Tater Tot Casserole...

[K Frame]

I've not had it in years, and god knows why, but when I was shopping I walked down the frozen aisle and saw tater tots and for some reason I suddenly wanted a tater tot casserole.

The one I've made in the past is less mid-west hot dish and more of an update on cottage pie, but where the hell did that come from?

[Bogie]

When did tater tots hit the freezer aisle?
 
Are we talking about one of the foodventions of the 1950s and 1960? I wonder if anyone ever tried to seal them in jello...

[MillCreek]

https://www.eater.com/2017/8/28/16159710/tater-tots-ore-ida-history.  The first ones were sold in 1954.

Some time ago, and I cannot remember the show, I saw a documentary about tater tots. It was a brilliant way to reuse potato scraps that were either being thrown away or used as cattle feed.

[K Frame]

When did tater tots hit the freezer aisle?
 
Are we talking about one of the foodventions of the 1950s and 1960? I wonder if anyone ever tried to seal them in jello...

According to Wikipedia, they were created in 1953. So, sometime after that. I remember getting them occasionally with lunches in elementary school.

I've decided screw it, I'm going to make a meatloaf for dinner.

But I'm going to have tater tots with it.