r/melbourne • u/AccurateDocument5804 • Feb 02 '23
Buckle up everyone. Chip-geddon is here 😓 The Sky is Falling
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u/mr-snrub- Feb 02 '23
Chip-geddon been done been here for weeks
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u/AccurateDocument5804 Feb 02 '23
I had read it was coming but haven't ventured down the frozen aisle until yesterday!
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u/LongTallSalski Feb 02 '23
My local supermarket in Darwin has been like this 90% of the time since before Christmas. If you get lucky you see some sweet potato chips or frozen roast potatoes.
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u/rtj777 Feb 03 '23
Or like $8 for 50g "microwaveable chips".
You know what guys, keep them.
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u/LongTallSalski Feb 03 '23
That’s true. The same boxes of them are sitting barely touched since this all began. Even the ‘healthy’ fries for $8 a packet eventually went.
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u/masterjabbadad Feb 02 '23
Even desperate times it is proven once again that sweet potato chips and frozen roast potatoes are utter shit. When will "big chip" get the message?
Stick those up your jaxie and just pump out the potato gems and beer battered chips please.
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u/Bloodwolv Feb 03 '23
I love sweet potato chips. But frozen roast spuds can go to hell.
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u/masterjabbadad Feb 03 '23
Well we found who likes the sweet potato chips.
I used to work in a place where no one liked the Monte Carlos in arnotts assorted cream biscuit packets and there was always heaps left over. I love Monte Carlos. I ate them all. I imagine you feel like this now in these dark days.
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u/masterjabbadad Feb 02 '23
I think you mean frozen wasteland. I went in yesterday and it was cold and desolate with no signs of life nor sustenance. Felt like Antarctica.
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u/real-duncan Feb 02 '23
Thieves are digging up potatoes in people’s yards.
Things are getting serious.
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u/MikeyF1F Feb 02 '23
I mean, if caused by cost of living pressures, yes, that would be serious.
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u/StJBe Feb 02 '23
Post apocalyptic reality coming without the nuclear winter
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u/MikeyF1F Feb 02 '23
The war of the chppies: 2024 as it happened - A New York Times best seller.
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u/real-duncan Feb 03 '23
Ninja throwing potato cakes.
I think we have the pitch for a kids show to gobble up some of that legislation required local content the streamers need to produce.
“Spud and the cakes of doom”
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u/scissorsgrinder Feb 03 '23
Oh wow this reminded me, I just remembered the extreme back of my rental garden beyond the bougainvillea triffid has potato plants or used to if landlord’s junk hasn’t fallen on them. Time to go adventuring!
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u/RileBreau Feb 02 '23
I've got half a frozen bag of chippies in my freezer, bidding starts at 5 dollarydoos.
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u/Leprichaun17 Feb 03 '23
10 hours and no bids @ $5. I'll give you $1, a half-empty Bic pen, an unused bar of home-brand soap, and a ball of belly button lint.
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u/RileBreau Feb 03 '23
mmmm the belly lint is a tempting add on. Im going to have to hold out for better offers tho :D
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u/scissorsgrinder Feb 03 '23
If anyone wants to prune back my enormous savage bougainvillea, they can access the potato patch beyond! For a low cost of one hundred dollarbucks.
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u/Taleya FLAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIR Feb 02 '23
God dammit, shit like this is why mum's family moved to Australia
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u/darkhummus Feb 02 '23
We survived it once we can do it again 🇮🇪
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Feb 02 '23
Yeah but you survived with potatoes. Now there’s none.
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u/Deceptichum Best Side Feb 02 '23
. . . They survived the potato famine with potatoes?
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Feb 02 '23
Just googled it. I thought it was called the potato famine because that’s all they could grow. I stand corrected
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u/Deceptichum Best Side Feb 02 '23
That's kinda true, all they could really grow for themselves was potatoes, the grains and shit got shipped off to Britain.
So when those potatoes started dying due to a disease and the grains kept getting shipped off, people fled or died due to lack of much to eat.
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u/CaptainSharpe Feb 03 '23
Britain stealing all the grain and artefacts and then they go and brexit
F Britain
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u/CaptainSharpe Feb 03 '23
And it’s really not that bad here. It could get much much much much worse.
Abe thankful we’re not in world war conditions of rationing and still having choice about what we eat etc.
And climate change has yet to really suck with our food supply. We’ll look back in twenty years and yearn for days we could just be a little miffed at temporary potato shortages….
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u/Taleya FLAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIR Feb 03 '23
and at least we aren't buried under a ton of lava!
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u/darkhummus Feb 02 '23
As a vegan my pub food options are about to become so limited 🥴
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u/Least-Researcher-184 Feb 03 '23
BYO seaweed laver might be an option decently oily, salty and crisp
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u/Top_Ad_2819 Feb 02 '23
Chips can be made with potato and knife. Add your oil and spices. Oven or air fry. This can be enhanced with balsamic vinegar and salt added to chip
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u/hypatiatextprotocol Feb 02 '23
The chips are the first to go. Potatoes will be next.
