Your love of tater tots likely stems from elementary school (with a little help from the 2004 classic film “Napoleon Dynamite”). However, there’s far more to these little nuggets of potato than that. Did you know they’re considered “fine dining”? At upper-echelon restaurants all across the U.S., you’ll find tater tots on the menu, right next to foie gras. Read more for some crunchy tips on how you can celebrate National Tater Tot Day this February 2.
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.
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!
National Tater Tot Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | February 2 | Sunday |
| 2021 | February 2 | Tuesday |
| 2022 | February 2 | Wednesday |
| 2023 | February 2 | Thursday |
| 2024 | February 2 | Friday |