The humble potato is a staple vegetable, known not just for its versatility and flavor but also how easily it can sprout if left out too long.
Most people have witnessed this firsthand by leaving a raw potato on the kitchen counter a little too long. But according to one woman, that might not be limited to uncooked potatoes.
In a Facebook Reel with over 3 million views, user Jamie Belgum shows what appears to be sprouts growing on something far less expected: a fried potato chip.
Did This Potato Chip Start Sprouting?
“Okay, this just got weirder,” Belgum says, holding up half of a potato chip with what look like roots attached.
“This isn’t just a mysteriously sprouted potato chip that made it up the conveyor belt past inspection, past quality control, and got fried along with its potato,” she says.
According to Belgum, the explanation might be something else.
“As it turns out, on closer inspection, these are live, pliable, juicy fresh roots,” she says. “This potato chip sprouted in the bag after being fried.”
She says the event coinciding with a religious holiday is no coincidence. “It’s an Easter miracle,” she concludes.
In the caption, she notes the video was originally filmed three years ago on Easter.
“HAPPY 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY to the time I found a potato chip growing in the bag, everybody!” she added. “And unlike other so-called ‘miracles,’ u dont even need faith because I took a video!”
Easter Jokes Ensued
In the comments section, viewers found the image entertaining.
“HE IS RISEN,” one person wrote.
“JESUS CRISP!” another said.
“You can grow a sour cream and onion potato without all the extra steps,” a third joked.
Others, however, offered a more grounded explanation.
In a reaction video, food creator Dr. Vegan said the most likely scenario is that the potato was fried with the root still attached.
Has This Happened Before?
Yes. Others have shared similar finds online.
Two separate users posted on r/mildlyinteresting, with one saying their potato chip was sprouting and another showing a chip with what looked like a root still attached. A Facebook user also shared a similar image.
While it might look like sprouting, the more likely explanation is that these are leftover roots. Cooked potatoes don’t sprout, since the heat kills the living tissue needed for germination.
According to a document by the North American Plant Protection Organization, “Cooking may be the only method to completely render potato tubers 100% non-viable, as all sprout inhibitors may occasionally fail under extreme circumstances.”
BroBible has reached out to Belgum via Instagram messages for comment and additional details.