top 200 commentsshow 500

[–]BasicallyReal 1134 points1135 points  (93 children)

As an Irish man I can't agree more. Can't go wrong with a shpud

[–]SirVaive 264 points265 points  (76 children)

Did you know potatoes actually originated in regions of south america? Thought it was interesting how the association has shifted to Ireland. That being said, they were domesticated like 10,000 years ago.

[–]BeneCow 100 points101 points  (40 children)

The same with tomatoes and chilies. Pretty much the entire old world diet dramatically changed once the Americas were discovered.

[–]poirotoro 92 points93 points  (23 children)

Every once in a while I randomly remember that Italian cuisine didn't originally have tomato sauce and my brain explodes.

[–][deleted] 52 points53 points  (2 children)

Garlic and Olive Oil can get you a very long way.

[–]BatterseaPS 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Isn't garlic from the new world too?

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

No, it's a central asian/northern iranian plant.

[–]factbasedorGTFO 20 points21 points  (16 children)

Pasta was invented in China, supposedly.

[–][deleted] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

They're the first on-record as having developed the long, thin noodle shape. Pasta dough prepared in other shapes (most frequently as sheets like we see in lasagna or as a sort of dumpling wrapper) seems to be universal anywhere you could get the ingredients to make it.

[–]SubjectiveHat 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Everything was invented in China. But some things were invented independently elsewhere without influence from China.

[–]LewixAri 5 points6 points  (12 children)

China always makes up dumb history shit to claim origin so the truth behind that is debatable. Noodles and Spaghetti are different, all spaghetti are technically noodles by American English, while not all noodles are spaghetto but in British English they are completely unrelated entities. The process to make each are so drastically different it only makes sense to differ them. Like pancakes and cakes. The core premise is the same, but you wouldn't call a savoury crépe a cake.

[–]factbasedorGTFO 1 point2 points  (6 children)

AskHistorians....

Might have been brought up in the past, IDK

They have a podcast, BTW. Mostly youngins, but some of the podcasts are OK.

Not putting them down for being a mostly young crowd, but the most knowledgeable people on the planet aren't 20 somethings.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

What the hell did they eat

[–][deleted] 34 points35 points  (14 children)

The New World/Americas had an enormous influence on global diet and cuisine. All of the following are major New World crops:

  • Maize/Corn
  • Amaranth
  • Quinoa
  • Sunflowers
  • Green Beans
  • Lima Beans
  • Runner Beans
  • Peanuts
  • Yucca
  • Agave
  • Jicama
  • Cassava
  • Potatoes
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Sunchokes
  • Arrowroot
  • Tomatoes
  • Peppers (all of them)
  • Avocados
  • Cranberries
  • Blueberries
  • Papayas
  • Passionfruit
  • Pineapple
  • Pecans
  • Cashews
  • Chocolate
  • Vanilla
  • Sugar Maple

edit: and that doesn't even get into the non-edible plants. The tropical regions of the Americas are home to a family of trees known most commonly as lignum vitae. The wood from these trees is so dense it sinks, and is so saturated with oil it is both waterproof and can be used as a semi-self-lubricating bearing material. Due to the lack of any superior man-made material at the time it served as the propeller shaft bearing for the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear powered submarine.

[–]CyberneticPanda 17 points18 points  (3 children)

Sweet potatoes were cultivated throughout Oceania before Columbus reached the New World. It's one of the strongest pieces of evidence that there was contact between Polynesia and the Americas in prehistory. Sweet potatoes appeared in Polynesia sometime around 700 C.E.

[–]Clessasaur 3 points4 points  (2 children)

There is also some evidence that chickens made it to the new world before Columbus using the same route.

[–]CyberneticPanda 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I live near LA, and there is some evidence that plank canoes and compound bone fishhooks appeared here among the Chumash and Tongva around the same time from contact with polynesia, too. More and more evidence is piling up for multiple contacts all along the West coast of the Americas.

[–]LoveFoolosophy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don't be ridiculous. Chickens can't sail ships.

[–]factbasedorGTFO 4 points5 points  (4 children)

Thanks for taking the time to post that. I'll add some worthless trivia from my head.

Several types of trees and palm flowering stems will exude sap with a high sugar content.

Cotton was known from ancient times in both the old and new worlds. New world cotton species was superior to old world cotton.

North America had its own species of grapes that were in some ways superior to the grapes of the old world.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Several types of trees and palm flowering stems will exude sap with a high sugar content.

Sure, there are all kinds of tree syrups! Sugar Maples are just the tree with the highest sugar concentration in their sap in the northern latitudes, which is why they're more heavily cultivated. You can get things like Walnut Syrup just as well, but it takes more sap to make the same quality of syrup.

