They're not tater tots. They're Tater Mecks! They look really tasty. 😊

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Yes! Tater Mecks! Thanks Scrapyard.

Trust me Mechaneers - these ones were sooooo delicious they definitely didn't need ketchup. They did taste like the macdonalds breakfast hashbrowns - only heaps better. The oregano in them works so well. I ate 6 in very quick succession and my older two mini mecks loved them too (the youngest pulled a face and said "ergh yucky" but that's becasue she hasnt learnt to love herbs yet). I know Captail Meck said they were a hassle to make but I will ceratinly be requesting he makes them again in the exact same way and I will enjoy them for breakfst and dare i say - instead of roast potatoes with our next Sunday Roast 😋

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Ha. Thanks Mrs Meck 😁

@Alewort

Ай бұрын

Sounds like you should be recording your own scoring card.

@hayleymcmechan1495

Ай бұрын

@@Alewort I quite agree!

@lenelenore

Ай бұрын

They looked very tasty! Texture-wise, ours are more of a minced potato, instead of a shred. Do you have dehydrated minced onion as a seasoning there? That’s close to the texture of a tater tot, I think. And ours lack the oregano, I think, but often have minced onion or chives. Honestly, how can you go wrong with any form of potato croquette? 😁👍🏻

@kateg7298

Ай бұрын

Thanks for letting us know, Mrs. Meck. I'd love it if you kept a kids' score card on American food. I'd request Tater Tots every Sunday after learning how to make roasted potatoes. They're delicious, but hey, share the cooking duties every time that you can. Sunday Roast is a big undertaking. Hand him a grater and turn him loose. I've never heard of oregano in Tater Tots, that's a new one on me. So, I sympathize with your mini-mech who went ergh. I'd request home made Egg McMuffins next Sunday morning and get an extra hour's sleep.

Nothing is more American than eating what you like. Team Ketchup

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

We're on the same team!

@Serai3

Ай бұрын

@@captainmeck2752 Pay no mind to people who sneer at ketchup. They're snobs. Lots of adults like it just fine.

If the McDonalds in the UK carry those flat hash browns for breakfast, that's what tater tots taste like.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Yeah they do Dave. 👍🏻

@momD612

Ай бұрын

Yep. Taste & texture is the same, just different shape. 😉

From your description, it seems that you nailed it, exactly right. Texture, flavor, everything.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Ah thanks Dredge!

Most tater tots are processed. They are NOT the same as McDonald's hash browns. They have a satisfying texture and the ratio of the crispy outside to softer middle is better, IMO. A few restaurants near me serve them as snack food or appetizers or bar food. One in particular has variations with melted cheese and/or old bay seasoning. Your home made version sounds delicious. America is about freedom and that MEANS, you put whatever you damn well please on your food and other people need to shut up. I once went to a really wonderful slow food establishment in Cape Cod where they made their own ketchup and it was the most amazing thing. The bartender told me that secret is you roast the tomatoes first.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Oo tha ketchup sounds good. And I love what you said about America meaning freedom. I honestly nearly had to stand up and salute😂 Thanks Justin. Great comment.

@lenelenore

Ай бұрын

Homemade ketchup is great! That’s another benefit of home canning, you can add seasonings to suit your palette.

@RogCBrand

Ай бұрын

I agree about people eating what they want the way they want, because there is no "universal taste", whether it's food, music, art, etc. No one has the correct taste, which is good, because a world with everyone being exactly the same would be horrible! I don't drink alcohol, but it always bothered me the way certain snobs lecture people on the type of wine they MUST drink with different foods. It's fine to recommend, but if someone likes red wine with their halibut, or white wine with their steak, then that's correct for them, even if others wouldn't like that.

The late French chef , Michel Ricard, lived in the US and loved tater tots. He developed a recipe for homemade tater tots, which is better than the frozen ones. lol. Saveur magazine has the recipe for it. Tater tots are a guilty pleasure for me. When I was a child, my school cafeteria served them once or twice a month. A few times a year, I get a craving for them. And yes, there is a bag of tater tots in my freezer as I type this. lol

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Even the sophisticated French were into them!

Place in Oregon had sweet potato tater tots. Really good, haven't found them anywhere else, couldn't find them pre made on the net even.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Oo yeah they sound good. Love sweet potatoes!

@larrycummings7300

Ай бұрын

A couple of restaurants locally (Illinois) have sweet potato tots. Nice with ranch or pancake syrup.

@chazfu

Ай бұрын

I live in Texas and I can find them in the frozen food aisle. Alexia is the name brand. I know of one restaurant that serves sweet potato tots and a few more that do sweet potato fries.

I've been curious about how to make homemade tater tots for the longest time, but I keep forgetting. This is awesome!

