If you’ve ever crunched into a perfectly salted crisp and wondered where it all began, you’re not alone.
I’ve often found myself, a few beers in, staring at the potato shard in my hand, and thought – Who came up with this genius idea?
It turns out, the story of crisps — or potato chips, as they’re known in the US — is a curious blend of myth, invention, and a bit of culinary serendipity.
The legend of george crum and the birth of the crisp
The most widely shared origin story of crisps takes us to Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1853. A chef named George Crum, working at Moon’s Lake House, allegedly grew frustrated with a fussy customer who kept sending back his fried potatoes for being too thick. In response — some say in irritation — Crum sliced the potatoes as thin as he could, fried them until they were crisp, and added salt.
To everyone’s surprise, the customer loved them. And so the crisp — or potato chip — was born. The snack caught on quickly and became known locally as “Saratoga Chips.”
did george crum really invent crisps?
As charming as the story is, historians have raised a few eyebrows. Some accounts credit Crum’s sister, Kate Wicks, with the original recipe. Others point to earlier mentions of thin fried potatoes in European cookbooks, including recipes from England and France in the early 1800s.
Still, what’s clear is that Crum played a major role in popularising crisps in America — especially as a standalone snack rather than a side dish.
when did crisps come to the uk?
It wasn’t until the early 20th century that crisps became a household snack in the UK. The real turning point came in 1920, when Frank Smith began selling crisps under the name Smith’s Crisps. They were packaged in greaseproof paper bags, with a little twist of salt included separately — a detail that still sparks nostalgia among older generations.
Soon, crisps began to appear in pubs and corner shops across Britain. By the mid-century, flavoured crisps had arrived, and Britain’s love affair with the crisp truly took hold.
Britain perfects the potato crisp
While the US may have created the crisp, Britain refined it. From the invention of cheese and onion flavour in the 1960s to the rise of brands like Walkers, Golden Wonder, and Tyrrells, the UK turned the crisp into a national institution.
Today, you’ll find everything from prawn cocktail to roast chicken, and crisps are as much a part of British culture as tea and biscuits.
a snack with a satisfying backstory
So, who really invented crisps? Officially, George Crum still holds the title — at least in most history books. But the full story is richer and more layered than a grab bag of ridged crisps.
From 19th-century New York to 20th-century London, the humble crisp has made quite the journey. And the best part? No matter where it came from, it still brings that simple joy — one salty, crunchy bite at a time.
References and further reading
- Smithsonian Magazine – “Who Really Invented the Potato Chip?”
A well-researched article exploring the George Crum origin story and the debate surrounding it.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/who-really-invented-potato-chip-180958092/ - BBC Bitesize – “A short history of the crisp”
Covers the rise of crisps in the UK, including Frank Smith’s innovations and the development of flavours.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zf8djhv - The Guardian – “From cheese and onion to crisp butties: the British crisp, a history”
An entertaining deep-dive into Britain’s relationship with crisps, including key moments in their evolution.
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/jun/06/cheese-onion-crisp-butties-british-crisp-history - Coeliac UK – “Food and drink directory”
While not about crisp history, this is a great resource for checking which crisps are gluten free today.
https://www.coeliac.org.uk/information-and-support/living-gluten-free/food-shopping/food-and-drink-directory/ - National Geographic – “Snack foods: the surprising stories behind our favourite nibbles”
Offers a broader context on snack inventions, including crisps and their journey from kitchen mistake to global staple.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/snack-foods-history
