Potato chip is a thin slice of potato that is cooked until crisp, generally by frying. A potato chip can be salted or unsalted and may be seasoned to make such varieties as barbecue, cheddar cheese, or sour cream and onion. Some potato chips are made from potato flakes, rather than whole potato slices. Some are baked rather than fried. Some potato chips have a ridged or puffed texture.
Scholars do not know who invented the potato chip or how. The most famous story credits the American chef George Crum with the invention in 1853. However, Crum never patented the potato chip, and similar recipes appear in cookbooks of the early 1800’s. Potato chips became popular in the mid-1800’s. They were widely available in grocery stores and distributed by horse-drawn carts throughout the eastern United States.
Innovations in the making of potato chips helped the food’s growing popularity. At first, potatoes had to be peeled and sliced by hand. In the 1920’s, the mechanical potato peeler was invented. Potato chips could then be produced quickly and in such large quantities that their popularity spread throughout the United States. Another key innovation was the addition of seasonings. Until the 1950’s, potato chips came in only one variety: plain. Since then, chipmakers have created thousands of varieties, including crispy duck, octopus, and seaweed.
Today, potato chips are popular around the world. They are widely available at grocery and convenience stores, gas stations, sporting arenas, and restaurants. Manufacturers inflate potato chip bags with nitrogen gas to protect the chips from being crushed during shipping. People can also make potato chips at home.
