. Just dumping a few straight from the bag onto the tray in the Breville is more to my liking - quicker, less fuss, allows me to do other things besides baby sitting Potato Tots.
HTH