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Well copy me for my hashbrown bhaji balls! 😆😆

Just rinse the grated potatoes under cold water to remove excess starch, pat dry and continue as you did! Beautiful job! 😃👍

@TheMinecraftMonkey

Ай бұрын

Exactly what I was going to say! Let them soak until the water gets cloudy, rinse and repeat

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Good point!

what you made was nothing like a tater tot, but they look delicious none-the-less

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Cheers Richard 😁

@JustMe-dc6ks

Ай бұрын

I think those were gourmet potato croquettes.

Grease a 2" to 3" baking pan. Take ground beef and saute it with onions and garlic. Season to taste with salt, pepper and a little Worcestershire sauce. Spread it in the pan. Pour some condensed mushroom soup on top, the thick creamy kind. (Low sodium is best.) Top with green beans (haricots vert), followed by a layer of grated cheddar cheese. Finish off with a layer of tater tots. Be sure to season each layer as you go, (that's why the low sodium soup), except for the tots, which you'll season at the end. Bake at 190 C for 35-40 minutes, until the tots are golden brown and the cheese has melted. Season those tots, and serve it forth. You're welcome. :)

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Wow! That sounds amazing (except I don't like mushrooms) but even sooooo👍🏻

@Serai3

Ай бұрын

@@captainmeck2752 You can substitute any condensed soup for the mushroom. It just has to be thick and creamy, so it acts like a sauce. Like any casserole, you can swap ingredients out to your taste; they're easy that way. This is the classic Midwestern recipe. Do try it, you'll love it. :)

What a crazy man you are, making your own tater tots! Love it!

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

I know! Good fun but wouldn't bother again 😂

Those look sooooo good!!! You did great! 😊

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks Uncle Nickii! 😂

Here’s a simple but very American sandwich you can make. A BTL or Bacon Tomato and Lettuce sandwich ! Use “ streaky bacon “ well crisped , as fresh as you can find tomatoes, Iceberg Lettuce and a good Mayo! Delicious!

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

BLT is a classic. We do have those here and I have had many. So good!

@MGmirkin

Ай бұрын

Typically called a "BLT" (Bacon/Lettuce/Tomato), tho', yeah?

6:57 🐶 ❤🤗 Tater tots look that way cause they are mass produced, as far as im concerned those in the bag are a quick snack, Homemade ones are the best 😊 Also If you want to tske them to the NEXT LEVEL put some FRESH onion in them, grated same way.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Sounds really good!

My family eats tater tots as a breakfast food. We like to lightly fry (over easy) eggs and serve them over/mixed with the taters.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Sounds great Jaxx!

Hash brown balls is a pretty good description of tater tots. Biggest difference is I assume mass produced ones are formed in some sort of mold to get that cylindrical shape. But those definitely look good.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks Oxide!

They look delicious. Crispy tater tots is one of my favorites. I like to mix ketchup and mayo together for my sauce. Great job !!!!

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

OMG, why did I not think of mayo. Idiot. Thanks Amber 👍🏻

@amberjones9520

Ай бұрын

@@captainmeck2752 I like mixing mayo with ketchup bc the mayo cuts some of the sharp acidity taste of the ketchup. It’s also good with fries (or chips) 😉 onion rings or anything you would normally dip in ketchup. Let me know how you like it.

Homemade, rustic tater tots. Seems legit to me and they looked and sounded appealing. I've seen several restaurants/cooks on TV and KZread make tater tots like this. I'm not a knowledgeable cook, but I know some varieties of potato are better for different uses. Also, I seem to remember the grated potato having excess water wrung out of them while wrapped in a cloth or towel... pretty sure that gets done when making hash browns as well. The excess moisture from the potatoes PLUS flour likely caused the glue-like stickiness.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Yeah I think you're right brenspin. I did do some moisture extraction (didn't film that part) but not enough clearly. 👍🏻

@ktmerlin775

Ай бұрын

​@@captainmeck2752 a very good cook told me once that boiling your potatoes too fast makes them sticky. I always try to cook them at a simmer. No idea if it works or old wives tale

If you don't have time to run to the store to get groceries, you can order online and have it delivered. Check your stores online and see if they have the service. Wal-Mart does as well as the Kroger stores (Kroger, Ralph's, Fry's).

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Yes, actually we do normally get our weekly shop delivered. We just somehow failed on that too 😂

Those looked good. They looked like the ones in some of the higher end restaurants. And good on you for trying the mustard.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Ah thanks Dawson. 🙏🏻

Your tater tots look delicious, and have a nice crunch. Your mention of some people saying ketchup is only for children brought to memory my baking tater tots in a toaster oven then eating them with ketchup while watching Saturday morning cartoons (1970s) as my breakfast. 😊

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Saturday morning cartoons were so great. We had the same thing here in the UK. But I'd be eating a very British Marmite sandwich 😂

See that you made me subscribe and hungry at the same time.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Ah thank you Buttercup! Appreciate the sub. I'll send you some food too!

