The difference between a standard potato chip and a kettle-cooked chip is obvious. Kettle chips are thicker and crunchier. But beyond that, what is truly different about them? The internet delivers the usual romanticized marketing lore. Indeed, the phrase “kettle cooked” conjures up images of a rustic, giant iron cauldron bubbling over an open wood … Read more
Clearly, there are hundreds of beverage options to choose from that are NOT alcoholic. In other words, they are not “hard.” We have jugs of of pasteurized orange juice, bottle upon bottle of sports drinks, iced teas, and sparkling waters. It therefore seems quite strange that the only drinks given the odd name “soft drinks” … Read more
Salt water taffy is the quintessential American boardwalk candy, yet it contains no ocean water, and not even enough sodium to qualify as a legitimately salty treat like salted caramel. For over a century, tourists strolling past seaside confectioneries have watched mechanical pulling machines stretch long, pastel loops of the candy, drawn in by a … Read more
In the modern baking aisle, alternative starches like almond flour, cassava, and oat flour are ubiquitous, driven by gluten-free diets and health trends. But over a century ago, a corporate push attempted to crown a very different alternative starch as an American household staple. During the early 20th century, particularly around the wheat shortages of … Read more
It’s the weirdest thing. The canned vegetable section of any major grocery store is a veritable who’s who of vegetables. The shelves are stacked high with green beans, sweet peas, sliced carrots, corn, and even asparagus. But if you look closely at that wall of preserved produce, you’ll notice a glaring omission. One of the … Read more
Conventional wisdom states that low-income families buy more fast food because they simply have to. This straightforward assumption is is based on the idea that fast food provides the most calories per dollar, making it an essential survival tool for a tight household budget. This perception is so deeply ingrained in our culture that it … Read more