Food Factory USA Season 2 Episode 8 Fishing For Spuds

The episode "Fishing For Spuds" in season 2 of Food Factory USA takes viewers on a journey to explore the intricate process of turning potatoes into savory chips. The episode starts in Maine, where fishing boats head out into the cold Atlantic to catch thousands of pounds of supply of haddock fish. These fish are then shipped to a potato chip factory in Middlesboro, Kentucky where they are transformed into a unique flavor of chips.

The journey starts with the arrival of haddock fish caught in the North Atlantic. The fish are transported in specialized trucks to the chip factory. Once the fish arrives at the factory, they undergo several prepping stages. The fish fillets are deboned and tumbled in a special marinade to give them the right flavor profile. After the marinade process, the fish fillets take a brief dip in a batter mixture made from flour, corn starch, and tempura. This helps to create the crispy outer layer of the fish when they are later deep-fried.

Meanwhile, in another part of the factory, hundreds of thousands of pounds of potatoes are being shipped in from local farms. These potatoes must first be sorted to remove any imperfections and washed to ensure they are clean. Once the potatoes are ready, giant machines slice them into thin, uniform pieces to become the base for the chips. The potato slices are then washed, dried and fried in a mixture of vegetable oil and canola oil until they are golden brown and crispy.

Next up are the fish fillets. These are deep-fried in a mixture of rice bran oil and canola oil until they are perfectly cooked. Once done, the fish portions are lowered onto the chips and sprinkled with the unique flavoring made from cayenne pepper, dill, and garlic powder. The chips and fish are then packed in thick aluminum bags designed to preserve their crispness and ensure that they do not go stale before making it to consumers' shelves.

The chips and fish combination are popular delicacies, and their production requires a lot of attention to detail. The episode showcases the machines and people that keep the production cycle flowing by maintaining machines and ensuring the quality of the final product. The packaging process must also follow strict regulations to avoid contamination while ensuring the freshness of the chips.

Overall, "Fishing For Spuds" episode in season 2 of Food Factory USA is a masterclass in how to produce one of America's favorite snacks - potato chips. The episode takes viewers on a fascinating journey showcasing how two very different ingredients are married to create a unique taste experience. Along the way, viewers gain a newfound appreciation for the amount of work and attention to detail that goes into producing such a snack.