Friday, June 26, 2009

Field Trip - Potato Chip Factory

You don't always need to travel long distances to find interesting places to visit. Look around your community and you'll be surprised what you might find.

Today we're going to visit a potato chip factory. It's only about 10 miles from here.

We're here. It's just around the corner.



What's that? You say it looks like a grocery store?

That's because it is a grocery store. The potato chip factory is located just in front of the deli at the local Italian market. It's on the right, just beyond the display of pretzels.



It's a self-contained potato chip making machine called a Jiminy Snack King and it's nothing short of amazing. Right now they're making sweet potato chips. See the sweet potatoes in the box?



They're loaded into that long metal tube and are fed directly into the machine where they're sliced and launched into the hot oil.



There's a paddlewheel contraption that seems to dunk the slices into the oil, or it's used to create the motion to keep them moving through the machine.



It's encased in glass so that you can see the slices approaching from the right, moving around the corner and finally up the ramp.



This thing is kept busy because these chips are selling like crazy. They're a little over $5.00 a bag, which seems a little bit pricey, until you taste them. OMIGOSH. They are tissue paper thin, crisp and fresh. You'll never want a Ruffle again.



The land up in this large bowl. At this point they're sprinkled with sea salt or one of several flavorings



I bought two bags. I shared the plain with sea salt with the family and squirreled the other one away to share with you.

I hid it on the top shelf in the pantry.



Can you read the label?



YES!!! Chocolate marshmallow potato chips!! Have one. They're great.



Just like a crispy little cookie. Simply wonderful.

Check out the Jiminy Website. Look at the machine. Don't you think it would fit in my garage? Heck, we can't get any cars in there anyway. I might as well have a potato chip machine in there.

I could make fresh chips when you come to visit.

Well, that and pie.

NOTE: I would do a grand giveaway featuring a bag of Jiminy Chocolate Marshmallow chips but I've got enough to deal with in my life right now. I don't need to get arrested for trafficking chocolate potato chips across state lines!

Local readers - Jiminy Chips is located inside the Caputo's Italian Market in South Elgin, Illinois.


22 comments:

Anonymous said...

*knock knock knock* ANSWER YOUR DOOR!!! It's me, Di and I want some chips... let's do lunch, okay... Um, how about some chips please?

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

Trish said...

Very cool indeed.

Kitty said...

Mmmmm. There's not any machine like that in these parts! Not one that I know of, anyway. Move over, Di--I want some, too!

chocolatechic said...

Chocolate marshmallow potato chips.

Oh.

My.

Goodness.

Vee said...

Yeah, that could be a twenty-year sentence...without any chips...that wouldn't be good.

Loved this tour and was surprised by it.

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

Oh my, how tempting. As Garrison Keillor says are there "dark brown stains on the bag to indicate freshness?" I think I need this machine at my house.

marbea said...

I'm addicted just reading about them. I love sweet potatoes, mmmmmm

Anonymous said...

My weakness is potato chips! I love them!! This looks like a very interesting little machine...I wish I had one. It would be better than a bread machine.

Steph said...

Oh My. I toured a potato chip factory once. It was the Golden Flake factory in Birmingham. I was in the 3rd grade, and I remember them passing around a cheese puff with no cheese on it to show us what they looked like, and some kid ate it. That's the only thing I remember about 3rd grade, lol.

Sarah - Kala said...

Oh, yum!

bv said...

ok..nothing to do with potato chips-well I am eating a bowl of them right now. I got my apron order today and WOW. Each one is beautiful, so cute, so going to be hard to part with! Your work is perfect, no, i really mean perfect. you will NEVER see anything that i have sewn. thank you so much for such a perfect-there's that word again-gift to give!!
bv

Liz in PA said...

You Just have to share!
You HAVE TO! OK.....cause we are
BEST FRIENDS!

I will accept any flavor you'd like to send me....I'll even "Chip" IN and pay for a Bag and the H&S....as they say!

OMG.......actual Chocolate Marshmallow ones??? Be still my soul!


You have to share.....cause I am craving them Big Time!

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

I loved the field trip! Want one here...C

Louise said...

YUM!!!! I want one! (A machine.)

Dodie said...

I use to make chocolate potato chips by dipping Pringles in melted chocolate chips.
I wish we had that chip machine in Kansas. Send it down.

Karen Deborah said...

I am now ravenous...

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

Yes, I DO want to come try those! Sound delicious!

Where in the world is Jefferson City, Missouri said...

I am a confess potato-aholic....I was hooked on Gramma Utz pototoe chip that were fried in LARD....They were to die for. I would put them in the freezer to keep them fresh. I had bags in the car, where I worked , at home and in the bathroom....I was so hooked on them, while we lived in the Baltimore area....then we moved to the mid west and I couldn't get my fat hands on them....I had withdrawls.....Then I found you could order them over the web Utz.com....but I've been good and only get them when I visit the east coast.... And now you show me a machine that makes them at the grocery store.....OJOY.... So I wrote my store in this area.....HY-Vee and they wrote me back and they were going to look into the machine...and we might get them in Ole Jeff City, MO....I am keeping my fingers crossed.....But I wonder if they will use LARD to fry them in....I know it isn't healthy but what is any more....

Thanks you so much for sharing the story and causing me to have that yearning again.....

I have to tell ya I made one of the aprons, not as good as yours, out of a stripped shirt.....I used the button front going down the front and used the front pocket on the front. A rough draft but I like it.....

Love you blog.....Lyda

wsite said...

blah....blahh....blah.....just visit the site : http://www.potatochipsmakingmachine.com/.... here u can find numerous potato chips making machines and other related machines....so, guys just purchase the machine and becum the manufacturer and exporter of marvellous chips u can make with your expertise...

Crossed said...

Caputos is great. I visit the one in Naperville when visiting the Chicago suburbs. People are astonished when I try to explain the store back at home. the deli is the biggest ever. Will look for the chip machine in that store the next time I get there.
Until then there are severeal local stands in Indianapolis that make homemade chips by hand. Its like the difference between farm eggs and store eggs, just no comparison and hard to go back once you start.

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