Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with chips

Why does my potato chips not have one less chip in it?

cdenman — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:03:52 -0800

Whenever I eat potato chips, I wonder how the exact number of chips (or actaully, weight) was arrived upon. After all, if they put ONE less chip in my bag of chips, I probably wouldn't notice or care, but it would save them hundreds of thousands of dollars (...probably). So my question is - how do product manufacturers decide on the precise sweet spot that gets them the highest revenue without customers dropping off? Why 35 grams and not 34?

The Quest for the Forbidden Snacks

Flying Saucer — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:25:10 -0800

Help me find Reduced Fat Doritos in NYC From a hotel vending machine in North Carolina, I bought a bag of Sweet and Spicy Reduced Fat Doritos. They were very good, even better than Baked Doritos, with a low of amount of fat -- which I care about far more than calories.

When I got back to NYC, I couldn't find them in stores. I visited the Doritos website and saw that they also made Cool Ranch and Nacho Cheese in the Reduced Fat versions. I couldn't search by specific varieties on their site, so I called Frito-Lay and asked where I could find any RF Doritos in my area.

The rep said that all three RF varieties are made as healthful alternatives for children and are only available in schools.

That's not true, I told her. I bought one from a vending machine.

That must have been a "one-off," she said. Or "that person had an inside connection." Either way, they're aren't for sale in stores.

Well, this is America. More to the point: this is New York City. If the chips can be in a hotel vending machine in North Carolina, they can be here. So I'm asking MeFites for help in finding these chips. I'm looking for legal, legitimate ways to purchase them.

Does anyone know of a "one-off" or "inside connection" where I can buy Reduced Fat Doritos?

we're gonna need more than meat and potatoes

NoraReed — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:40:50 -0800

What is the origin of pairing hamburgers with French fries/chips? I'm finding stories about the origin of burgers and the origin of fries but nothing about why they're usually paired together. Myths/legends about "the first place that served burgers and fries" are okay, since this seems like the kind of thing that will have a few conflicting origin stories.

My Mouth is on FIE-YAH!

DisreputableDog — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:54:13 -0800

Salt 'N Vinegar chips make my lips tingle to an almost unbearable degree. But I don't want to stop eating them. I'm just curious as to whether this happens to anyone else, or why it's happening.

It especially tingles, almost burns, at the corners of my mouth.

I'm eating UTZ brand right now, but it's happened with almost every type of this kind of chip. However, it doesn't happen with salt & vinager fries that I've noticed.

Map of big Silicon Valley companies?

harwons — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 02:21:35 -0800

How can I find a map of large high-tech Silicon Valley companies? I'm looking for a map of large or important high-tech Silicon Valley companies: Apple, Google, Yahoo!, Facebook, Twitter, Tesla Motors, AMD, Intel, HP, 23andme etc.

There's a poster like that here, but its very old (no Facebook on it).

I figure some Google use must've created a "My Map" of these companies, but I'll be damned if I can figure out how to search public Google My Maps (as a test, here's a public My Map of mine with apartment complex in the SF Bay Area; try searching for it).

Other ideas? I'd be happy mashing up some sort of KML with Google Maps, if it comes to that.

Frito-Low

monkeymonkey — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 05:21:57 -0800

I think eating chips makes me feel sad. Is this a thing? I'm a fairly healthy, fairly active female in my late 20s. A few months back I noticed a correlation between times when I've eaten potato or corn chips and times when I've felt bad, sad, or low about the world. I like chips -- I think they're delicious -- but I hate feeling like, for instance, I'm never going to get a job after grad school, or the guy I'm interested in is never going to want me, or that thing that I did last week was truly embarrassing and memorable for all around, or whatever the low-feeling-du-jour seems to be.

Has anyone ever heard of this? Is this a thing? Is there something in chips (of various brands) that I might be reacting to? Do high fat and salt combos tend to cause emotional reactions? Is it MSG? Or is it all just confirmation bias? I certainly possess the ability to feel low on occasions without eating chips -- but should I continue to avoid them?

Cashing in casino chips.

Taurid — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 21:11:41 -0800

Why did the cashier give me these two particular five dollar bills at the casino? I recently visited one of the casinos in Niagara Falls Canada. I went to cash in two five dollar chips at the cashier. I told her I'd like to exchange them for two five dollar bills. The cashier took out a wad of five dollar bills ( maybe twenty five or thirty of them) and proceeded to "fan them out" in her hands. They all looked like they were identical. After thumbing through them she took two from somewhere in the middle and handed them to me. They were back to back in her "fan". It looked as though she was looking for something, but I don't know what. Why did I get the two fives she gave me and not just any two? This same thing happened on two different nights. I can't remember if it was the same cashier.