@buckleupbuttercup7442

Ай бұрын

@@captainmeck2752 no need already elbow deep in to a steak and cheese.😆

Tater tots were originally invented to create a market for the comically oversized potatoes that are part of every successful commercial farm. Previously, novelty jumbo-sized potatoes were a very small market and mostly sold as animal feed at a deep discount.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Heh! Thanks Will

Tater tots were invented to make use of the extra bits of potato left over when making french fries.

@user-ou4qh3bi6u

Ай бұрын

Yes.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Genius

@willcool713

Ай бұрын

No, they are often used for that, but they were invented to find a market for the comically oversized potatoes every major farm produces. Previously to tater tots, most gigantic potatoes went for animal feed.

"No don't sue me you're good at that" took me out at the knees. Love it. Ketchup os perfectly fine, and the only people who complain about other peiple using it are ironically quote childish themselves. I can't remember who said it but there's a quote from a famous author that's basically how adults aren't worried about if something is childish because they already know they're adults. It's children who are obsessed with seeming grown up. Also if you ever make these again I recommend trying them with a "burger sauce" made from garlic mayo, ketchup, and some mustard. You can probably find a good recipe online. Also for foods to rival biscuits and gravy you probably have to go for some good soul food or maybe some Creole or Cajun dishes. Or American Barbecue (there are several styles and to me all of them are amazing). Some things I can think of if you like sea food are a good crawfish boil or shrimp and grits. If not you can't go wrong with southern style fried chicken. Unfortunately I don't think you could get an American barbecue equivalent made at home over there, because that would definitely be able to be a 10 if you got the good stuff. Maybe you could try fried green tomatoes or fried okra. Don't know if you'd be able to get them to be right across the pond though.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks so much Sorcerer! Love your comments.

Greetings from Utah, Mech. Tater Tots are often used as a topping for casseroles as well as a side dish. An alternative to crisps with a sandwich or fries with a burger. I believe American tater tot’s are their classic shape because of processing. Yours looked very tasty. Hopefully by now, your man flu has run its course and you’re feeling better.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Hello Utah! Thanks for the comments. A casserole topped with Tater Tots sounds so good! I have recovered thank you and I'll be posting the new video soon. 👍🏻

I have an easy one for you to try while you are sick. An English favorite with an American southern twist. Brown sugar maple bacon sandwich. Simple, thick cut bacon fried until almost to where you like it. Drain grease, turn down down the heat, coat the top of the bacon with brown sugar, pour 1 tablespoon of real maple syrup. Let cook until sugar fully melts and flip bacon a time or two to coat both sides. Serve on white bread with your choice of mayo/miracle-whip, lettuce, slice of tomato.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Oh my goodness. Sounds amazing! Question, why sugar AND maple syrup? Why not just maple syrup?

@Sirge57

Ай бұрын

The brown sugar gives a unique texture while the maple syrup adds maple flavor.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Nice!

Those looked like fancy tater tots! Looks delicious

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Yeah, fancy ones!

Put whatever you want on your corn dogs and tater tots. All of those "ketchup is a children's food" commenters are still eating their fries and tater tots with it. Tater tots are small, traditionally. Ratio of crispy outer shell to tender, fluffy inner potato is important.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

So yum!

sometimes when i'm in the mood, i like to dip the tots in catsup that has a little bit of cayenne added to it.

@lenelenore

Ай бұрын

Ah, a kindred spirit! 😁 My family teases me that I add cayenne to everything. I mix ketchup, brown sugar, a teaspoon of lemon juice or cider vinegar, a dash of cloves, and slightly bigger dash of cayenne to make a thick glaze for meatloaf, putting it on at the start of baking instead of just the last 15 minutes. That little hint of spice is great!

@JohnLeePettimoreIII

Ай бұрын

@@lenelenore one of my earliest memories is sitting down at the kitchen table and destroying a big jar of pickled jalapenos. i must have been around 5 at the time. i've always loved spicy food.

@lenelenore

Ай бұрын

@@JohnLeePettimoreIII 😁👍🏻 one of my favorite treats to can is cowboy candy, sweet and spicy jalapeños. We like them on cheese and crackers, and also chopped up in chicken salad, or on pizza, or on burgers topped with bleu cheese. Good all-purpose yummies.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Spicy! Nice.

Looks close enough ❤

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

That'll do pig, that'll do. 😁

tater tots are just cylindrical shaped hashbrowns deep fried. you did a pretty good job aside from the shaping 👍👍

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks Echoes!

With all the chip shop in GB, tatertots are an easy addition

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

True!

Those tater tots looked good and I think you did a great job doing it from scratch. I love having tater tots with chili without beans and cheese melted over them. I would recommend the frozen ones just for the ease, but yours probably have a lot more flavor. Meatloaf would be fun to see and there are so many different recipes for it from region to region and family to family. My mom uses stuffing mix as the binder in it because it has more flavor than crackers which is what my grandmother used.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Hey Bucket! Am I wading into a fight with meat loaf (like Philly Cheese Steaks)?

