# Who invented tater tots and why?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-tater-tots-and-why/354843>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 30, 2006, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-tater-tots-and-why/354843 "2006-04-30T16:45:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-tater-tots-and-why/354843/21 "2006-04-30T20:52:59Z")

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[QUOTE=bobkitty]  
::sticking fingers in ears::

I CAN’T HEAR YOU. LA LA LA LA.

They were listed as potato puffs on every single one of my school lunch menus, from preschool to college, and I refuse, REFUSE I TELLS YA, to think of them otherwise.\*

But yes, **samclem** , that picture does not show the true yummy goodness that is smushed together potato bits. I was a bit puzzled by it until I read the caption.

[sub]\* there must be another bostonian out there who can back me up. please?[/sub]  
[/QUOTE]

Your school was too cheap to buy real tater tots and instead got some off-brand product.  
That’s like saying that it’s not Coke but Shasta.

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**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-tater-tots-and-why/354843/22 "2006-04-30T21:30:06Z")

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Mmmmm…I love tater tots. Ore-Ida also has a sort of mini, flat tater-tot called “Crispy Crowns.” Yummy.

But I never liked them in the school cafeteria. My school NEVER fully cooked tater tots OR french fries, so they were always limp and soggy. Dammit.

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**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-tater-tots-and-why/354843/23 "2006-04-30T21:53:18Z")

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[QUOTE=bobkitty]  
There’s a place somewhere near Atlanta that does the same thing. The Highlander, I think? I’ve never been, but I hear the nacho-type puffs are good.  
[/QUOTE]

Nothing beats Sonic’s Extreme Tater Tots (not available in all areas). Tator tots smothered in chili, cheddar cheese, onions, ranch dressing and jalapenos. ::drooling smilie::

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**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-tater-tots-and-why/354843/24 "2006-05-01T00:15:19Z")

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[QUOTE=Guinastasia]  
Mmmmm…I love tater tots. Ore-Ida also has a sort of mini, flat tater-tot called “Crispy Crowns.” Yummy.

But I never liked them in the school cafeteria. My school NEVER fully cooked tater tots OR french fries, so they were always limp and soggy. Dammit.  
[/QUOTE]

My rule of thumb is to double the baking time. Crispy Tater Tots = yummy, limp,soggy Tater Tots = yucky. 😃

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