I bet you can't eat just one.

LyndsayMW — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:04:36 -0800

A few days ago, my husband brought home a bag of Archer Farms (Target brand) kettle-chips. The back of the bag said that they were prepared in "small batches." What is a small batch? It seems like I see this frequently (well, as frequently as someone might who doesn't purchase processed foods very often).

So, what is a small batch? 1 bag at a time? 10 bags? 1000?

Why is this a selling point?

Online Wholesaler Selling Terra Chips

mazniak — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:29:51 -0800

Where can I buy Terra Chips at wholesale prices? I am in love with Terra Chips, but not in love with the idea of having to pay ~= $3.50 a bag for them. Is there a site online that I can wholesale buy them from?

Where are the best places to get steak and chips in London?

MuffinMan — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:13:44 -0800

Where are the best places to get steak and chips in London? Mrs MM wants a steak and chips. I've been to a few places that do half decent steak and chips, including the Gaucho restaurants and Rowley's.

But does anyone else have any other recommendations? Especially tips for a really good, authentic steak frites and places that age their meat properly.

What is this cereal I enjoyed so much as a child in the UK?

bookdragoness — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:22:45 -0800

What was this cereal I enjoyed so much as a child in the UK? I lived in Britain as a small child from about 1989 to 1991 and while living there had a cereal I enjoyed but have completely forgotten the name of. The major thing I remember about it was that it had chocolate chips that I would go 'diving' for with a spoon.

It was probably a cereal with flakes or oats in it. I get reminiscent about it most when I'm eating cereals that are sweet, kind of nutty, possibly with nut clusters in them (maybe it had little balls of nut cluster?).

There may have been an elephant on the box, but that's an extremely vague recollection.

What kind of cereal is this? Is it still made? Is there a way for me to get it in the US?

Thanks - this has been driving me nuts for years!

Defeating Acura TL "torque management"

queue_strategy — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:56:48 -0800

My 6-speed 2006 Acura TL has a factory installed "torque management" feature which limits power in first or second gear to reduce understeer. Any way to defeat this with replacement chips or other aftermarket devices? The low power and tendency to stall is killing me!

How do I make BBQ flavoring for potato chips?

Caviar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:14:50 -0800

How do I make BBQ flavoring for potato chips? I love BBQ flavor potato chips. I've recently acquired a deep fryer, and would like to take a stab at making my own. I realize that every brand will have a slightly different formulation, yet there's something instantly recognizable as "BBQ chip seasoning".

The "Dirty" brand chips are pretty good, though not perfect. They all seem to be some variation on onion powder, paprika, salt, smoke flavoring and the like, but many of them also contain "spices", which is not helpful.

I think I tend to lean towards liking mesquite varieties better than other flavors.

I would like to do this without some of the more common processed ingredients, like maltodextrin.

Anyone have an actual recipe I can start from?

No more anal leakage?

ackptui — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:16:30 -0800

Does anyone know if Frito-Lay is phasing out its Light line of snacks made with Olestra instead of oil? My local store seems not to have had them restocked since before Super Bowl sunday, and F-Ls website no longer has any info on them. If true does this leave Pringles as the only snack product left using Olestra? What is Im'a do?

Po-tay-to, po-tah-to

kidsleepy — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:06:01 -0800

Which is the healthier option: french fries or potato chips? The cafeteria at work offers a choice between generic crinkle-cut french fries and generic ruffled plain potato chips.

Which option is the lesser of two evils?

(There are healthier alternatives, like fruit and salad, but sometimes a girl just needs something salty.)

Healthy chips and dip?

XMLicious — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 03:24:31 -0800

Healthy chips and dip? Lo, long have I quested thro' the dales and deep, like Bilbo for the One Ring, seeking chips that art not crap for my diet. (That would be “crisps” for you heathen Brits. And yes, I know Tolkien was British.)

Recently I happened upon Snyder's of Hanover sunflower and corn chips. They have a very nice texture but the flavor is meh.

In dip news, I like Middle Eastern food in general. I like حُمُّص بالطحين but besides putting it in falafel I've never found much else to use it with, much less dip in it.

But… Whoso putteth these chips in this dip, shall be the King of the Britons! There's a snacktacular gestalt between these two things, creating a Nietzschean Über-Snack, that I find delicious. And looking at the nutrition facts the combination doesn't look too bad health-wise: no trans fat, not too much fat overall, average carbs and below average sodium for a snack food. Definitely better than potato chips and onion dip, in any case.

So I ask you, me droogy droogs, what sort of healthy chips / crisps do you know of that I could put in my hummus, or healthy dip that I could dip my Hanoverian sunflower chips in, or other healthy combination of chips and dip?