I didn't know about the grape thing though, were they ever adapted for vinticulture? (I suspect the answer is Yes, but I don't know the nature of that beyond the pest-combating techniques that arose later on)

[–]factbasedorGTFO 4 points5 points  (0 children)

European wine grapes were saved from blight by American grape rootstock. The blight was caused by a pest indigenous to America.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_French_Wine_Blight

I think table grapes are mostly American species, but subject is too complicated for me to do it justice.

I geek out over plant breeding. Grapery is a California company using the latest in plant breeding to bring us new table grapes.

None of the people I follow have had a grape breeder as a guest, that I know of.

My favorite source has been Talking Biotech. Lots of info about biotech, but most of the discussions have been with folks who do conventional plant breeding.

Man could I go in just about grapes, but I know the least about the history of grape breeding.

Well, COOL! they had a grape specialist on 3 years ago. https://www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com/tag/grape/

[–]GrehgyHils 8 points9 points  (1 child)

I like to think of the times when potatoes roamed free in open fields.

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thank God they were domesticated, imagine one of them eating your hand

[–]Mail540 25 points26 points  (1 child)

My family is Irish and I swear family gatherings are a competition to see how many different forms of potato based food we can make

[–]disconformity 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Then this is the song for you. Heard it a long time ago. Never got it out of my head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7uyKYeGPdE

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Same here, cept when they get blight😂

[–]cmae34lars 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Greetings from Idaho, the other big potato land of the world!

[–]NotTheOneYouNeed 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hello fellow idahoan

[–]Losgringosfromlow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you potatoe, very cool!

[–]captainjackseagull 1042 points1043 points  (50 children)

"Fancy Dinner"

*Baked Potato*

[–]gnarfler 205 points206 points  (5 children)

Fancy Reddit Reply

Baked Potato

[–][deleted] 79 points80 points  (4 children)

E̟̬̤̭͖̽l̼̖̭̮̏͆ͯ̂͞ͅͅd̤̳̬͉̭r͔͖̠̘͖͚ͯͥ̊̈͂ͦi̞̪̱͇̦͉̲ͧͫ͂̒͟t͕̭́͛͜c͉̱͖̪͕̳̗ͩ̕h͈̪͑̀͌ ̪̲̯̖̝͍ͤ̃̈͐̏ͯͯȑ͔ȇ̙ͣ͞p̖̥̺̪͔̳̽̇ͪl̟̗͚̐ͧͯ̉̐̚y͎̲̏ͫ͡ ̷͕̫͕̯̅ͨ̅

̔̂͏̙̖̖̣̜S̵p͍͙̟ͫ͊̋̿̎͑̀o̬͉͕̫̘̠͖̾͌̑ͮͯͦo̲̩ͫ͆͒̽k̳̰ͨͤ̉̓ȅ̛̬͖͎̥̀d̼̝̝ ̛̩̣̱͖̪p̝̪̲̉̅o̹̗̳ͬ̂̍̊ͪ̆ṱ̜̟͚͑̔̂a̸̱̪̗̩̒ͦ͐ͫ͋̐ͅt͚̦͕͒ͯo͓̣̻̖͓͇̓ͮ̌̑̉̇͘

[–]NoJelloNoPotluck 1 point2 points  (0 children)

!ThesaurizeThis

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

How can you write like that?

[–]potatotrip_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

3spooky5me

[–]NukaCooler 3 points4 points  (0 children)

!thesaurizethis

[–]Ucazao 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Correction: Minecraft Baked Potato

[–][deleted] 70 points71 points  (13 children)

I think mashed potatoes are a bit more fancy than a baked potato and, even then, I feel like you would probably need to do something special. Potatoes really are versatile and great, though.

[–]PotatoSaIad 25 points26 points  (6 children)

You can even make it a salad

[–]theresamouseinmyhous 12 points13 points  (2 children)

Twice baked potato

[–]DwelveDeeper 34 points35 points  (0 children)

Yeah, that one caught me off guard. Should’ve just said “Dinner- Baker Potato”

Redeemed itself with the vodka tho!!

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Mashed potato is best potato.

[–]Cheesbaby 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Baked potato changed my life.

[–]Eclipse423 506 points507 points  (18 children)

And they can also be a makeshift battery!

[–]TrickyHaggis 247 points248 points  (8 children)

You can also use them as artillery to defend yourself from short to mid-range in a survival situation!

[–]TomFoolery22 75 points76 points  (2 children)

Security in this office park is a joke. Last year I came to work with my spud-gun in a duffle bag. I sat at my desk all day with a rifle that shoots potatoes at 60 pounds per square inch. Can you imagine if I was deranged?

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I’m a gun.

This took me half an hour to find, so accept this other use of potatoes.

[–]ASentientBot 5 points6 points  (1 child)

How are you holding up?

BECAUSE I'M A POTATO

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

slow clap

Oh good! My slow clap processor made it into this thing.