@BucketOfFail

Ай бұрын

@@captainmeck2752 Probably not. There are probably regional differences and of course family recipes, but since it isn't a dish claimed by a specific place people usually are ok as long as it has the basics.

Pretty much can’t go wrong with fried potatoes, of any variety. My grandmother used to slice them and fry them to be served as a side with just about anything. They were often made when there was also a pot of soup beans and cornbread. She obviously wasn’t concerned with carbs. Fried potatoes…including French fries and hash browns, are the ONLY things that I’ll eat with ketchup. Hot dogs and corn dogs get mustard. 🤘🏴‍☠️

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Nice! Thanks James. Oh to be unconcerned with carbs. There's just nothing better. A potato chip sandwich? Perfect 😋

You have produced gourmet tater tots, the type you would get at a fancy US pub, albeit with intense spice quantities. Real tater tots, roasted from a pre-processed frozen bag, are less extravagant, but if the surface is crunchy and brown, AND ketchup is used, it's all good !! Regular tots are made with bits, not shreds, but those are harder to make at home, and shreds give you all that extra crunchiness.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Nice! I've gone straight to gourmet!👍🏻

Those honestly look better than any tater tots I’ve ever had.

@captainmeck2752

13 күн бұрын

Ah thanks!

I think it looks like you did well. The only change I would have suggested was it appeared you used (based on the shape) what I'd call a "red potato" rather than the russet type generally used in fries/chips.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Ah okay 👍🏻👍🏻

Yours are probably way better than the commercial ones, which are my least favorite form of potato. If you're parboiling, put them in the fridge before grating so they'll be as firm as possible. Grate them into a bowl of water and give them a change of water or two to rinse away the excess starch, they'll be a lot less sticky (good for hash browns too). Only one food on which catsup is verboten, that's a Chicago style hot dog -- there's already tomato on them and no room for catsup anyway.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Great advice Bob, thank you!😁

I’m from Pittsburgh, home of Heinz Food and Heinz Ketchup! So put it in EVERY THING !!! That’s how real Americans eat ANYTHING!! Plus , the coarse style tater tots you made are more like what we call potato croquettes. Still delicious, and great with hamburgers, Sloppy Joes and Chilli !

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Nice, I'm with you Heinz. Love their ketchup, just not their baked beans!

@wargame2play

Ай бұрын

My Dad used to say we Americans loved Hienz because we were 57 varieties as well! Our mustards are good - try some Pennsylvania ( or Ohio ) Amish mustards and relishes .

“Bbq totchos “ are great too

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Yum!

Originally, tatter tots were made from the leavings of manufacture of other potato products. Oh, we've got these scraps of potato ... can we make something to profit from this waste? Ta dah, tater tots are born. Now they are so popular that they have to shred potatoes just for tots. Another popular use is as the topping of a casserole, filling in bottom of pan, tots on top, bake, may be some cheese on the tots, bake. Here is a good tot making video: kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZISVx7eYcaWxaZc.html And here is a pastry chef and her ordeal making gourmet tots: kzread.info/dash/bejne/ip1mmtJ-krDKhNo.html

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks Henry! 👍🏻👍🏻

I have definitely eaten tots like those at a restaurant

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Nice. I'd charge you less for them though 😂😂

Tater Tots were invented to get rid of potato scraps. "Tater tots were invented by F. Nephi Grigg of Ore-Ida in 1953 as a way to use excess potato shavings that came from making frozen french fries. Originally, the shavings were sold as livestock feed. The term “tater tot” is a proprietary name owned by Ore-Ida." -Wikipedia.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks Bigtom!

Brilliant! Certainly sounds tasty. Another way to use this food item is in a tater tot casserole, spicy if you follow that recipe variation.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Tater tot casserole sounds insane and amazing!

Tater teens rather than tater tots, maybe? Either way they look delicious. I would suggest the beloved hush puppy the next time you have fried fish. You can thank me later. I am a first time viewer and had a ball watching! Thumbs up and I am so interested to see more. Well done!

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thank you Kim, appreciate your time and comment. Now looking up hush puppies!

@guyfaux3978

Ай бұрын

@@captainmeck2752 Same concept as tater tots, just made from maize.

Oh so sorry you're still not feeling well. I thought about something as I was watching this video. I know I suggested VapoRub but what I didn't mention was the fact that it also helps to put it on your feet. Slather it on and put on some comfy socks. Oh, they look fabulous. I'd rather have yours honestly!!! Homemade tater tots look very much like yours. I know that some recipes use premade hash brown potatoes which are grated coarsely like you did it. I know that some are made with a more mashed potato consistency so you can form them a bit more like store-bought ones. Adults eat ketchup all the time so tell them to shut it, LOL!