Where can I find Baked Doritos Cooler Ranch Tortilla Chips

elationfoundation — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 05:51:56 -0800

I have a friend who has been talking about how Doritos should make Baked Doritos Cooler Ranch Tortilla Chips forever. I found that they exist but I cannot find them online anywhere, Help me! I have searched most of the retro food places but it is not retro, just discontinued i think. I just want to find one bag so that I can give it to my friend as a present.

i DO have a chip on my shoulder but I'd prefer it were in my mouth.

ericthegardener — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:04:01 -0800

How can I make chip shop chips at home? I live in Texas but have made many trips to the U.K. over the years and I always come home missing authentic chippie-style chips. There's no shortage of places around here that sell fish & chips (and I could give a damn about the fish) but none of them serve anything that tastes like the chips I get in the U.K.

If I want them in the U.S. I'm gonna have to make them myself but I have no idea what the secret is. Is it the oil? (I'd prefer not to use lard and I know I've had chips that were more than suitable fried in vegetable oil or peanut oil.) Is it the potato? Do you boil them first? Is it the oil temperature? And what of the salt and vinegar?

Help a brother out.

How do I use a condensing deep fat fryer?

ajbattrick — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 06:09:48 -0800

How do I use a condensing deep fat fryer? I've gained a deep fat fryer through my local Freecycle, a Moulinex Supremia C.AMOV AAS6P1 and I can't find a manual online, or get one from the manufacturer.

I want to make some chips with it, but having never had one or used one before, don't know where to start.

I know that is a condensing model, with freezable ice packs that help reduce the steam, but that is all the previous owner told me.

I want paprika potato chips!

edjusted — Thu, 17 May 2007 11:03:42 -0800

Paprika chips: are these available in the U.S.? I was in Europe last year and it seemed like every country had paprika potato chips from different brands (even Pringles). I can't seem to find any store/brand in the U.S. that has these. They're so good! Yeah there...I just used my ask mefi question on potato chips.

Potato Chip Bags - Ziploc?

tdabbott — Tue, 08 May 2007 16:42:02 -0800

[ObviousFilter?] Why haven't potato chip bags adopted Ziploc-type seals? Chip-clips are just "ok," and yet I see every other fresh product adopting the Ziploc-type seals. Is this a conspiracy to make my chips go stale (aka inedible) sooner?

Curry and Chips! Curry and Chips! I need to find Curry and Chips!

kendrak — Thu, 03 May 2007 18:42:37 -0800

Where can I find curry and chips (fries) in the (SF) East Bay? I've been home sick and dreaming about greasy food. I know I won't go for the Buffalo wings because they're not vegan, but I can't stop thinking about a Veg Dupiaza and chips I had when I was in England this past winter. I know curry and chips aren't exactly common in America, but I figured the Bay Area would be a good place to try.

So are there any places I can get curry and chips in the Bay Area? I live in Berkeley, so the East Bay would be best, but I'll drive as far as San Jose if need be.

Currying Favor

briank — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 12:43:57 -0800

I'm hankering for some curry fries after having had some on my trip to Ireland recently...do any of you UK/Ireland types have a recipe you like for a curry sauce suitable to serve with french fries (you know, chips)? I can find plenty of curry sauce recipes easily enough online, but I'm interested in some personal favorites.

Paint-chipped-table?

disillusioned — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 01:56:50 -0800

Cool Table Filter: Table at the outside bar (near waterfall) at the Wynn. Resin + paint chips = awesome? Sipping on a $12 Mojito outside of the Wynn bar on their balcony that overlooks the waterfall, I noticed the tables we were at were very, very cool. They looked to be composed of either small pieces of paper, or paint chips, stuck in a resin and turned into table form.

I don't think this was a print, simply because you could look dead on from the side and see depth with the actual pieces. (The tables simply were too chaotic and random to easily compare them side by side and determine that too, so I'm further espousing the belief that they aren't a simple print.)

All in all a very cool table, but I can't even begin to think of where to start finding somewhere with these. Any chance they're NOT custom? Perhaps exceedingly common and available at my local Ikea? Could I be so lucky?

For your perusal, Top view, Angle view, and a Flat view

(The top view makes for a cool wallpaper. Email me if you want the full-sized, 2048 x 1536 image for your desktop or anything, email in profile.)

I need some Santa Claus-faced chocolate chips

freddymungo — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:01:25 -0800

Where can I get some of those special red-and-white Christmas chocolate chips that look like Santa Claus faces? I can't seem to navigate the world of Christmas chocolate chips anywhere on the internet, and obviously since it's past Christmas, I can't find them at grocery stores. Anybody know where I could get some? I can't even find a picture of them, so "red and white Santa Claus faces" is the best I can do to describe them.