Thin and crispy chips are a favorite treat for children and adults. Without them, it is impossible to imagine a youth party, watching football or an exciting series. Today we’ll try to figure out who invented the chips and what is the technology for their preparation.
What are chips?
Have you ever thought about how the word "chips" is interpreted? The dictionary characterizes them as an appetizer of thin slices of potatoes fried in sunflower oil.
According to the Great Encyclopedia of Culinary Arts, chips are potatoes in the form of thin slices that are cooked or dried in hot air. The second characteristic is potato waffles made from dried mashed potatoes.
Chips are also called one of the main ingredients of the crown English dish - fish and french fries. The composition also includes fish, which must be deep-fried. The delicacy was very fond of tourists and guests of Misty Albion.
The emergence of crisp
Who invented the chips adored by more than one generation of people? The treat appeared in the 19th century in the United States of America. Cram George, the inventor of chips, first introduced them to the world. A delicacy arose by chance.
Cook Krum George took revenge on his scrupulous visitor, who claimed that the potato he had ordered was sliced thickly. The cook decided to cut the product into slices as thick as a paper sheet and fry them in oil. After serving the food, the fastidious client, having tried one thing, came in indescribable delight. Since then, chips have gained worldwide love and popularity.
Thanks to this story, we now know which chef invented the chips in 1853.
Cooking chips from bygone days to the present
The recipe for potato slices is constantly changing. In the 19th century, only potatoes fried in oil and sprinkled with salt were used to make chips. As progress progressed, various spices were added to the slices. For example, curry and a mixture of dried aromatic herbs were the famous seasonings for chips. Later, stabilizers and flavorings began to appear in the formulation. These components are extremely harmful to human health.
The history of making chips is very interesting. In gratitude to the one who invented the chips, one of the famous restaurateurs decided to introduce potato plates to the menu of their expensive establishments. At the beginning of 1900, the chips migrated from there to street vendors who made vivid commercials, inviting people.
The owner of one of the points of sale came up with the idea of packing finished products in paper bags. The residents of Cleveland really liked this idea, and the chips began to fly apart right before our eyes. Thus, a merchant named Teppendem got rich, and dainty became one of the favorite among people of all ages.
Potato slices cannot be stored in paper packaging for a long time, so in 1926 Laura Scudder invented a glossy look for packaging. It was very convenient for transporting and selling chips in stores. Soon a new problem appeared - demand exceeded supply. It was for these purposes that Freeman Macbeth invented a special machine that was capable of producing large quantities of chips. From that moment, the era of widespread production of crisp products began to satisfy consumers.
Where did the chips come up with? In the United States, that is why the International Institute of Potato Chips opened there.
Manufacturing technology
Chips are made from fresh potatoes, which are chopped in the form of slices, straws or plates. The product manufacturing process can be divided into the following stages:
- washing and packaging potatoes;
- peeling;
- cutting finished tubers;
- starch washing;
- blanching (carried out to facilitate the process of subsequent manufacturing);
- drying;
- frying in special deep fryers;
- adding salt and spices.
I wonder if the one who invented the chips could have suggested that after a century their production would reach such a high level, and the demand for products would be enormous?
How the most popular types are made
To prepare 1 kilogram of chips, you need about 5 kg of potatoes. There are two varieties of this treat:
- Classical To begin with, potatoes are cut into slices, washed under running water and deep-fried. After 2 minutes, spices, salt, as well as flavorings are added to the product.
- Snacks. They are made from dry puree, which is formed in the form of bars and sprinkled with herbs and spices. Then they are fried, like classic chips.
Chips Ingredients
A popular treat is made from different bases, so chips are:
- potato (characterized by naturalness, a characteristic rounded or oblong shape, weightlessness and crispness);
- fruit (made from pieces of dried bananas, apples or pears);
- corn and cereal.
Taking into account the taste preferences, distinguish between sweet and unsweetened slices.
I must say that fruit and cereal chips appeared on sale relatively recently and so far have not enjoyed such a frenzied popularity as potato species.
Cooking Chips at Home
Surely many would like to treat themselves to a delicious delicacy of their own production without flavors and other flavors. So, how to cook potato chips at home? To do this, you will need:
- 3 potato tubers;
- 100 g unsweetened oatmeal;
- 4-5 Art. l flour;
- 1 large egg;
- 2 g of yeast;
- spices, salt, pepper.
First you need to boil the potatoes in salted water and drain it. Crush the tubers until mashed, add a small piece of oil and a pinch of mushroom seasoning. Dilute the yeast in warm water and leave to swell for 5 minutes. Grind oatmeal flakes to flour using a blender. When the mashed potatoes have cooled, add oatmeal, egg, swollen yeast and wheat flour. Knead the dough and keep warm for half an hour.
Then spread the parchment on the table and cover it with oil. Put a small piece of dough on paper and knead it with a rolling pin. After that, cut circles into circles - future chips. Heat the pan and butter over high heat. Put the resulting workpieces into deep fat and fry until crisp. You need to fry them for 10 seconds, but no more! After cooking, sprinkle the product with paprika.
And so it turns out delicious chips at home from potatoes.