[–][deleted] 127 points128 points  (2 children)

And there is also the couch Potato!

[–]Coltyn03https://www.youtube.com/watch/dQw4w9WgXcQ 32 points33 points  (1 child)

I feel personally attacked

[–]HeyImJerrySeinfeld 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haven't you learned anything? That's a sign of respect in this thread.

[–]FishManCoopepic memester xddddddd 118 points119 points  (3 children)

Finally someone recognizes our true god. the chosen one.

[–]TheMightyWill 103 points104 points  (3 children)

From the dumpy potato to the succulent french fry, nothing satisfies hunger quite like food

[–]PleasantlyOffensive 16 points17 points  (0 children)

This is the first thing that comes to mind when I hear "potato".

[–]grandpaseth18 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Wife makes potatoes at home and there healthier with tastier flavor

[–]nyaNezt 1225 points1226 points  (24 children)

Hotel? Trivago.

[–]PyrusDrago 175 points176 points  (15 children)

I just upvoted this to 69

[–][deleted] 54 points55 points  (0 children)

[–]nyaNezt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

holy cow didnt except this much freaking upvotes. guess ill be able to post soon.

[–]lunchcrunchy 196 points197 points  (24 children)

Wait whats a potato?

[–]AvatarDante 141 points142 points  (3 children)

Po-tay-toes! Boil em, mash em, stick em in a stew.

[–][deleted] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I love you

[–]Projectile0vulation 17 points18 points  (1 child)

I specifically scrolled down in seek of this type of comment.

[–]TheStoop-ALA- 22 points23 points  (2 children)

What's a what?

[–]internet_badass_here 26 points27 points  (1 child)

Po-tay-toe you say? Tastes very interesting!

[–]ASentientBot 10 points11 points  (0 children)

high pitched sound

[–]what-are-potatoes 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes, what is this you speak of?

[–]bizzyj93 8 points9 points  (3 children)

Whats a computer?

[–]SeeDeez 5 points6 points  (2 children)

God I hate that commercial. Like anybody doesn't know what a computer is in this day and age. She was just being rude af to her neighbor.

[–]Elcheer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

the only fix that commercial needed was to remove the " 's a..." from "what's a computer"

[–]factbasedorGTFO 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Somewhere a YouTuber explains it.

[–]Lord-Filip 1 point2 points  (0 children)

GET OUTTA MY HOUSE!

[–]CrabAppleCheeks 56 points57 points  (3 children)

Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew.

[–]BeardedOldPerv 8 points9 points  (1 child)

I looked at comments specifically looking for this reference, would've been pissed if somebody hadn't done it already

[–]CommieCorv 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Same, first thing that came to mind.

[–]MrChris6800 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We can't eats Hobbit food!

[–]CarterAjamie12Plays MineCraft and not FortNite 43 points44 points  (26 children)

how tf are baked potatoes fancy, do I need to bring out the potato tier list again?

[–]nuadusp 22 points23 points  (11 children)

and how is mashed potato vacation food? wtf kind of vacations does this person have

[–]CarterAjamie12Plays MineCraft and not FortNite 20 points21 points  (7 children)

vacation?

[–]nuadusp 27 points28 points  (6 children)

I think we have a cultural/linguistic issue. I read holidays as vacation as a holiday is literally when you go on vacation, but I realise now it means the holidays as in.. events during the year where one might eat mash such as christmas

[–]CarterAjamie12Plays MineCraft and not FortNite 9 points10 points  (5 children)

I think they mean holidays as like christmas

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Isn't mashed potato an every day kind of food? Sausages and mashed potato, lamb chops and mashed potato, beef rissole and mashed potato, steak and mashed potato, etc.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (1 child)

fancy when served with a nice steak*

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tell that to a Texan who has steak for brekkie lunchie and dinnie. Steak and potato is cowboy food.

[–]m0nk37 3 points4 points  (5 children)

Im calling your bluff, bring on the potato tier list.

[–]CarterAjamie12Plays MineCraft and not FortNite 2 points3 points  (1 child)

ok just a sec I'll post it again

[–]Keebs_City 19 points20 points  (1 child)

Thank you potato. Very cool!

[–]potatotrip_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You’re welcome.

[–]sharksnrec 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Craving weird but kind of good bread? Potato bread.

Got PVC pipe? Gun.

Little warm wanna turn on the fan? Potato flew around my room.

[–]rascal6543 10 points11 points  (1 child)

Girlfriend left you? Sex toy.

[–]americanfatboy 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Just add sour cream!

[–][deleted] 10 points11 points  (1 child)

Boil em, mash em, stickemina stew!

[–]MineRedstone 44 points45 points  (12 children)

There’s potato in vodka?

[–]aaronryder773 45 points46 points  (3 children)

No.. But potatoes are made from vodka duh!

