Who invented the beloved potato chip?

By hmemiddlegradesteacher

  • William Kitchiner

    Some food historians think in Kitchiner's cookbook, "The Cook's Oracle," his recipe for "potatoes fried in slices" could be the invention of potato chips.

  • Eliza

    A newspaper article from this year tells the story of a cook named Eliza who "crisped potatoes." Her last name and story are lost to history.

  • George Crum

    It is said that George Crum served very thinly sliced potatoes to Cornelius Vanderbilt. This version of events is well established, but may not be true.

  • Hiram S. Thomas

    Thomas was an important Black hotel owner who died in 1907. He ran Moon's Lake House in the 1890s. He was said to have created the potato chip at this time.

  • Crum's death

  • Catherine Adkins Wicks

    3 years after her brother Crum's death, Catherine was credited with inventing the potato chip, as she worked alongside her brother in the kitchen.

  • Lay's and Frito Company

    These two companies were able to mass produce potato chips (and other snack foods), which was not possible before because earlier potato chips would go bad quickly.