A potato chip is a thin slice of potato that's been fried or baked until it becomes crispy and crunchy. To make potato chips, potatoes are sliced so thin you can almost see through them, then cooked in hot oil until they turn golden brown and snap when you bite them. Most are sprinkled with salt, though they come in dozens of flavors, from barbecue to sour cream and onion.

Today, potato chips are one of America's favorite snacks. They're sold in bags at grocery stores and served at parties, picnics, and lunches. The British call them “crisps” and use “chips” to mean what Americans call French fries, which can confuse travelers!