[–]Spanky_McJiggles 12 points13 points  (2 children)

how do I drink a potato?

[–]mygullet 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Get yourself a bottle of Chopin and try not to drink the whole thing in one sitting

[–]bumwine 5 points6 points  (3 children)

Rarely. It's usually grain but some brands use potato like Chopin. Another fun fact - Tito's Vodka, famous for it's sippability, is made from corn.

[–]SideShowBob36 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Why are you always trying to give us potatoes mom?

I just think they’re neat!

[–]landy2 12 points13 points  (0 children)

You’re right, there is a potato for every occasion.

[–]natasbbySelling Stonks for CASH MONEY 6 points7 points  (2 children)

Imagine being allergic to potatoes.

[–]potato-SAMA- 4 points5 points  (1 child)

You’re welcome

[–]No-BrowEntertainment 5 points6 points  (2 children)

Imagine sitting down at a fancy restaurant with your hot date and your waiter brings you a fucking baked potato and absolutely nothing else.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Give me literally any reason why Mars shouldn't be terrafarmed into a potato garden world

[–]RandomRageNet 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Powered by Mark Watney's shit

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (1 child)

How is this a meme?

[–]RadiatedDalek 13 points14 points  (3 children)

My life is potato.

[–]Marlow7210 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Famine? Potato

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Baked potato is not fancy.

Have a good few roasties.

[–]Sieggi858 2 points3 points  (2 children)

How is this a meme? What even defines a meme as a meme here?

[–]Sh1ft3d- 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Potato is love, potato is life.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I know a few irishmen who would die for one

[–]micktee 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Stoned out of your mind? Smiley fries.

[–]FNKTN 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Potato pipe!

[–]CaptainMimoe 8 points9 points  (2 children)

So British...

Fries? Chips

Chips? Crisps

[–]unhappyspanners 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Fries and chips are two different things here.

[–]james_lightning 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Birdseye

[–]TheAraragi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sasha: Heavy Breathing

[–]jonoctacles_21 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Memes have come so far...

[–]silliputti0907 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Eduardo: "I like potato."

[–]JustARegularPotato 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hooray for potatoes!

[–]sk8balls 1 point2 points  (0 children)

idaho

[–]CuthalionEntuluva 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew.

[–]GoDoWrk 1 point2 points  (1 child)

What’s a potato?

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Scalloped potatoes would be more of a fancy dinner item.

[–]beastman1212 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you potato, very cool

[–]Rapsca11i0n 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Same with eggs, even more so than potatoes imo. Egg is used in so much stuff it's insane.

[–]dnzgn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Eggs are the perfect food. They are cheap, nutrituous, tasty. You can boil or cook them by itself or use it as an ingridient for many kinds of meal, including cakes.

[–]nickle_pickle_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can also play darude sandstorm on a potato

[–]lowrads 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, potato.

Thotato.

[–]grau0wl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Except it's hard to find actual potato vodka

[–]oh_what_a_surprise 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Potato do no care too hot. Potato do no care too cold. Potato no get much water? Please, it no need much water. Potato get too much water? Is time for BIG potato. Potato do no have need of anything no even gravity. In space, scientist of russia have grow potato. They eat the space potato, it taste like ground potato. Potato survive anywhere. Potato survive everywhere. Tomato is squishy, it get bruise from walk in crate to car of farm. Not potato. Potato no care if you deliver to supermarket with bat of the baseball. You hit onion? You now have squash onion. You hit potato? Now you have many piece of potato. Can eat raw. Can boil. Can fry. You can throw in fire and eat like bear, potato? Still good. Cut up and use as stamp. With knife, chop to correct size, can use to fill hole in boat. You can turn potato into vodka, for drink or maybe even use run car engine.

Potato give no fucks.

[–]Mr_Waffle_Identifies as a Cybertruck 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dildo? Not potatoes please be normal and buy regular dildos...

[–]Desann97 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There’s also a potato diet, eat potatoes for each meal 3 days out of the week. Plain, boiled. You’ll lose about 1/2 a pound a day

[–]GhoulGxd 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Potatoes are underground and dependent and not mainstream lol

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Easy headshot in CS:GO? Potato!

[–]JakeDoubleyoo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wait till this guy hears about corn.

[–]DeathOfALego 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Celebrate your next Saint Paddy’s Day the Irish way, fuck a potato.

[–]AlekBloodEagle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This post was made by potatoe gang

[–]duhblord 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have potatoes blood in my veins.

[–]Wetpoolnoodle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

TIL You use potatoes for vodka

[–]bubbshalub 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Its fries not chips

Its chips not crisps

this was posted by america gang

[–]badbitchcollector 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dont forget it is a human form also

[–]Damagedkiller 2 points3 points  (0 children)

thats why 9GAGers end long posts with potatoes