Believe it or not, the crispy, salty potato chips we love today were invented by accident—and it all started with a particularly picky customer. The year was 1853, and the scene was Moon’s Lake House, a fancy resort in Saratoga Springs, New York. In the kitchen was George Crum, a chef known for his skill with food, but what happened next would turn him into a snack legend.

The Fried Potato Problem

One evening, a customer ordered Crum’s famous French fries but sent them back to the kitchen, complaining that they were too thick and soggy. Crum, not one to be easily rattled, made a new batch of thinner fries. But again, they were sent back with the same complaint! Growing frustrated, Crum decided to give the customer the thinnest, crispiest potatoes possible—so thin, in fact, that they couldn’t be eaten with a fork.

He sliced the potatoes paper-thin, fried them until they were crunchy, and sprinkled them with salt. Much to Crum’s surprise, the customer loved them! Soon, everyone at the restaurant was ordering these crispy potato “chips,” and the snack sensation was born.

The Chip Craze Spreads

The new invention quickly became known as Saratoga Chips and gained popularity far beyond Moon’s Lake House. Other restaurants began serving them, and before long, potato chips were being produced and sold in bags for people to enjoy at home.

By the early 20th century, potato chips had become a mass-market snack, thanks to the development of machines that could peel, slice, and fry potatoes in large quantities. This allowed chips to be produced on a bigger scale and packaged for convenience.

The Snack That Keeps on Crunching

Potato chips have since become one of the most beloved snacks around the world, spawning countless flavors and varieties—from classic salted to BBQ, sour cream and onion, and even more adventurous flavors like dill pickle and jalapeño.