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks Tina! Nice to 'see' you. Vapour rub socks, got it. I'm nearly out of the woods now so all is good. 👍🏻👍🏻

Tater tots ARE hash brown nuggets. You nailed it - except no seasoning. They don't come seasoned, sometimes they have bacon of cheese in the mix inside, but not seasoning. We'd season the outside if we do it after frying or before baking. You'd been closer to use a mold to shape them, and freeze them before frying. If you try it again, use a sushi roller, make a long tight tube, about finger thick, cut into stubs, freeze and fry.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Amazing. Thanks BigJen 🙏🏻

These look delicious. Nice crunch and creamy on the inside. If you wanna kick them up a notch you can add shredded cheese, bacon bits, or chives to the mix. Or all three if you're feeling bougie. I make these all the time at work, we call them Tater Kegs because they're bigger than tots. Oh, and as far as ketchup goes, or any other dip or toppings, you do you, mate. No hard and fast rules for food as far as I'm concerned. If it tastes good, I'm gonna nosh.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Amazing, tater kegs 😂😂😂😂😂😂

@MGmirkin

Ай бұрын

Or "chili cheese tots" (much like chili cheese fries)... Store bought tots, baked in the oven for a bit, then slathered in hot chili, & topped with cheese. Probably eaten with a fork. ;)

You need to”tot sauce” to eat with tater tots. A mix of mayo, ketchup and dill pickle relish. Can also add a touch of hot sauce

@dustdevl1043

Ай бұрын

A drop or two of Worcestershire sauce adds a nice touch.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Yum!

Not tater tots. They're closer to potato pancakes. But what you made sounds and looks really good. Flatten those and they'd be a kind of hashbrown patties, and perfect for pouring something like a sausage gravy or any other kind of meat and gravy over. To be fair, I'm not sure you can do home made tater tots with commonly available equipment. It's the fine dice of potatoes, which are then formed and partially cooked before frozen. Sure, you could do it with a knife, but you'd go insane. It would be like trying to make your own Pringles- you don't have the needed sprayer for the mashed potatoes in most homes.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks Raven!

Add chopped up jalapeno and cheddar for a potato teezer (Swensons)

@captainmeck2752

4 күн бұрын

Yum!

Love seeing all these school cafeteria classics. I wonder if you would be up for some more regional fare? How about a Reuben sandwich, chili con carne, banana pudding, gumbo, clam chowder, jambalaya, sweet tea, lemon bars? Honestly, America has some wonderful cuisine, but most of the best stuff is considered somewhat "regional" (Cajun, soul food, Tex Mex, etc.). It's a continent, after all, so only the most basic, mass-produced foods are eaten everywhere. Think of it like this: if Europe was a single country, what would its national dish be? Mashed potatoes? People talking about "European food" would miss out on boeuf bourguignon, paella, croissants, fish and chips, pelmeni, souvlaki, borscht, and so much more!

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Very good point and suggestions. I'll add all these to my list. Thank you!

I'd rather eat those any day then the tater tots sold in the freezer. Good Job!

@captainmeck2752

25 күн бұрын

Thanks my friend 👍

In Buffalo NY, where they're originally from, they're just called Wings. It's considered a bit of a faux pas to add the Buffalo or Chicken😁

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Gotcha. WINGS. 🐔

@robhugh535

Ай бұрын

@@captainmeck2752 Buffalo or Chicken Wings is fine 😃 . It's just locally, it's a given that you want chicken wings with hot sauce, so no-one adds the rest. But that's the origin of why they get called Buffalo Wings.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Cool.👍🏻

I'm so sorry that you're not feeling well and I hope that you're on the mend finally. I think you owe your Missus a nice dinner out after seeing the kitchen she's making do with! And you deserve it too, of course! Three kids. Whew, you must enjoy those 4 hours of sleep that you get every night. I have a tip for you. If you're working with grated potatoes (kids love Tater Tots if you make them again). I don't usually boil the potatoes first, but if you're grating them, rinse them a couple of times. It gets the starch off and they're not sticky and gloopy. It will give you crispier potatoes. Also, whisk an egg and add that along with your corn starch. They won't fall apart. But yours look outstanding, so I'm just throwing that in. P.S. 98% of Americans dip their Tater Tots in ketchup. We're just weird about corn dogs and ketchup. Don't even think about putting mayo on a corn dog either. You'll get outrage and no one likes that. Thanks for another great video. I'm impressed with the tots that you came up with. What did the kids think?

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks so much Kate! Great potato tips there. The kids liked the tater tots a lot and were disappointed that they seemed to disappear so quickly 😂 But that was Mrs Meck's fault.

I put ketchup on anything I can and I haven’t been a child for 60+ years

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Excellent!

