Potato Chips an Accidental Invention

Pringles - Free image by Pixabay

@LadyDuck (472108)

Switzerland

January 14, 2016 10:32am CST

Some inventors spend years trying to perfect a product, while others are lucky enough to invent something "by chance", or as a result of a mistakes. The Potato Chips are an example of accidental invention. Everything started in a restaurant in Saratoga Spring (NY). A good American chef, Mr. George Crum, was upset when a customer complained that his fried potatoes were too thick and tasteless. He decided to play a trick to the client. He sliced the potatoes as thin as paper, and fried them crispy. Finally he over salted the chips and served them to the client. At his surprise, the client loved the potatoes, he loved them so much that he wanted a second serving. The potato chips were born. Do you like the salty crispy potato chips? This is the only unhealthy food that sometimes I eat.

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73 responses

@topffer (42156)

• France

14 Jan 16

I did not knew the history of potato chips

. I have bought once a bag of bio chips without salt, and they were really not good. They have to be unhealthy

. One of the most weird accidental invention I know is the electric battery, invented by Volta when he was doing experiments on a frog's leg. By the way, Pringles on your photo are not real potato chips. They add rice, corn, etc together with dehydrated potatoes to make them.

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@topffer (42156)

• France

14 Jan 16

@LadyDuck I also do not like them, and I am not sure that they are healthier than the real thing.

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

14 Jan 16

@topffer In my opinion they are even less healthier than the real thing, they contain MSG (glutamate) and even maltodextrin and dextrose. Some varieties also contain cheese.

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

14 Jan 16

You are right Pringles are a mix of different ingredients, I do not like them, but I like the unhealthy salty potato chips.

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@TheHorse (220245)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Jan 16

I admit it--I still like potato chips. Sometimes plain, sometimes with an onion dip.

7 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

14 Jan 16

They taste good, I know that they are junk food, but I like them.

4 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

14 Jan 16

@TheHorse We need carbs, but not all that salt.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (220245)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Jan 16

@LadyDuck I don't wind up eating too many. Hey, they're just carbs. We need carbs.

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@LovingMyBabies (85288)

• Valdosta, Georgia

14 Jan 16

That is really cool to know! I would have never thought it was an accidental invention. I do love potato chips so I am glad the invention happened either way. =)

4 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 16

Just like the chocolate chips cookies. It seems that the best things were invented by accident.

Peter B. Giblett

@pgiblett (6524)

• Canada

14 Jan 16

This is a complex discussion because of where I come from. To me a chip is what comes with fish in England (fish and chips as in the picture) where sliced potato snacks are called crisps, except those that are made from reconstituted potato, which are also called chips. Living in Canada I am fully aware that what I call crisps are named potato chips, and the English chip (or what approximates for one) are called fries (but MacDonalds calls them French Fries for some reason I have yet to figure out). That said products like Pringles are also called chips, but they are still made differently from most potato chips. I think the first potato snacks were thinly sliced and fried, the processed variety came later.

4 people like this

@Hatley (163776)

• Garden Grove, California

15 Jan 16

nope those are french fries he he ha ha Im a yank for surepotato chips are chips lol

3 people like this

Peter B. Giblett

@pgiblett (6524)

• Canada

15 Jan 16

@Hatley That is where one of the great linguistic difficulties of the English sub-languages exist.

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@silvermist (19702)

• India

15 Jan 16

@pgiblett The picture shows French fries,as we call them .@Hatley has given a nice correct comment about it.

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@marlina (154131)

• Canada

14 Jan 16

Yes, once in a while I like to eat potato chips.

6 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

14 Jan 16

I try not to buy, because if I see the bag I have to eat some.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 16

@ivyparkgirl Do you know that Pringles are not real potatoes? Check the label you will be surprised.

1 person likes this

@amnabas (14686)

• Karachi, Pakistan

14 Jan 16

Ohhh really yeah I love potato crisps.

6 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

14 Jan 16

Me too, they taste good.

2 people like this

@Hatley (163776)

• Garden Grove, California

15 Jan 16

Um oka y gotta go wi th less salt L ays oven baked Potato chis as i havei high blood pressure and have to cut way way down on salt but they really are prett y good too

2 people like this

Peter B. Giblett

@pgiblett (6524)

• Canada

15 Jan 16

@Hatley But they are crisps, not chips!

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 16

I try to avoid junk food, I buy a bag time by time because my friends like to have a few chips with their drinks before eating.

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 16

@pgiblett If you mention the "crisps" in most European countries, nobody knows what you are talking about, but everybody knows the Potato Chips.

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@silvermist (19702)

• India

14 Jan 16

@LadyDuck I know it is unhealthy.But potato chips are my favorite snack.

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@silvermist (19702)

• India

15 Jan 16

@LadyDuck The problem is you can't just eat one,or two or three.You keep on.

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@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 16

@silvermist This is the only serious problem with those snacks.

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

14 Jan 16

They are my favorite snack too. I avoid to buy them, but they are so good.

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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)

• United States

14 Jan 16

I can't eat fried food so I haven' had a chip in over 35 years.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

14 Jan 16

I have a very little fried food, not because I cannot eat, but because it's not so healthy.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 16

@AbbyGreenhill My cholesterol level is perfect, I eat fried food, but I avoid bacon, sausages, red meats, cheese and I eat shrimps in moderation.

YES, shrimps are amount the cholesterol rich foods.

1 person likes this

@AbbyGreenhill (45494)

• United States

14 Jan 16

@LadyDuck The doc said since I don't eat fried food is why my cholesterol level is so perfect!

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@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

14 Jan 16

Yes I eat them occasionally, they are tasty. I usually have some in the house as my husband likes them. Interesting that they were invented by accident.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 16

I remember that also the chocolate chips cookies were invented by accident. It's a shame that my "accidents" and mistakes never brought something interesting.

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@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 16

@jaboUK Absolutely, I know I would be rich. LOL

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@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

15 Jan 16

@LadyDuck Lol - Wouldn't that be something if we were able to profit from our mistakes like that!

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@gr8nana6 (6614)

• Conyers, Georgia

14 Jan 16

I love the Lay's barbeque chips the best, but been very good this month by not buying any at all.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

14 Jan 16

I only like plain salted potato chips, I had a few last Saturday, because my niece opened a bag.

2 people like this

@gr8nana6 (6614)

• Conyers, Georgia

14 Jan 16

@LadyDuck If I buy them they don't last long. I am glad I was strong so far and have not bought any this month.

2 people like this

@garymarsh6 (23404)

• United Kingdom

14 Jan 16

I love what we English call crisps. They are delicious and my favourites are cheese and onion or salt and vinegar!

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 16

French would say "of course British use a different name"

We call them chips in Italy and also in Switzerland and they are called chips even in France

.

@boiboing (13153)

• Northampton, England

14 Jan 16

Apparently, there's a cookbook that dates the invention to 1822 in the UK, more than 30 years before the US 'invention'.

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@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 16

@boiboing @Poppylicious All my sources mention Saratoga Spring as location where the "chips" were invented. Should I search potato crisps? CHECKED! A British book mention a "similar" technique to make the potatoes, but the commercial chips are made from the American recipes. As usual no matter who was the first, what it's important is the first who deposit the "patent".

@Poppylicious (11133)

•

15 Jan 16

I've always assumed they were a UK invention/creation ... they just seem so British. :)

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Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (61633)

• Centralia, Washington

14 Jan 16

I do love 'em and yet I try to stay away from them- can't eat just one, you know!

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

14 Jan 16

Oh yes I know, I look at the bag, I say I just take one and after ten minutes the bag is empty.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

14 Jan 16

@sallypup I have injured a knee and I cannot walk either, so it's better that I eat healthy.

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Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (61633)

• Centralia, Washington

14 Jan 16

@LadyDuck I do not have the strength to jog these days so I must quit eating chips.

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@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

14 Jan 16

I have always loved potato chips but very seldom eat them anymore.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

14 Jan 16

I eat potato chips three or four times a year, no more.

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@Fishmomma (11377)

• United States

10 Feb 17

These are my biggest challenge to avoid because of the salt. I love the sea salt potato chips, but intend to stop buying them, as I end up eating all of them during movies. Told my daughter fresh apple sauce is for the next movie, as its a lot healthier option.

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@Fishmomma (11377)

• United States

11 Feb 17

@LadyDuck I know that is what I should do and am working on reducing the snacking. Its not easy, as daughter and husband eat snacks in front of the television. This is one reason I'm working hard to lower the calories, as daughter has no problem with no snacks, but husband not going to give them up. He is really thin, so can eat anything.

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@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

10 Feb 17

I keep nothing near me while I watch the TV, you eat without even noticing and you add up calories you do not really need.

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@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

11 Feb 17

@Fishmomma My husband is really thin too, but he knows that garbage food it's not only a matter of calories and weight, so he stays away from everything. Years ago we have decided that the TV must stay in a separate room from where we eat and we bring nothing there. The first days we felt we missed something, but now we have the habit.

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@youless (112586)

• Guangzhou, China

15 Jan 16

I like potato chips. I try to make my own potato chips at home. I tried both oven and microwave oven to make the potato chips. However, I can't successfully make the potato chips as well as I bought from the supermarket.

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@youless (112586)

• Guangzhou, China

15 Jan 16

@LadyDuck Yes, I tried to deep fry the potato chips but they can't be so crisp and they are oily, too.

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@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 16

To make them similar to those you buy in the supermarket you have to deep fry the chips.

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@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 16

@youless If they are oily, the oil was not hot enough and possibly not enough too. You have to slice the chips, wash them in cold water and then dry them very well before frying.

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@allen0187 (58582)

• Philippines

5 Jul 16

I love potato chips! The motto 'Once you pop, you can't stop!' was probably made for me! Due to health reasons though, I try to stay away from potato chips and eat the healthier version - sweet potato chips!

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@allen0187 (58582)

• Philippines

6 Jul 16

@LadyDuck sometimes though, the stomach overtakes the brain and I find myself sitting down in front of the tv and finishing a whole can of potato chips.

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@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

6 Jul 16

@allen0187 I never eat in front of the TV, when we are distracted we tend to eat things without even appreciating what we are eating.

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@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

5 Jul 16

I love the potato chips and I stay away from them, I know it's not a healthy food.

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@amadeo (111938)

• United States

14 Jan 16

I love salty crisp potato chips. I just eat the servings there.Five not too bad

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 16

I like to have some chips when I have a drink, they are not so bad.

@chocolatenightingale (147)

• India

15 Jan 16

ya i really love it,but as everyone knows the food most of us like are just really unhealthy.

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@LadyDuck (472108)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 16

Unfortunately this is a reality, healthy food is not the most appreciated.

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@chocolatenightingale (147)

• India

15 Jan 16

,so sad about it.

1 person likes this