Top The Tater is a popular frozen potato topping product made by Ore-Ida. It allows you to easily top a baked potato with delicious flavors like cheddar cheese, bacon, and sour cream. Consumers are often curious about what exactly is in this convenient potato topping. Understanding the ingredients can help you determine if it fits your dietary needs.
The Main Ingredients
According to the nutrition label, the main ingredients in Top The Tater are:
- Potatoes
- Vegetable oil
- Cheese
- Milk
- Sour cream
- Onion
- Soybean oil
- Corn syrup
- Whey
- Food starch
Let’s explore each of these key ingredients in more detail:
Potatoes
Potatoes are the main ingredient in Top The Tater. According to the label, a 1/2 cup serving contains 11g of potatoes. Potatoes provide an important source of nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, vitamin B6, and fiber. They also contain antioxidants which may offer health benefits.
Vegetable Oil
The product contains both vegetable oil and soybean oil. Together, these plant-based oils make up over 20% of the total ingredients. The oils likely contribute creaminess and texture to the potato topping. However, they also add significant calories and fat. The vegetable oil is likely a blend of oils like canola, corn, sunflower, or safflower oil.
Cheese
Top The Tater contains both cheddar cheese and milk ingredients like whey protein concentrate. The cheese ingredients provide the classic cheesy flavor that makes the product taste like loaded baked potatoes. Cheese adds protein and calcium.
Sour Cream
Sour cream is another quintessential baked potato topping. The cultured cream product gives Top The Tater a cool, tangy flavor contrast. Sour cream contains fat, protein, and some calcium.
Onion
Onion powder adds savory, aromatic flavor to Top The Tater. Onions provide fiber, manganese, vitamin B6, and vitamin C.
Corn Syrup
Corn syrup is used to add sweetness, maintain moisture, and act as a preservative. However, it is a refined added sugar with little nutritional value.
Food Starch
Food starches like potato starch, corn starch, and modified food starch are used as thickeners and stabilizers in Top The Tater. They help create the proper texture.
The Minor Ingredients
In addition to the main ingredients listed above, Top The Tater contains small amounts of other ingredients including:
- Salt
- Artificial flavors
- Spices
- Garlic powder
- Red bell pepper
- Disodium inosinate
- Disodium guanylate
- Natural smoke flavor
- Extractives of paprika
- Calcium silicate
While present in tiny quantities, these extra ingredients help shape the overall flavor profile, preservation, color, and texture of the product.
The Full Ingredient List
Here is the complete list of ingredients in Top The Tater in order from most to least:
- Potatoes
- Vegetable oil (canola, corn, cottonseed, sunflower, and/or soybean oil)
- Cheddar cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, annatto)
- Milk
- Sour cream (cultured cream, skim milk)
- Onion
- Soybean oil
- Corn syrup
- Whey protein concentrate
- Food starch – modified
- Salt
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Spices
- Garlic powder
- Red bell pepper
- Disodium inosinate
- Disodium guanylate
- Natural smoke flavor
- Extractives of paprika
- Calcium silicate
Examining the full detailed ingredient statement gives you the most complete picture of what is in Top The Tater. Now let’s look at some key nutritional information.
Nutrition Facts
Here is a summary of the nutrition facts for a 1/2 cup serving of Top The Tater:
Calories | 180 |
---|---|
Total Fat | 13g |
Sodium | 410mg |
Total Carbohydrate | 11g |
Protein | 3g |
As you can see, a serving provides nearly 200 calories, most of which come from fat. There is also a considerable amount of sodium. While Top The Tater can add lots of flavor to a baked potato, it is high in calories, fat, and sodium compared to a plain baked potato.
Allergens and Sensitivities
Here are some key allergens and ingredients to note in Top The Tater:
- Milk and Dairy – contains milk, cheese, whey, and sour cream. Not suitable for vegans or the dairy-free diet.
- Soy – contains soybean oil. Avoid if you have a soy allergy.
- Onion and Garlic – contains onion and garlic powder. May need to avoid if following a low FODMAP diet.
Talk to your doctor if you have food allergies or intolerances prior to consuming Top The Tater.
Uses for Top The Tater
Top The Tater is intended to be used as a topping for baked, mashed, or fried potatoes. Here are some serving ideas:
- Top a baked russet or sweet potato
- Mix into home-made mashed potatoes
- Top potato wedges or fried potato skins
- Use as a topping for potato casseroles or au gratin potatoes
- Add to twice-baked potatoes
The potato topping adds a quick and easy way to load flavor into potato dishes. Just watch portion sizes since it is high in fat and sodium.
Storage Instructions
To maintain quality, Top The Tater should be stored according to the following guidelines:
- Store unopened package in the freezer at 0°F or below.
- Once opened, keep refrigerated.
- Use within 10 days after opening.
- Do not thaw before use. Use directly from frozen state.
- Close package tightly after each use.
Properly storing Top The Tater allows it to maintain peak flavor and texture for use as a tasty potato topper. Only thaw out what you plan to use within several days to prevent spoilage.
Should You Try Top The Tater?
Top The Tater provides an easy way to load up a boring baked potato with classic flavors like cheddar cheese, bacon, and onions. The potato topping is quick, convenient, and adds lots of flavor.
However, it does come at a nutritional cost. Top The Tater is high in calories, fat, and sodium compared to plain potatoes. It also contains dairy, soy, onions, and garlic which may be incompatible with certain diets or food sensitivities.
Overall, Top The Tater can be an occasional indulgence to quickly flavor potatoes, but it should not be an everyday side dish option. Use it moderately and in appropriate portion sizes to keep your potato toppings from going over the top.
The Bottom Line
Top The Tater contains potatoes, oils, cheese, milk, sour cream, and seasonings like onion and garlic powder. It provides robust flavor but also significant amounts of fat and sodium. Use Top the Tater sparingly and opt for healthier toppings like broccoli, salsa, or Greek yogurt on a regular basis.