.jpg) | |
| Course | Entrée orside dish, sometimes as part of amain course |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Ontario,Oregon |
| Created by | F. Nephi Grigg, and Golden Grigg[1][2][3] (in 1953) |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Potato |
| Variations | Veggie tots |
| (serving size: 86 g) 160[4] | |
Tater tots aregratedpotato formed into small cylinders anddeep-fried, often served as aside dish.[1] "Tater" is a dialect form of the wordpotato.[5] The name "tater tot" is aregistered trademark of the American frozen food companyOre-Ida, but is often used as ageneric term.[6] Ore-Ida also markets a coin-shaped version called "Crispy Crowns".[7]
Tater tots were developed in 1953 when American frozen food companyOre-Ida founders F. Nephi Grigg, Golden Grigg, andRoss Erin Butler Sr. were trying to devise a recipe to use leftover slivers of cut potatoes that would otherwise be thrown away.[1][2][3] They chopped up the slivers, addedflour and seasoning, then pushed the mash through holes and sliced off pieces of theextruded mixture. The product was first offered commercially in stores in 1956.[8]
The name "Tater Tot" is aregistered trademark of Ore-Ida—which has been a subsidiary ofHeinz (now part ofKraft Heinz) since 1965—but has become so widely associated with the dish that it is often used as ageneric term.[9] "Tater" is short forpotato.[10] The name "Tater Tot" was created in the 1950s, and soontrademarked by a member of the Ore-Ida company's research committee who used a thesaurus to come up with analliterative name.[11]
Originally, the product was very inexpensive; according toadvertising lectures atIowa State University, people did not buy it at first because there was no perceived value.[citation needed]When the price was raised, people began buying it. Today, Americans consume approximately 70 million pounds (32,000 t) of Tater Tots, or 3,710,000,000 Tots per year.[12][13]
Since at least 2016, vegetable companies (like theGreen Giant brand) have introduced "veggie tots" which seek to substitute more nutritionally dense vegetables (e.g.broccoli andcauliflower) for the potato.[14][15]
Tater tots, locally known asmat-gamja (Korean:맛감자), are a commonbunsik item in Korea.[16] It is often served in apaper cup, with drizzled sweetgochujang-based sauce.[citation needed]
In the United Kingdom,Ross Frozen Foods once produced "Oven Crunchies", although generic versions remain widely available.[citation needed]McCain Foods currently produce "Hash Brown Potato Bites" that are similar to classic tater tots.
In Canada,McCain Foods Limited calls its line "Tasti Taters".[17]
In the United States, tater tots are common atschool-lunch counters andcafeterias.[13] They are also sold in thefrozen food sections ofgrocery stores.[13] Somefast-food restaurants also offer them.
Supermarket chainSafeway sells a generic brand of tater tots known as "Tater Treats".[citation needed] Cascadian Farm calls its line "Spud Puppies".Sonic drive-in also features tater tots on their regular menu: available toppings include cheese andchili.[citation needed] Sonic also sells "Cheesy Tots", coin-shaped tots that contain melted cheese and potatoes.[citation needed] Several restaurants in thePacific Northwest offer anacho version of tots known as "totchos", covered in nacho cheese sauce and toppings. Totchos were invented bypublican Jim Parker inPortland, Oregon.[18]
SomeMexican-style fast-food restaurants offer seasoned tater tots:Taco Time andSeñor Frog's call them "Mexi-Fries", whileTaco Bell used to sell them as "Mexi-Nuggets" and "Border Fries".[citation needed]Taco Mayo in theSouthwest offers round disc-shaped tater tots called "Potato Locos".[citation needed]Taco John's also has coin shaped tots called "Potato Olés".[citation needed]
Food franchisesPotato Corner andPapa John's also offer tater tots in select locations, though in the latter case these are branded as "Potato Tots".[citation needed]
InAustralia andNew Zealand, they are known as "potato gems", "potato royals" or "potato pom-poms".[citation needed] The New ZealandPizza Hut franchise offers "Hash Bites" as a side dish, available alone or with anaioli dipping sauce.[citation needed]
Tater Tots became successful enough that the brand name grew to be synonymous with the product, a delightful dilemma shared with other brands that pioneered a product category, among them Band-Aid, Kleenex, and Xerox.
Tater Tots became successful enough that the brand name grew to be synonymous with the product, a delightful dilemma shared with other brands that pioneered a product category, among them Band-Aid, Kleenex and Xerox.
Media related toTater Tots at Wikimedia Commons| Ownership |  | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brands |
| ||||
| People | |||||
| Facilities | |||||
| Related | |||||