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u/rangebob Feb 02 '23
The floods and rain responsible for causing this actually hit the specific areas that grow potatoes for chip making use. The supply of nornal potatoes is "mostly" unaffected and they rnt expecting there to be major problems
Unless everyone who buys chips goes and buys potatoes to make thier own but I suspect people be too lazy for that
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u/flukus Feb 02 '23
Unless everyone who buys chips goes and buys potatoes to make thier own but I suspect people be too lazy for that
People might switch to baked or mashed potatoes instead. Plenty of times lately I've seen a shortage of one thing translate into a shortage of an obvious substitute 2 weeks later. One day I hope to buy kidney beans and black beans on the same shopping trip again.
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u/DoinLikeCasperDoes Feb 02 '23
Yeah like toilet paper shortage was followed by tissue shortage
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u/rangebob Feb 02 '23
yeah its def possible. My vegie guy had said they rnt expecting issues with normal potatoes atm. watch this space I guess
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u/IowaContact2 Feb 04 '23
Just wait til we're all forced to switch to home brand powdered mashed potato...
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u/lexica666 Feb 02 '23
But that requires lots of work :(
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u/Michael_je123 Feb 02 '23
Making chips is a lot of work? I am lazy AF and I can make them in about 5 minutes of effort
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u/tofufizza Feb 02 '23
Takes time to prep... You have to boil them to a certain consistenc, cool them, then fry them at lower temp, then cool them, then fry them again at higher temp. All this takes alot of effort opposed to ripping the bag open and putting them in the oven.
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u/Top_Ad_2819 Feb 02 '23
I got time. The satisfaction from making almost restraunt tier food at home gives good dopamine. Not tik tok and netflix level
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u/UniqueLoginID >Insert coffee Here< Feb 02 '23
Parboil first. Dry thoroughly. Use varieties other than generic 'washed'.
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u/IAmABakuAMA Literally. Obsessed. With trains. Feb 02 '23
If anyone is desperate for some chippies (and doesn't want to/can't make them yourself) go look in smaller stores. Places like Foodworks, IGA, etc. It will be more expensive than from a major but cheaper not like servo or milk bar level prices
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u/Shramo Feb 03 '23
If anyone is desperate for "chippies" maybe they should shhh until they get out of kinder.
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u/avanorne Feb 03 '23
If anyone is annoyed by a person using "chippies" in a random Reddit comment maybe they should shhh until forever.
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u/coffecup1978 Feb 02 '23
I got 200 packets of toilet rolls from the pandemic. Will trade for one 🍟
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u/masterjabbadad Feb 02 '23
What is the current exchange rate? TP to Chippy?
Would you consider alternatives? I can get my hands on a stash of surplus soviet zharenaya kartoshka if you're interested. Comes from an unnamed former soviet state. My contact just needs to know quality. wink wink
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u/Wide-Reach2218 Feb 02 '23
Funny thing is those god awful sweet potato chips are always the last to run out .
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u/Seachicken Feb 03 '23
Like when the shelves on Italian grocery stores were emptied of pasta during covid, except for penne lisce which sat there untouched.
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u/Fidelius90 Feb 02 '23
What? They’re vastly tastier AND better for you.
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u/Wide-Reach2218 Feb 02 '23
Everyone to their own opinion. But I was brought up on potato chips and the sweet potato always looked like the ugly buck-toothed poor cousin and was shunted to one side. My two cents worth. But you gotta admit, they are always the last to go. Thank god my workplace still has chips in stock. Panic buying myself this morning before customers find out.
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u/Jjex22 Feb 03 '23
I like sweet potato fries… but only if they’re actually fried. The oven chip ones are always crap to the point you’re bettter off just getting a sweet potato, slicing it and chucking it in the air fryer… which fortunately is even better for you again.
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u/masterjabbadad Feb 02 '23
Ok. You can just leave please.
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u/Fidelius90 Feb 03 '23
Look your blood sugar will be the one leaving early if you have too much starchy goodness 😏
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u/WTF-BOOM Feb 03 '23 edited Feb 03 '23
better for you.
What? No they're not. They're higher in calories, and a regular potato is equal or better on every single micronutrient except Vitamin A, of which a deficiency is essentially unheard of in Australia.
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u/scissorsgrinder Feb 03 '23
For the same weight, sweet potatoes are generally lower on carbohydrates, but white potatoes are higher on protein. Sweet potatoes are lower on the glycaemic index, putting them more into the whole grains category of carbohydrates. Different nutritional analyses disagree on which one has more Vitamin C. For other nutrients, they are about comparable, except Vitamin A as you said.
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u/WTF-BOOM Feb 03 '23
sweet potatoes are generally lower on carbohydrates
No they're not, hence the name sweet potato, the protein is similar in both and negligible anyway, GI is also barely a difference between both. This is basic stuff from 30 seconds on Google or Wikipedia.
