Why Do Americans Call Their Chips 'Crackling' Instead of 'Crisps'? Unpacking the Linguistic Mystery

Just watched a video on YouTube of New York City scenes from 1911, where crisps were advertised on a wall painting. It prompted me to research this question, because, anecdotally, Americans haven't always referred to these crunchy treats as 'chips' everywhere in the country.

The Birth of Potato Chips

Potato chips were indeed invented in the United States, and that's what we called them. However, let's cut to the chase: no, we didn't. Language is, well, complicated, and it evolves in unpredictable ways. There was no grand American conclave where they gathered around and decided that slightly curved, slightly salty, and beautifully crunchy flat snacks should be called 'chips.'

Origins of the Potato Chip Myth

There's a popular myth that credits a Saratoga chef named George Crumb, frustrated by a customer who complained that his fried potatoes were too soft. In a fit of pique, he sliced the potatoes as thinly as possible and sent them out to the customer. To everyone's surprise, the customer loved the delightful chips. Sadly, this delightful story is actually apocryphal. The true origin of the potato chip remains a mystery.

Marketing and Popularization

We do know, however, that Herman Lay sold potato chips under that name to southern restaurants in the 1920s and founded a snack company based on their popularity. Potato chips were a menu item in Saratoga for years, even without being able to confirm the origin story. But just because you can't confirm a story, doesn't mean it's not enjoyed. Potato chips, or crackling as we say, are still tasty, crunchy treats that should be enjoyed in moderation. Enjoyed without their delicate potato flavor slathered in all kinds of flavor powders. While I'm in the minority, I prefer my potato chips to taste like potatoes, lightly salted.

The Odd Mental Model of the English Language

There's this odd mental model people have regarding the English language: because England is the original homeland, all words and meanings originally came from there. Strangely enough, over time, various 'deviants' in the colonies came up with different words for common objects just to be deviant. Shakespeare's sitting in a limousine (which for the record, didn't exist at the time), nibbling on a Ruffles crisp during intermission at the Globe Theatre, with the Queen swatting the bonnet to give the car an oil change…

But let's be clear: this didn't happen. In reality, the majority of the time, England or the UK uses one set of words for various items, while other parts of the English-speaking world use different words for the same items. Before the internet, there wasn't much live interaction between different parts of the English-speaking world, so you got Americans referring to car 'boots' as 'trunks' and 'bonnets' as 'hoods.'

The Evolution of 'Chips'

The term 'chips' versus 'crisps' has a similar evolution. The legend goes that a restaurant in Saratoga Springs, New York, in the late 19th century, had an unhappy customer who wanted thin-fried potatoes. The chef, in frustration, gave him super-thin, extra-salty, and burnt potatoes, which, shockingly, the customer loved. Thus, 'Saratoga Springs Chips' were invented, leading to the term 'potato chip' in the United States.

As for 'crisps,' its origins remain unclear. While the UK usage seems to have taken hold, the English-speaking world has a plethora of different words for various forms of sliced fried potatoes. This divergence in terminology is a testament to the dynamic nature of language, where different regions and communities develop unique ways of describing common objects.

Language is fascinating, isn't it? So whether you call them chips, crisps, or crackling, it's all about enjoying that perfect crunch and the satisfaction of a well-seasoned snack.