National Tater Tot Day

Categories:: Food & Beverage
Tags:: Fast Food
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every February 2
Holiday emoji:: 🥔

National Tater Tot Day arrives every February 2, honoring the beloved crispy potato nuggets that have graced plates from school cafeterias to fine dining. Dive into their surprising history and discover delicious ways to enjoy these golden cylinders. Gather your favorite dipping sauces and get ready to celebrate!

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Platforms
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Timeline
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FAQs
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Expected National Tater Tot Day Deals

While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that major chains and local eateries often roll out special deals for National Tater Tot Day. Look for discounts at fast-food giants like Sonic Drive-In, known for their iconic tots, and family restaurants such as Denny’s. Grocery stores like Kroger and Walmart may feature sales on frozen tater tot brands like Ore-Ida and Alexia. Keep an eye out for unique tot-based dishes at gastropubs and diners. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as February 2 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Tater Tot Day

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalTaterTotDay. Share your favorite tot recipes, creative dipping sauces, or tot-eating challenges.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #TaterTotDay. Post mouth-watering photos of loaded tots, unique tot creations, or your family’s favorite tot dishes.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalTaterTotDay. Share fun facts about tater tots, ask for people’s favorite tot toppings, or retweet deal announcements.

National Tater Tot Day Hero

F. Nephi and Golden Grigg

Brothers F. Nephi and Golden Grigg are credited with inventing the tater tot in 1953 while working at their Ore-Ida potato processing plant in Oregon. They were looking for a way to use leftover slivers of cut-up potatoes, which were typically fed to cattle. By chopping and seasoning these scraps, they created the iconic potato nugget that would become a global sensation, transforming what was once waste into a beloved snack.

National Tater Tot Day timeline

2009

National Tater Tot Day officially recognized

Well, because these little (potato) babies need a day all their own. Don't you just want some this minute?

1953

Tater tots invented

Credit a company named Ore-Ida (for Oregon-Idaho). Their slogan? "When it says Ore-Ida, they're all-righta!"

1953

Sonic Drive-In opened

It's a tater tot hot spot now — but they didn't serve them when they first opened.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Tater Tot Day

Local businesses can celebrate National Tater Tot Day by offering creative tot-themed specials. Restaurants could feature a ‘Tot Flight’ with various dipping sauces or a ‘Loaded Tot’ menu with unique toppings. Food trucks might offer a special tot-based entree. Even non-food businesses could run a social media contest asking customers to share their favorite tot memories for a discount or prize, engaging with the fun and nostalgic spirit of the day.

National Tater Tot Day FAQs

When is National Tater Tot Day?

In 2027, National Tater Tot Day is observed on Tuesday, February 2. This mid-week celebration offers a great excuse to enjoy your favorite potato nuggets.

How many tater tots are consumed annually?

The love for tater tots remains strong, with a significant portion of the frozen potato market dedicated to these crispy delights. It’s a staple in school cafeterias and home freezers across the nation.

What are tater tots made of?

The primary ingredient in tater tots is potato, usually the leftover scraps from french fry production. These potato pieces are seasoned, mashed, shaped, and then par-fried and frozen for easy preparation at home.

Are tater tots considered 'fine dining'?

The perception of tater tots has evolved, with many chefs embracing them as a versatile ingredient. They appear in creative applications on ‘fine dining’ menus, demonstrating their adaptability beyond casual fare.

National Tater Tot Day Activities

Have a tater tot eating contest
Don't forget — have your favorite condiments (and antacid) on hand.
Head to your favorite fast food restaurant
There are a plenty in the U.S. that serve them.
Make your own
Though sometimes restaurants do it better, today is a great day to test your baking skills and make some. You can find great recipes online, or come up with something on your own.

5 Tot Tidbits

They weren't always in vogue
People though of them as the "unwanted" parts of potatoes. However, clever marketing — and actually making them more expensive — eventually changed all that.
They aren't called tater tots everywhere
In Australia, you'll discover that tater tots are not tater tots. They're potato gems.
Americans eat tots — a lot
Every year, Americans consume a whopping 70 million pounds of tater tots.
The name "tater tot" comes from the slang word for potatoes
You've likely called a potato a "tater" before. Throw in "tot" — for obvious reasons.
Other names for tater tots
Potato rounds, potato puffs, tater puffs, potato cylinders, potato nuggets, potato croquettes, baby taters. That's right — potato cylinders.

Why We Love National Tater Tot Day

Potatoes are an American staple
Baked. Scalloped. Au gratin. No arguments here. However, when that potato is a tiny little tot you can just pop in your mouth, well, we seem to love them even more.
Tater tots reduce potato waste
Did you know that they're made from the leftover parts of french fries? By eating them, you're keeping potato waste to a minimum.
Tater tots are great for "on the go"
As much as we love a good baked potato, they're not very portable. Ever try to eat one while driving? Tots, on the other hand, can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere!