About National Potato Chip Day
The purpose of National Potato Chip Day is to celebrate and recognize the significant role that potato chips have played in American culture and cuisine.
The story behind potato chips is that, on March 14th 1853, a picky customer kept sending back fried potatoes to the kitchen of a restaurant owned by Chef George Crum. He kept complaining they were too thick and soggy. That is when chef George Crum decided to slice the potatoes as thin as possible so they could not be eaten with a fork.
The chef then decided to fry them and send it to the customer. This creation was so loved by the customer that he became a regular visitor at the restaurant.
National Potato Chip Day Facts
Here are some fun facts about potato chips to celebrate National Potato Chip Day:
- The original potato chips were thinly sliced and fried in oil, just like today's chips. However, they were not seasoned with salt until the 1920s.
- During World War II, potato chips became known as "freedom chips" because they were one of the few snacks that was not rationed.
- In the United States, potato chips are the most popular snack food, with Americans consuming over 1.2 billion pounds of potato chips every year.
- Potato chips are not only popular in the United States, but also in many other countries around the world. In the United Kingdom, they are known as "crisps," while in Australia they are called "chips."
- The largest bag of potato chips ever made weighed over 2,000 pounds and was created by the Pringles company in 2012.
- In addition to traditional potato chips, there are now many other varieties available, including sweet potato chips, vegetable chips, and even cricket chips made with cricket flour.
- The world's largest potato chip is on display at the Potato Museum in Blackfoot, Idaho. It measures 25 inches by 14 inches and was created by the Pringle's company.
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