Just thinking if you make them you could stuff them in an Ice-cube tray and freeze them to help them keep their shape when cooking.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Good idea 👍🏻

Country fried steak with the same gravy you made for biscuits and gravy with a nice American style mashed potato is the only thing I can think of that may knock biscuits and gravy off its pedestal.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

That sounds excellent. Ill add it to the list.

There are 2 types of tater tots Ill eat as most are freezer burt. 1 mexifries with Nacho cheese sauce. 2 freshly made, cooked so the outside is slightly carmalized. 😅

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Sounds good!

I think they look too big but fine. You should feel individual shreds. Looks good. Making them yourself probably makes them better, but the cost benefit of that time seems a waste. I'll stick with the frozen ones when the urge hits. I will say that It seems to look more like a hashbrown hushpuppy. You should try hushpuppies.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

There were def too big and a faff to make, agreed. I'd still like to try the frozen ones!

“Adults don’t eat ketchup..” is kind of silly when you’re literally eating something called “tater tots”. Tots we’re literally designed from leftover hash brown bits in the 1950s by Ore-Ida (the term tater tot is actually trademarked) to be used with dipping sauces like fries.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Aha, nice! It's fine then.

Tots are made from scraps left from making French fries

@lenelenore

Ай бұрын

The store bought ones are, and I understand that the residual oil on the surface of the chipped up potato bits helps with the texture/binding.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Amazing

Tots are just differently shaped UK hash browns minus the onion. US hash browns are different than UK hash browns.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Ah okay 👍🏻

I really think your version has more spicing than the ready-made frozen kind that Americans eat (and very tasty, too). If you ever see a bag of frozen 'tots, would you buy them, just to have on hand?

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Yes I would, definitely.

@MGmirkin

Ай бұрын

Defo get a bag and try 'em. Just tear open the bag, put them on a cookie sheet in a single layer, bake them in the oven for like 5-10 minutes on like 350F, or however long to get hot and slightly browned / crispy [been a while since I made them at home]. Plate 'em, salt or cajun season them slightly, squirt some ketchup, and they're basically ready to go for a quick snack. No huge production required. Let someone else to long "hard work" part of it. Just good old fashioned convenience food. "Super simple, barely an inconvenience." ~Pitch Meeting Guy

i saw your video and was going to make a tater tot waffle, but i don't have any frozen tots

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Dammit Tracy! Get thee to the shops!

@MGmirkin

Ай бұрын

Would think hash browns would conform better to the waffler [waffle iron?]... Just kinda' pile 'em in?

Bite size potato pancakes? Tots are more minced than shredded, but what you made looks yummy. Fry sauce or special sauce for actual tots,

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks Sheri!

Im surprised no one mentioned covering them with chili and cheese

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

YUM!

I dip my tater tots in sour cream. They are potatoes, just not in the shape of a “baked potato”.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Oh yes, soured cream would be great!

I wish there was some way to ship a really good gumbo.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Yes!

Those definitely aren't commercial tater tots but they seem very similar. Maybe taters tot cousins? Tater tots aren't smooth like mashed potatoes but they are very finely grated. Whatever you made, I'd gladly eat them the same as I would tater tots. As for ketchup? Don't listen to those food snobs. Ketchup is delicious and goes with things if you want it to. I absolutely love ketchup and always keep some in my home.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks Berlyn!

When you fry potatoes you must salt them right away.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Understood!

They looked good. Try baking them instead of frying next time. They looked like potato fritters that I have seen on several cooking shows (I am addicted to watching cooking shows even if I'll probably never make the recipes shown). Make them with the sloppy joes and let the extra drip on to them, it's better than ketchup. As far as ketchup, I have a cousin that will go thru roughly a case of it a week. Funny thing is that he doesn't like tomatoes.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Ha! Hilarious. Yeah, cooking shows are great, even if you never cook.

your attempt look great. Add a little crab meat, and you have a Baltimore Crab Fluff.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Oh wow!

You need a spider strainer skimmer ladle

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Yes I do! Just when you think you have everything, you realise you don't.

I think buffalo wings has a real chance of hitting that top spot 👌

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Oo, cool. Never had them.

looks like a hashbrown croquette. if you dont want to deal with the pain of deep frying id suggest using an air fryer.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Yes, a few of my friends have air fryers. Haven't gone there myself yet.

Close enough!!!

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

That'll do!

Did you google their history? They were bits of potatoes that they had after cutting French fries. At first, Oreida priced them too low and Americans didn't but them.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

I didn't. Hilarious though.

@dugswank

Ай бұрын

@captainmeck2752 When they started selling cake mixes, women wouldn't buy them because you only added oil and water. They removed the powdered eggs and the mixes sold. Putting eggs in was enough work for them.

I've always put ketchup on my tater tots, but I'm a bit of a snob, it must be Heinz. If you want something to knock the biscuits and gravy down a peg, try a chicken fried steak. You get that same country style cream gravy, only on a breaded steak instead of a biscuit.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

That sounds excellent Devil!

