In what year were Tater Tots invented?

Tater Tots were invented in 1953.

The bite-sized potato cylinders were developed by the Grigg brothers and their partners at Ore-Ida in Ontario, Oregon. The company was looking for a useful way to turn leftover slivers from French-fry production into a saleable frozen food.

The scraps were chopped, mixed with flour and seasonings, pushed through an extruder, and sliced into small pieces. The resulting pieces were formed into cylinders and fried, creating the crisp exterior and soft potato center associated with Tater Tots.

Although invented in 1953, Tater Tots did not reach stores commercially until 1956. Early sales were reportedly slow because the product was priced so cheaply that shoppers assumed it had little value; sales improved after the price increased. “Tater Tot” remains a registered Ore-Ida trademark, even though the phrase is widely used generically for similar potato products. In Australia and New Zealand, comparable products are often called potato gems or potato royals.