7 Delicious Facts About Tater Tots You’ll Love

Tater tots are a universal favorite, whether you remember them from school lunches, family dinners, or late-night bar snacks. These golden, crispy bites with a soft interior are a strong contender against French fries for the best potato-based treat. Beyond being a delightful side, they represent a triumph in upcycling, a key ingredient in casseroles, and a rare example of a food that thrives in its frozen form. Dive into these fascinating facts about tater tots.

1. Tater Tots originated from leftover French fry pieces.

F. Nephi Grigg and Golden Grigg established the Oregon Frozen Foods Company, which later became Ore-Ida, in Ontario, Oregon, in 1952. Initially producing frozen French fries, they noticed the abundance of potato scraps and decided to innovate. By grinding, seasoning, and shaping these scraps into small cylinders, they crafted a new product. After consulting a thesaurus, they named it tater tot and introduced it to the world in 1954.

2. Tater Tots are the star ingredient in Hotdish casserole.

While tater tots are often enjoyed as a side or appetizer, they take center stage in certain regional dishes. Hotdish, a Midwestern staple, embodies the tradition of combining pantry staples into a comforting casserole. This dish layers ground beef and frozen vegetables, crowned with a generous topping of tater tots, and baked to perfection. It’s a warming meal ideal for chilly winters and a clever way to incorporate more tots into your meals.

3. The term Tater Tot is legally trademarked.

Only Ore-Ida’s golden potato bites can officially be called tater tots. The Grigg brothers secured the trademark for the name soon after inventing the product, and Ore-Ida retains the trademark for tater tots to this day. Despite this, the term is often used generically. In 2014, Ore-Ida launched a campaign cautioning consumers against “Imi-taters” to protect their brand.

4. Tater Tots go by various names internationally.

While tater tots are an American classic, they’ve gained global popularity under different names. In New Zealand and Australia, they’re often called potato gems, potato royals, potato pom-poms, or hash bites. Their popularity in New Zealand even inspired Pizza Hut to introduce a pizza with a hash bite crust in 2016. In Canada, they’re known as tasti taters or spud puppies, while in the UK, they’re referred to as oven crunchies.

5. Making tater tots at home might not be practical.

Tater tots are the epitome of convenience—unless you attempt to make them from scratch. Homemade recipes often require peeling and grating potatoes, frying them twice, and chilling them overnight, a process that can take up to 12 hours. Even high-end restaurants that serve tater tots often opt for the frozen variety due to their consistent taste and ease of preparation.

6. Idaho celebrated Napoleon Dynamite for showcasing Tater Tots.

Set in Idaho, the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite pays homage to the state by prominently featuring the tot. In 2005, Idaho passed a resolution applauding the filmmakers, particularly thanking them for “highlighting Idaho’s most famous export.”

7. The town where Tater Tots were born is hosting a Tater Tot festival.

Nearly seven decades after their invention, Ontario, Oregon, is celebrating its iconic creation with a Tater Tot Festival in August 2020. The event will include games, food stalls, a Ferris wheel, and unique activities like a tater tot-eating competition and a tater tot-inspired play. The festivities will conclude with the crowning of the festival’s king and queen.