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What are tater tots short for?


Tater tots are a beloved American snack made of shredded potato formed into small cylinder shapes and deep fried. With their crispy exterior and fluffy interior, tater tots are a favorite side dish, appetizer, or snack food. But what exactly does the name “tater tot” mean? As it turns out, the name is more than just a catchy phrase – it has an interesting backstory and is actually short for “potato toddlers.”

The Origin of Tater Tots

Tater tots were invented in 1953 by frozen food pioneer Ore-Ida. The company was looking for a way to utilize leftover slivers and slices of potato from their french fry production. An employee named F. Nephi Grigg came up with the idea to form the potato pieces into bite-sized cylinders that could be fried to a golden brown.

The new potato snack was tested at a restaurant in Portland, Oregon where it proved popular with customers. Ore-Ida decided to bring the item into full production and gave it the name “tater tots” since the cylindrical shape and petite size were reminiscent of toddlers.

The name “tater” is slang for potato, so essentially “tater tots” translated to “potato toddlers.” Ore-Ida began selling tater tots commercially in stores in 1954. They were an instant success across America as a fun new way to eat potatoes.

The Meaning Behind “Tater”

The use of “tater” in the name tater tots is an abbreviation of the word potato. “Tater” emerged as American slang for potato sometime in the early 1800s. There are a few theories about its etymology:

  • It may derive from the word “potator” meaning one who drinks alcohol. Heavy drinking was associated with Irish immigrants, who were also known for eating a lot of potatoes.
  • It could come from the German word “tatar” derived from the Tatar people of Eastern Europe who consumed potatoes. “Tatar” became “tater” in American English.
  • Some linguists think early Americans shortened “potato” to “tate-o” and eventually to just “tater” for convenience.

Whatever the exact origin, “tater” became popular slang, especially in Southern American English. It connoted a folksy, casual way of referring to potatoes. Hence, it was a perfect shorthand to use in the snack name tater tots.

Why “Tots”

The use of “tots” in tater tots refers to the diminutive size and shape of the pieces, likening them to toddlers. A few key factors contributed to this clever naming:

  • The fried potato cylinders resembled children’s small bodies.
  • The snack was bite-sized, much like a toddler is pint-sized compared to adults.
  • Toddlers tend to be cute, round, and endearing. These adjectives matched the appearance of the new potato snack.

Ore-Ida wanted a name that would help market tater tots as a fun, approachable new food. Referring to them as potato toddlers achieved this goal and added a charming touch. The alliteration of “tater tots” also made it more catchy and memorable.

Tater Tots Take Off

Calling them “tater tots” turned out to be a smart branding strategy. Housewives embraced the wholesome, kid-friendly nature of tater tots and purchased them to feed their own families. The fact that kids loved the potatoes’ mild flavor and tiny size also drove their popularity.

Within just a few years, tater tots were a top-seller for Ore-Ida. They became a staple in school cafeterias by the 1960s and a staple side at home for meals like burgers and meatloaf. Their popularity endures today, with Americans consuming an estimated 70 million pounds of tater tots per year!

Tater Tots in Pop Culture

As a beloved American food, tater tots have made their way into pop culture over the decades:

  • Napoleon Dynamite – In this 2004 indie comedy, the protagonist frequently eats tater tots and says the line “Give me some of your tots!”
  • Totchos – Some restaurants serve loaded “totchos” which are tater tots covered in cheese, chili, bacon, and other toppings.
  • Songs – Rapper Kanye West name drops tater tots in a song. Indie band Hot Hot Heat has a song called “Give Up Tater Tots.”
  • Merchandise – Fans can buy Napoleon Dynamite tater tot t-shirts and other apparel.

Tater tots are even occasionally used to make crafts, centerpieces, and snack stadiums for sports viewing parties. Their popularity in American snacks and pop culture does not seem to be diminishing.

Nutrition Facts

Here is a nutrition facts comparison between tater tots and regular potatoes:

Nutrient Tater Tots Potatoes
Calories 153 161
Fat 8 g 0 g
Carbs 17 g 37 g
Fiber 2 g 3 g
Protein 3 g 4 g

As this table shows, tater tots and potatoes have a similar calorie count. However, tots have more fat due to being deep fried. They also have less carbs and fiber since they lose potato mass in processing. Potatoes edge out tots slightly for protein content.

