Tater tots are gratedpotatoes formed into small cylinders and deep-fried, often served as a side dish.[1] The name "tater tot" is a registered trademark of the American frozen food company Ore-Ida, but is often used as a generic term.[5] "Tater" is short for potato.[6] Ore-Ida also markets a coin-shaped version called "Crispy Crowns".[7]
History
Tater tots were invented in 1953 when American frozen food company Ore-Ida founders F. Nephi Grigg, Golden Grigg, and Ross Erin Butler Sr. were trying to figure out what to do with leftover slivers of cut-up potatoes.[1][2][3] They chopped up the slivers, added flour and seasoning, then pushed the mash through holes and sliced off pieces of the extruded mixture. The product was first offered commercially in stores in 1956.[8]
The name "Tater Tot" is a registered trademark of Ore-Ida—which has been a subsidiary of Heinz since 1965—but has become so widely associated with the dish that it is often used as a generic term.[9] "Tater" is short for potato.[10] The name "Tater Tot" was created in the 1950s, and soon trademarked by a member of the Ore-Ida company's research committee who used a thesaurus to come up with an alliterative name.[11]
Originally, the product was very inexpensive; according to advertising lectures at Iowa 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 the Green Giant brand) have introduced "veggie tots" which seek to substitute more nutritionally dense vegetables (e.g. broccoli and cauliflower) for the potato.[14][15]
In the United Kingdom, Ross Frozen Foods once produced "Oven Crunchies" which are no longer available, although generic versions remain widely available.[citation needed]. McCain Foods currently produce "Hash Brown Potato Bites" that are similar to classic tater tots.
Supermarket chain Safeway 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 and chili.[citation needed] Sonic also sells "Cheesy Tots", coin-shaped tots that contain melted cheese and potatoes.[citation needed] Several restaurants in the Pacific Northwest offer a nacho version of tots known as "totchos", covered in nacho cheese sauce and toppings. Totchos were invented by publican Jim Parker in Portland, Oregon.[17]
Food franchises Potato Corner and Papa John’s also offer tater tots in select locations, though in the latter case these are branded as ‘Potato Tots’.[citation needed]
^Elliott, Stuart (2014-08-25). "Ore-Ida Campaign Focuses on Authenticity of Tater Tots". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-05-14. 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". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
^Elliott, Stuart (2014-08-25). "Ore-Ida Campaign Focuses on Authenticity of Tater Tots". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-05-14. 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". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
.jpg)
