For those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, finding frozen foods that are safe to eat can be challenging. With so many brands and varieties of frozen potato products on the market, it can be difficult to know which ones are guaranteed gluten-free. Tater tots, those bite-sized crunchy potato nuggets, are a freezer staple for many, but not all brands are created equal when it comes to gluten content. This article will explore popular frozen tater tot brands sold in grocery stores and identify the ones that are certified gluten-free.
What Makes Tater Tots Gluten Free?
For a food product to be considered gluten-free, it must contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten. Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye. For people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten triggers an autoimmune response that damages the small intestine. Even tiny amounts of gluten can cause issues, so it’s important for those who are gluten-free to be diligent about reading labels and only purchasing foods that are certified gluten-free.
The main ingredients in traditional tater tots are potatoes, oil or fat for frying, and seasonings. Potatoes are a naturally gluten-free food. The gluten content comes from additional ingredients used like flour, bread crumbs or binders. Reputable brands that cater to gluten-free consumers use corn flour, rice flour or potato starch instead of wheat flour in their recipes. It comes down to carefully checking the ingredient list and looking for a gluten-free certification label.
What Brands of Frozen Tater Tots are Gluten-Free?
Here is a summary of popular frozen tater tot brands sold in U.S. grocery stores and their gluten-free status:
Ore-Ida Golden Crunchy Tater Tots
– Gluten-free: No, contains wheat flour
Ore-Ida Extra Crispy Tater Tots
– Gluten-free: No, contains wheat flour
Ore-Ida Tater Tots
– Gluten-free: No, contains wheat flour
Alexia Organic Yukon Select Tater Tots
– Gluten-free: Yes, gluten-free certified
Simplot Classic Crispy Crowns
– Gluten-free: No, contains wheat flour
Simplot Original Tater Tots
– Gluten-free: No, contains wheat flour
Trader Joe’s Potato Pancakes and Trader Joe’s Hash Browns
– Gluten-free: Yes, gluten-free certified
Aldi Simply Nature Organic Tater Tots
– Gluten-free: Yes, gluten-free certified
Walmart Great Value Tater Tots
– Gluten-free: No, contains wheat flour
Walmart Seasoned Tater Tots
– Gluten-free: No, contains wheat flour
365 Whole Foods Organic Tater Tots
– Gluten-free: Yes, gluten-free certified
McCain Super Crunchy Classic and Sweet Potato Tater Tots
– Gluten-free: No, contains wheat flour
Ingredient Lists of Popular Frozen Tater Tot Brands
To get a better sense of why some are gluten-free and others are not, let’s take a look at the ingredients labels of a few major brands:
Ore-Ida Tater Tots Ingredients: Potatoes, vegetable oil (contains one or more of the following: canola, palm, soybean, sunflower), wheat flour, dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate.
Alexia Organic Yukon Select Tater Tots Ingredients: Organic potatoes, organic expeller pressed canola and/or safflower oil and/or sunflower oil, organic potato starch, sea salt. Certified gluten-free.
Aldi Simply Nature Organic Tater Tots Ingredients: Organic potatoes, organic expeller pressed canola oil, organic potato starch, sea salt. Certified gluten-free.
Walmart Great Value Tater Tots Ingredients: Potatoes, vegetable oil (soybean and/or canola), enriched wheat flour, dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate, extractives of paprika.
The main takeaway when scanning the list is to look for wheat flour or enriched wheat flour. If present, then the product contains gluten and is not safe for a gluten-free diet.
Nutritional Comparison of Gluten-Free vs Regular Tater Tots
One question some people have is whether gluten-free tater tots differ nutritionally from regular ones made with wheat flour. Here is a nutritional comparison of Ore-Ida classic tater tots (not gluten-free) and Alexia organic gluten-free tater tots:
| Nutrition Facts | Ore-Ida (1 serving – about 8 tots) | Alexia Organic (1 serving – about 10 tots) |
| Calories | 150 | 160 |
| Total Fat | 8g | 10g |
| Carbohydrates | 18g | 15g |
| Fiber | 2g | 3g |
| Protein | 3g | 3g |
| Sodium | 270mg | 330mg |
The two brands are fairly comparable in calories, protein, and carbohydrates. The main differences are that the gluten-free Alexia tots contain 2 more grams of fat and 1 more gram of fiber per serving compared to the Ore-Ida tots. They are also slightly higher in sodium. However, the differences are relatively small. So opting for gluten-free does not seem to change the nutrition profile drastically.
