How Tater Tots Evolved From Trash To Beloved American Food Staple
One of the most iconic American foods came from humble potato origins
Crunchy little blobs, more commonly known as tater tots, have become one of the most iconic American foods in recent times. Loved by children and adults alike, they have made up steady ground on french fries as a popular potato option. However, this is a relatively recent development, as tots have only been around for 70 years and had to overcome an early reputation as being made out of potato scraps to become an iconic food staple.
The invention of tater tots is credited to the co-founders of Ore-Ida — two brothers, F. Nephi Grigg and Golden Grigg, and Ross Butler, Sr. who started the company. This trio were pioneers in the frozen food industry, which experienced supersonic growth in the post-World War II era when Americans sought convenience and time saving above all else.
In 1953, wanting to avoid the expense associated with waste, the Ore-Ida leadership searched for ways to utilize the many odd-sized bits of potatoes that were left over from the frozen french fries they were manufacturing. Surely, there had to be some way to use them instead of simply throwing them in the trash. After all, this ended up being a lot of potatoes and money.