Cost Comparison

Tater tots tend to cost a bit more than fresh potatoes per pound. Here is a cost breakdown:

Potato Type Average Cost (per lb)
Tater tots $2.50
Russet potatoes $1.00
Yukon gold potatoes $2.00

The extra processing involved accounts for tater tots’ higher price point. Buying potato varieties in bulk when on sale and making DIY tots can help reduce costs. Overall though, tots cost more due to convenience.

Tater Tot Recipes

While many people enjoy tater tots on their own, you can also incorporate them into recipes like:

Tater Tot Casserole

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag tater tots
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Brown beef in skillet, drain fat.
  3. In casserole dish layer tots, beef, soup, cheese.
  4. Bake 30 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Loaded Tater Tot Bake

Ingredients:

  • 2 bags tater tots
  • 8 oz bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar
  • Sour cream
  • Chives
  • Ranch dressing

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Arrange a single layer of tots in baking dish.
  3. Sprinkle on bacon, cheese, and any other toppings.
  4. Repeat layers until dish is full, ending with cheese.
  5. Bake 20 minutes until cheese is melted.
  6. Serve with sour cream, chives, and dressing.

Get creative mixing tater tots into breakfast hashes, nachos, sandwiches, dips, and more!

How to Make Homemade Tater Tots

You can replicate tater tots at home with just 3 ingredients:

  • Potatoes
  • Oil for frying
  • Seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic powder)

Steps:

  1. Grate washed, peeled raw potatoes.
  2. Press grated potatoes into cylinder shapes.
  3. Fry in 350°F oil for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
  4. Remove tots and season immediately with salt and any other seasonings.

Make sure to squeeze out excess moisture from the grated potatoes before shaping and frying them. This helps ensure a crispy exterior.

Where to Buy Tater Tots

Tater tots are sold frozen in markets across America, including:

  • Grocery stores – Look in the frozen food aisle. Most major chains like Kroger, Safeway, etc. sell multiple brands of tater tots.
  • Club stores – Bulk stores like Costco and Sam’s Club sell larger bags of name brand tots.
  • Convenience stores – 7-Eleven and QT often have tots near hot food counters.
  • Online – Services like Amazon, Walmart Grocery, and Instacart allow online tot ordering.

The most common national brands are Ore-Ida, store generic brands, and Alexia. Check for any specialty local or regional brands too.

Tater Tot Trends

Some recent trends elevating tater tots include:

  • Gourmet flavors – Truffle parmesan, buffalo ranch, sour cream and onion, etc.
  • Filled tots – Tots stuffed with cheese, bacon, jalapenos, etc.
  • Tater tot poutine – Tots smothered in gravy and cheese curds.
  • Tots as nacho replacement – Using tots instead of chips for nachos.

Chefs are also incorporating tater tots into elevated bar snacks, small plates, and sides at trendy restaurants. The classic tot remains popular, but foodies appreciate these new twists too.

Tater Tots Around the World

Tater tots are predominantly an American food, but a few international variations exist:

  • Tornado potatoes – These spiral fried potatoes on a stick are popular street food in Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines.
  • Potato oliebollen – Dutch fried mashed potato balls flavored with onions.
  • Potato croquettes – Bite-sized breaded and fried potato patties popular across Europe, South America, and Japan.
  • Potato wedges – Oven-baked or fried seasoned potato wedges common in Britain and Australia.

While not identical to tater tots, these all have a similar concept of frying or baking bite-sized potato pieces. America’s tots have their roots in European potato recipes.

Conclusion

In summary, tater tots get their cute name from being small fried nuggets of potato that resemble toddlers. The original potato tot invention came from Ore-Ida in the 1950s. Tater tots became a popular American snack thanks to their fun name, kid-friendly appeal, and convenient frozen preparation. Although they are mostly still enjoyed in their classic original form, chefs are starting to get more creative with flavors and recipes using tater tots. Their place in American snack food culture seems assured for generations to come.