Prices of Gluten-Free vs Regular Tater Tots
Another consideration for shoppers is the price difference between specialty gluten-free products compared to regular versions. Here is a pricing comparison of popular tater tot options:
| Tater Tots | Price |
| Ore-Ida Tater Tots (32 oz) | $2.99 |
| Alexia Organic Gluten-Free Tater Tots (20 oz) | $4.49 |
| Aldi Simply Nature Organic Tater Tots (32 oz) | $2.39 |
| 365 Whole Foods Organic Tater Tots (24 oz) | $3.69 |
The Aldi gluten-free tater tots are competitively priced with regular store brands like Ore-Ida. Alexia is a premium specialty brand, so expectedly costs about $1.50 more per bag. But budget-friendly options are available at certain grocery chains. Pricing also varies based on organic certification. Overall, gluten-free tater tots are comparable or moderately higher than regular tater tots.
Where to Find Gluten-Free Frozen Tater Tots
Gluten-free tater tots can be found at most major grocery chains. Some of the best places to find gluten-free options include:
1. Natural Foods Stores
Specialty grocers like Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Trader Joe’s have dedicated gluten-free sections with several choices for tater tots and hash browns. These stores also offer more niche organic and non-GMO gluten-free brands. Expect to pay slightly more than mass-market prices.
2. Walmart and Target
Check freezer aisles for 365 Whole Foods gluten-free tater tots at Target. Walmart carries Celiac-friendly brands like Alexia in their natural foods department. Prices are more budget-friendly than premium natural grocers.
3. Aldi
Aldi has an excellent selection of affordable gluten-free items, including their popular Simply Nature organic tater tots. Bags are often 25-30% cheaper than other stores.
4. Online Stores
Amazon, Thrive Market, Vitacost and gluten-free specialty sites like GFCO (Gluten-Free Certification Organization) have a wide variety of frozen potato products available for home delivery.
How to Cook Gluten-Free Tater Tots
Cooking instructions will vary slightly by brand. But in general, cooking gluten-free tater tots follows the same process as regular tots:
Oven Instructions:
– Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C).
– Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly coat with oil.
– Arrange tots in a single layer on the pan, leaving a little space between each piece.
– Bake for 22-28 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown and crispy.
Air Fryer Instructions:
– Preheat air fryer to 400°F (205°C).
– Coat air fryer basket with oil or cooking spray.
– Add desired amount of tots in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd.
– Cook for 14-20 minutes, shaking basket occasionally, until browned and crisped.
Stovetop Instructions:
– Add 1-2 inches of oil to a large skillet or pan. Heat to 350-375°F (175-190°C).
– Fry tater tots in batches for 2-4 minutes, flipping occasionally, until golden brown.
– Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
Gluten-Free Substitutions for Tater Tots
For those who want a gluten-free, potato-based accompaniment but prefer not to eat tater tots, here are some substitutions to consider:
– Baked russet or sweet potatoes: Cut into wedges, toss in oil and spices, roast.
– Sweet potato fries: Find gluten-free oven-baked or pre-made frozen varieties.
– Hash browns: Use shredded or cubed frozen potatoes, pan fry in oil or bake.
– Potato puffs: Some brands like Perogies At Home or FarmRich make gluten-free cheese-filled potato puffs.
– French fries: Cook your own or use frozen brands that are certified gluten-free.
Making Your Own Gluten-Free Tater Tots
For the adventurous home cooks, you can also make DIY gluten-free tater tots from scratch. Here is a basic recipe:
Ingredients:
– 3 russet potatoes, peeled and grated
– 1⁄4 cup rice flour or potato starch
– 1 egg
– 1 tsp garlic powder
– 1 tsp salt
– 1⁄2 tsp pepper
– Oil for frying
Instructions:
1. Grate washed and peeled potatoes using a box grater or food processor. Drain moisture.
2. In a bowl, mix grated potatoes, rice flour, egg and seasonings until well combined.
3. Form mixture into small cylinders or oval shapes.
4. In a skillet, heat 1⁄2 inch oil over medium heat. Fry tots for 2-3 minutes per side until browned.
5. Drain on paper towel-lined plate and season with extra salt if desired. Enjoy your homemade gluten-free tater tots!
Conclusion
When you’re following a gluten-free diet, it’s important to pay close attention to labels when shopping for processed foods like frozen potato products. Many popular brands of tater tots contain wheat flour and are not gluten-free. However, there are still great options available from brands like Alexia, Trader Joe’s, Aldi and 365 that eliminate the gluten risk. Opting for certified gluten-free tater tots ensures you can still enjoy this tasty snack without worrying about cross-contamination. Just cook them up in the oven, air fryer or stovetop the same way you would regular tots. With so many gluten-free brands available at accessible prices, there’s no need to miss out on tater tots because of dietary restrictions.
