The Invention of Potato Chips 170 Years Ago

Potato chips were accidentally invented exactly 170 years ago. On August 24, 1853, George Crum, a chef at a restaurant in New York, prepared potato chips for the first time. One customer rejected the fried potatoes he was served, stating that the slices were cut too thick. That's when Crum sliced the potatoes into paper-thin pieces and fried them until crispy in boiling oil, sprinkled with salt. To the surprise of the chef, the customer loved the new dish. Eventually, potato chips became a signature dish at the establishment, and in 1860, Crum opened his own restaurant, where a basket of potato chips was always placed on the tables.