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National Potato Chip Day

Crunchy and salty, these crispy snacks are perfect for any occasion. Pair with your favorite dip or enjoy them on their own.

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Drive March snack sales and brand loyalty by celebrating potato chip heritage with user-generated flavor challenges and dip pairings.

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Share your favorite chip flavor and dip combo—tag us for a chance to win
Homemade chip challenge: Create your own flavor and compete with friends
Taste test showdown: Which iconic brand reigns supreme?
From Saratoga Springs to your table—the 170-year story of the perfect crunch

History

While potatoes have been around for the longest time, the potato chip began its origins with George Crum, who initially worked as a chef at Saratoga Springs’ Moon Lake Lodge in 1853, where French-fried potatoes were a favorite on their menu.

Frying potatoes originally came about during the 1700s, when Thomas Jefferson enjoyed them in France and introduced them to the local folk in Saratoga.

When customers started complaining that the fries were too thick, Crum sarcastically decided to cut the potatoes as thin as he could, fried them and sent them back to the customers.

To his surprise, they loved them and asked for more. From there, the potato chip was born. Crum from there opened his own restaurant and many famous people such as William Vanderbilt, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Jay Gould visited his restaurant, with a basket of chips at every table.

Although Crum didn’t patent his invention, it came to pass as one of the most innovative snacks to move the food industry. Many from there began their own food production, including the Hanover Home Potato Chip company established in 1921.

A few years later, Laura Scudder came up with the concept of putting the chips in wax paper bags instead of putting them in glass containers or barrels.

Soon after, Herman Lay founded Lay’s in Nashville and his potato chips became the first national brand to sell potato chips successful on a wide scale. National Potato Chip Day aims to celebrate the salty, crispy snack and its fascinating history.

How to celebrate

Enjoy Some Potato Chips

Grab a bag and snack on your favorite brand of potato chips. Have a potato chip party and create a variety of dips and during that party, test out all different brands of potato chips you know of to see which one is the best of them all.

Share With Friends

Share this holiday with your friends and family on social media and help people learn about the history of their favorite snack. You can post a photo of your favorite bag of potato chips and ask your followers to share their favorite flavor as well! After all, who doesn’t like to do a bit of bonding over food, right?

Make Potato Chips

Maybe even try your hand at making your own potato chips by looking up some recipes online. Test out different kinds of potatoes to see what potato is the best kind of to make homemade potato chips! Some of the base ingredients include salt, unpeeled potatoes, pepper, garlic powder, and a number of other potential seasonings. You are also going to need some oil so that you can deep-fat fry the potatoes as well. Make sure you make plenty of potato chips, as we’re sure they will be eaten fairly quickly!

Make It Competitive

You could even get a few friends around and have a competition to see who can create the best bag of potato chips! You can all try to invent your own flavor and see who manages to come up with the best creation. There have been some crazy potato chip flavors made over the years, do you think that you could top them?

Learn About Potato Chip Flavors

In fact, this is another way that you can celebrate National Potato Chip Day; by learning about the different flavors from around the world. You may be surprised to hear about some of the flavors that people enjoy! For example, did you know that Pringles once created sugar and cinnamon flavor potato crisps? While sugar and cinnamon are undeniably a winning combination, you probably wouldn’t expect them to be used on a potato chip. Pringles decided to bring this flavor out for a limited period between 2014 and 2015. Judging by the reviews that were left by people and the fact that these Pringles never returned, it is safe to say that they did not go down very well. There are plenty of other flavors that have been released over the years too. This includes Lay’s Nori Seaweed Flavor Chips, Kettle Brand Maple Bacon Potato Chips, Lay’s Cucumber Flavor Potato Chips, and Lay’s Baked Scallop with Butter & Garlic Potato Chips. Some of these flavors are very popular as well, although we’re not sure we would like to try cucumber crisps!

FAQ

Are potato chips and “crisps” the same thing?

Potato chips and crisps are essentially the same type of snack, but the words are used differently depending on the country. In the United States and Canada, the thin, fried slices of potato sold in bags are called potato chips, while “fries” refers to thicker batons of fried potato. In the United Kingdom and many other English‑speaking countries, those thin slices are called crisps and “chips” usually means what Americans call French fries. The product itself is similar, but branding, seasoning styles, and typical serving occasions can differ by region.

How are commercial potato chips made on an industrial scale?

In modern factories, potato chips are typically produced through a continuous process: washed potatoes are peeled (or left with skin for some styles), machine‑sliced very thin, rinsed to remove surface starch, and then conveyed through large fryers filled with hot oil at controlled temperatures. After frying, excess oil is removed, seasoning is applied, and the chips are cooled and moved through automated systems into bags under controlled conditions to preserve texture and reduce oxidation. This process allows manufacturers to produce consistent chips in very large volumes.

Are potato chips really that different from French fries nutritionally?

Potato chips and French fries are both high in calories and fat because they are usually deep‑fried, but chips tend to have a lower water content and can be more energy dense per gram. A typical 1‑ounce (28‑gram) serving of potato chips contains about 150 calories, 10 grams of fat, and is often high in sodium, while a similar weight of fast‑food French fries has a comparable calorie and fat content but usually slightly less sodium per gram. Health agencies classify both as discretionary foods that should be eaten in moderation, especially for people managing weight, blood pressure, or heart disease risk.

Why do potato chips have such a strong crunch and flavor compared with other snacks?

The crunch of potato chips comes from their low moisture and the structure formed when thin slices of potato are fried at high temperature, which drives off water and creates a rigid, brittle surface. The frying process also triggers Maillard reactions and caramelization that deepen color and flavor. Because chips have a relatively high fat content and a large surface area, added salt and seasonings dissolve and spread easily, which intensifies flavor delivery compared with many baked or puffed snacks.

What is acrylamide in potato chips, and should people be worried about it?

Acrylamide is a chemical that can form when starchy foods like potatoes are cooked at high temperatures, particularly during frying, roasting, or baking. Laboratory studies have linked high acrylamide intake to cancer in animals, which has led health agencies to classify it as a probable human carcinogen, though typical dietary exposure levels in people are still being studied. Regulatory and food safety bodies recommend practical steps to reduce acrylamide in potato products, such as avoiding over‑browning and not storing raw potatoes in the refrigerator before frying, rather than eliminating these foods entirely.

How do different countries approach potato chip flavors and seasonings?

Potato chip flavors often reflect local cuisines and taste preferences. In the United States, common flavors include sour cream and onion, barbecue, and various cheese or spicy options. In the United Kingdom, salt and vinegar, prawn cocktail, and roast chicken are long‑standing favorites. Markets in East Asia feature flavors such as seaweed, wasabi, and grilled seafood, while some European countries sell paprika or ketchup flavors. Global brands often tailor seasonings to regional palates, which is why the same company can sell very different flavors in different countries.

Are baked or air‑fried potato chips significantly healthier than regular fried chips?

Baked or air‑fried potato chips are usually lower in total fat and calories than traditional deep‑fried versions, because they absorb less oil during cooking. However, they can still be high in sodium and may contain similar levels of starch and, in some cases, acrylamide if cooked at high temperatures until very brown. Nutrition experts typically view them as a somewhat better choice within the same snack category, but still recommend focusing on portion size and overall dietary pattern rather than treating them as a health food.