Are they siblings? Cousins? Mere distant relatives? Tater Tots and french fries are crispy, crunchy and utterly irresistible potato products, and they fulfill similar roles as snack foods and side dishes. But even with these similarities, can they truly be considered the same? For some, the question of whether Tater Tots are french fries is hotly debated.
In terms of popularity, french fries are king, being the de facto side dish at just about every diner, bar, grill and fast-food restaurant. But that’s not to say Tater Tots don’t have a massive part of the market—they’re a staple on school lunch trays and are widely considered one of America’s tastiest innovations. In Minnesota, the classic Tater Tot hotdish reigns supreme as a beloved comfort food, often a non-negotiable part of family gatherings and community potlucks.
So where do you come down? Is a Tater Tot a french fry, or is the entire idea absurd? Reader’s Digest went to the inventor and mecca of Tater Tots, Ore-Ida, to get the deep-fried scoop. Keep reading as we take a closer look at the humble tot’s history, name and unique characteristics to settle the issue once and for all.
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What’s the history of Tater Tots?
Tater Tots are a lesson in innovation and ingenuity, as well as a reminder to never let anything good go to waste. Tater Tots were invented by Ore-Ida’s founders, the Grigg brothers, in 1953. The Griggs started Ore-Ida in 1952, focusing on frozen corn and french fries. As they ramped up french fry production, they “quickly realized they needed a way to use up potato scraps from their french fry production,” according to a company spokesperson.
Instead of discarding the chipped potato pieces, or selling them as cattle feed, the brothers experimented by mixing them with flour and seasonings. This mixture was then pushed through an extruder, shaping it into the small, cylindrical nuggets we know today. These nuggets were then blanched and quick-fried before being frozen, and according to Ore-Ida: “From there, Tater Tots were born!”
Tater Tots were first introduced to rave reviews at the 1954 National Potato Convention, but the initial launch in grocery stores in 1956 was slow to take off, as the product was priced cheaply and wasn’t seen as a premium item. The Griggs cleverly repositioned the tots by raising the price, which signaled to consumers that they were a high-quality product. The strategy worked, and by 1960, Ore-Ida had captured a remarkable 25% of the frozen potato market.
Today, it’s hard to imagine an America without Tater Tots. A freezer aisle favorite, they’ve expanded in popularity well past the dinner table. They’ve even begun to challenge the fast-food supremacy of french fries—you’ll find Tater Tots on the permanent menus of Sonic and Smashburger, and as an occasional limited-time offering at Burger King.
Why are they called Tater Tots?
The name itself provides a clue to the product’s identity. The Ore-Ida spokesperson explained that the Grigg brothers landed on the “Tater Tot” name because of the potato nickname “tater,” with “tot” referring to the small, barrel-like shape of the product. The name is a simple, effective description of what you’re getting.
In case you’re wondering, Tater Tot is trademarked by Ore-Ida, but over the years it’s become a genericized name like Kleenex or Band-aid. Companies besides Ore-Ida that make Tater Tots call them potato puffs, gems or something similarly non-trademarked.
How are Tater Tots like french fries?
“Tater Tots were born from the fry!” says the Ore-Ida spokesperson. “Without french fries there would be no Tater Tots. They share the same crispy outside and fluffy inside, every time.”
Both begin with potatoes, and both are cut, shaped and cooked to achieve that perfect contrast of a golden-brown, crispy exterior and a soft, steamy interior. This similarity in texture and taste is why they’re often considered to be in the same family.
How are Tater Tots different from french fries?
Fries are whole potatoes that are cut into shapes and fried. Sometimes they are fried twice—once at a lower temperature to slowly cook them all the way through, and again at a higher temperature right before serving to give them a crispy golden exterior. (Double frying is common with packaged, frozen fries.)
Tater Tots, on the other hand, are a processed food, where potatoes are shredded into miniscule pieces and mixed with flour, seasonings and other ingredients before being cooked. Tater Tots are never whole potato chunks (that would just be another type of fry!).
The verdict
Unlike the classic “Is a hot dog a sandwich?” debate, you can mark this one solved. Tater Tots are not french fries. They have a lot of things in common: Both are made from potatoes, both are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and both are intensely crave-able—in addition to being downright delicious. But ultimately, they are two entirely separate entities.
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Sources:
- Tater Tot Festival: “The History of Tater Tots”
- Kraft Heinz: “Ore-Ida Tater Tots”
- Ore-Ida spokesperson; email interview, Aug. 8, 2025
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