@dustdevl1043

Ай бұрын

@@captainmeck2752 You can eat it for breakfast with hash browns, eggs, and toast or biscuits, or for dinner with mashed potatoes or a baked potato or fries, and dinner rolls.

@dustdevl1043

Ай бұрын

Just a humorous aside, every time I hear the term "jacket potato", I envision a potato wearing a little tuxedo!

This British obsession with American food is fascinating.

@lenelenore

Ай бұрын

I think we frequently return the favour. Heh. Look at all the Americans out here making Yorkshire pudding, Welsh cakes, fish and chips, and so on. It’s human nature to enjoy trying foods from other places; I’ve been drooling over some amazing German street foods recently, and have a list started of recipes I need to research and try. KZread is such a great resource for that.👍🏻

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

It's fascinating me that's for sure 😂

@MGmirkin

Ай бұрын

Mr. H and Friends [some more Brits], Recky & Carol [Swedes], and others seem to enjoy trying new [American] foods, and catching some of the memos dropped and "Lost in the Pond". ;) Always fund seeing folks try fun new foods, and exchange recipes. Food brings us together more than it divides us. I think if more people broke bread together, and enjoyed each other's cooking at the same time, we'd have a lot less conflict in the world. 'Cause, y'know, people get "hangry," and feeding 'em tends to slay the "hanger" monster... (IE, people are just happier when they're well-fed with good tasty food...)

@2012escapee1

Ай бұрын

@@MGmirkin Mr and Mrs H should open a Texas BBQ restaurant in their town. 😁

Look fabulous, but those are potato croquettes not tots. Potato croquettes pre-date tots by at least 100 years. Tater tots were invented in 1953 by F. Nephi Grigg of Ore-Ida.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Ah croquettes!

The ketchup issue: no ketchup on hot dogs except for kids. Ketchup and mustard on corn dogs is ok.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

So where did the 'no ketchup on hotdogs' thing originate? A few people saying that on here.

@MGmirkin

Ай бұрын

FALSE. Ketchup is delicious on hot dogs. Ketchup is delicious on ... well, pretty much anything. :P It's just a lovely universal condiment. As with anything, you do you... ^_^ That's the lovely truth of it. Folks can use whatever they like. Like relish? Use relish. Prefer dill over sweet? Use that. Mustard over ketchup? Not for me, but you do you... Sauerkraut? Meh. But, some people like it. Sriracha? ....On a hot dog? ...Never tried it, but suspect a combination of ketchup and sriracha would make for a wonderfully spicy novelty...

@sherievaughn6475

Ай бұрын

@@captainmeck2752 I’m from Chicago. Here it is an old accepted rule that the flavor of ketchup is not ideal with the flavor of hotdogs. That being said, sure, do what makes you happy. 🙂

Hi Captain Meck. This popped up on my feed and it reminded me that the very best American cooking series that you can watch is Kent Rollins. He's cooked on ranches for 30 years. And while he may use coals or wood to cook, every single one of his recipes can be made in a kitchen and he gives you that version of each recipe. I have to say I've made at least 30 of his dishes and I've never had anything that wasn't fantastic. He concentrates on old-fashioned American classics. Here's a link to his tater tots (just as an example) if you're interested. And I say make Mrs. Meck tater tots once a week. She sounds lovely and so do your children. Thanks! kzread.info/dash/bejne/m6KY07ZtZKm-dZs.html

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Amazing Kate, I've just watched him. What a character 😂😂😂😂 Thanks so much

Hash brown ball is right. Homemade has to be superior. Americans open the bag and bake them, lol.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

😂😂

No your tater tots are probably closest to the original recipe than we get now. Most tater tots restaurants use are all mechanically processed frozen ones.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks! 👍🏻

With all these tied foods on your scoreboard maybe you should add a decimal place to the score... or score them out of 100, instead of just 10? Hearing tamale pie reminds me of Frito pie (corn chip pie) do you guys have that over there? And finally, you might poll the community on interest for this, but I'd be into in a "Meck makes a British food, Americans don't know of" video every couple of months or so.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Great suggestions Nicotti. Out of 100 would work much better. And I love your video suggestion. Putting on my 'ideas board'. Thank you 🙏🏻

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

And no, we don't have frito pie!

Those look so good! I definitely agree that they remind me of "hash brown balls." Better than frozen tater tots for sure. Frozen tater tots are definitely one of those quick and easy, "good enough" foods that you can pair as a side with something like hamburgers (basically, whatever you'd eat with fries, you can replace with tots). I wouldn't say they remind me of mashed potatoes at all though. Also, I'm a grown adult and love ketchup with tater tots!

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Amazing. Thanks bud. I'd still love to try the store bought frozen ones though.😁

Tatertots look like tatertots because they're extruded from an industrial machine and then the "log" of tot is sliced into small cylindrical sections. What you made is far better, and probably tastes exactly the same or better.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks Prophet!

Meck, Eh close enough, either way you wish to eat tator tots, maybe some British pub mustard might UK them a bit. Oh as far as your flu bug, if you can find it we have some zinc tablets you let dissolve in your mouth called ziecam, might help shorten it. Oh, and I find that sports drinks like Gatorade helps with recovery.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks Terry. I did actually have some sports drinks and they helped a lot. Don't know about getting the zinc tablets though.

Looks better than tater tots. Good job

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks Jean! 🙏🏻

Meck's Tater Nuggets 😊

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Yea!

@MGmirkin

Ай бұрын

"Mecksy Fries"... (A fast food Mexican restaurant called Taco Time here in the USA sells tater tots as "Mexi-fries." [I probably eat there too much. But, what am I saying, I love Mexican food and/or Mexi-American / Tex-Mex food. No such thing as "too much," right?])

Those look quite a bit better than tater tots, they look good, tater tots are flavorless carbs to fill out a child's school lunch. Yours are elevated tater tots.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Thanks!

Ketchup is fine, just not on any hot dog product. Only mustard.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

This is a THING is the States isn't it. No ketchup on hotdogs.

Yours were probably a lot tastier than authentic tater-tots, simply from being made fresh, instead of from a freezer bag.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Yes, I reckon so!

They were more like tator turds...but looked good lol....by the way...I'm almost 60 and still love my ketchup...

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Ha Tater Turds 😂😂

Hope you've got some "ranch dressing," in addition to the usual tried and true tomato frosting **refers to his notes** ... sorry ... "ketchup" ... Anyway, Ranch dressing is pretty popular for dipping tater tots in. Though, some people hate it, or at best "tolerate" it. I hear "fry sauce" is popular too... Not sure what all exactly is in it. I **think** it's basically a combination of ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise, or some such (IE, people took a few various fast food sauce packets and mixed them all up together, then dipped their fries in it and found it "not gut-wrenchingly bad" and decided it should be "a thing"? **shrug** Weird, but, whatevs...?)

@MGmirkin

Ай бұрын

Also, "Tots are life!" ;)

@MGmirkin

Ай бұрын

Ooh, as you mentioned "tamale pie" but are doing "tater tots" instead, I'm reminded, there is a thing called "tater tot casserole" which is kind of like tamale pie... Might be another good thing to "try." IIRC, it's basically like chili on the bottom and tater tots on top, or some such, and kinda' baked in the oven, 'til hot. Or was it tots on bottom and chili on top? No, surely it must be tots on top so they don't get soggified by the chili... Possibly add some grated cheddar sheese or some such on top to finish toward the end. Maybe include some optional sour cream, diced green onion, etc.? Dunno, haven't made it before, just kinda' sounds like good garnishes / flourishes...

@MGmirkin

Ай бұрын

"I know they're not a fine American delicacy..."? HERESY!! ;) [/sarc] Yeah, okay, fair point. They're basically just a side dish, typically. But, they're delicious. Either deep fried or baked in the oven. I prefer baked, personally, as they're less greasy that way, but either way works. That said, I could entirely polish off a small bag's worth in no time flat; so they can sometimes be a relative "meal," or alt least a large afternoon snack in their own right. And potatoes are just lovely, in general. Lovely carby goodness! Maybe not a "delicacy," but really good. I'd basically never say no to tater tots. Ever. It'll probably be the death of me [at least, the fried version?]. But, I'm okay with that... :oP

@MGmirkin

Ай бұрын

"Hash brown balls." Well, yeah... But, inevitably, that's pretty much what tater tots are. Maybe with slightly finer / shorter gratings, and kinda "squished together" into a little kinda' barrel shape. But, otherwise, yeah, they're basically just hash brown balls, and make great finger-food. ^_^ Anyway, they look proper-"home-made". [Nothing ever comes out quite "perfect"... ;) So, no worries.]

@MGmirkin

Ай бұрын

Yeah, don't know who told you nobody uses ketchup on Corn Dogs. Literally everyone uses ketchup on corn dogs. [And tater tots...] Heck, we use it on pretty much everything. Heck, some folks even put ketchup on diner hash browns. True fact! Granted some people also put on hot sauce / tabasco sauce on hash browns (on their eggs, too), but that's neither here nor there. But, to each their own! I love ketchup. It'll probably be the death of me. Ohh wait, no, I already said tater tots will probably be the death of me. Actually pizza will probably **really** be the death of me. Damn, well, at least it'll be a tasty death, one way or teh oth'r...

Looks close enough and I bet they were tasty. But mistakes were made, you made balls when tater tots are cylinder shaped, and they're supposed to be golden brown, yours were darker brown than golden.

@captainmeck2752

Ай бұрын

Gotcha Danny 👍🏻