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u/scissorsgrinder Feb 03 '23 edited Feb 03 '23
I have looked at several sites and this is the conclusion I’ve drawn. If you knew anything about carbohydrates, and had actually done what you suggested I should do that I’ve actually done already, you’d know sweet potatoes are higher in simple sugars but lower in starches.
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u/WTF-BOOM Feb 03 '23
You said they are lower in carbohydrates, that is factually inaccurate, you were wrong, deal with it.
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u/scissorsgrinder Feb 03 '23
My kids point blank refuse to eat them. Because they’re not “normal” chips I guess??!!
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u/ghostghost31 Feb 02 '23
Can someone explain why I have no issues buying bags of potatoes? I eat shit loads of potatoes, Coles always have a washed 2kg bag on special of some variety every week usually for like 5 bucks. Are chips made from different potatoes? I haven't brought frozen chips in years
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u/BrendonBootyUrie Feb 03 '23
Yeah it's only a special type of potato used for chips.
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u/PrawnOnTheBarbie26 Feb 03 '23
The type of potatoes used for making chips are generally grown in Tasmania, and have been affected by rain. Potatoes grown to be sold in the supermarket produce section have remained largely unaffected :)
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u/MikeyF1F Feb 02 '23
I kinda don't get the cynicism.
Shortages DO suck.
Do you guys just really dislike people who felt like buying chips?
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Feb 02 '23
Oh we do. We are chip lovers. What you’re seeing is ‘coping’ at its best.
When people are stressed, we make jokes. Because what else can you do, when the sky is falling, but laugh about it.
Or speak like Shatner.
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u/Jjex22 Feb 03 '23
Sure it sucks… hence the cynicism. Otherwise you’re just being what my grandad would have called a ‘mardy git’
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u/MikeyF1F Feb 03 '23
No, I'm talking about the cynicism towards other people.
Mardy git back at you.
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u/adrianbnd Feb 02 '23
Great simple oven chip recipe for cooking newbies https://youtu.be/m6kcANnAJSo
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u/Leprichaun17 Feb 03 '23
Hold up... people use Youtube for recipes? What fresh hell is this? It's bad enough that written recipes on website often have a life story attached to them these days, I sure as shit don't want to be watching my recipes.
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u/adrianbnd Feb 03 '23
Personally, I watch youtube cooks for entertainment, education and recipe ideas. I learn a lot by watching the process, also a lot of these cooking channels do A/B tests and delve into the science of why one cooking method works better in one situation than another, I find that interesting.
The recipes are a beautiful bonus and are most often written or linked in the description. My go to channels are Ethan Chlebowski and Adam Ragusea.
Like you, I also loathe the life stories on recipe blogs.
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u/masterjabbadad Feb 02 '23
There's a reason I buy prepared chips. I'm fat and lazy.
NOW, if you have a recipe where I can just bite a potato, slurp some oil and snort salt and get the glorious chip experience then I'm all ears.
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u/DespairsEmbodied Feb 02 '23
Yeh is been like this for yonks at my local aldi XD
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u/Waasssuuuppp Feb 02 '23
Lol that's just a normal day at aldi. That favourite flavour that you prefer- tough titties because all we have is the flavour you hate. None of the nappy size you need? Bugger off, the kid should be on the loo anyway.
Its like soviet ration day, you aren't sure what you are going to get.
Jokes on me though because I love aldi
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u/DrSendy Feb 02 '23
Coles: Chippies for $4 a packet.
Chippie geddon makes people forget about chippie cost.
Coles: Chippies are back! $8 a packet!
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u/driveonthursday Feb 02 '23
But at least the Dim Sims are back. Pre Christmas when both were out....they were dark days...
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u/someothercrappyname Feb 03 '23
The next bag of gems I see at the IGA is mine I tell you - mine - all mine!!
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u/markjustmarkjust Feb 02 '23
I love when people announce something here that has been going on for months
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u/AccurateDocument5804 Feb 02 '23
My apologies mark. Will fry to do better next time
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u/BumbleCute Feb 02 '23
This was news to me tbh. Edit : before ppl come for me, it's cause I stopped reading the news during covid depression and the chip aisle is in a hidden corner of my ColesWorth
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u/Random_Sime Feb 02 '23
Don't you understand how important it is that the thing that we were warned about and that's been affecting everyone else for over a month now is happening to me???
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u/Zealousideal_Most589 Feb 02 '23
I see the stolen store drunk coke can in there. The old drink in the shop. That old chest nut
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u/DangerousSolution177 Feb 02 '23
I saw one guy empty out the entire chip and wegde section at aldi the other day. Savage.
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u/Tygie19 Ex-Melbournian living in Gippsland Feb 02 '23
It annoys me that panic buying is still a thing. Randomly a product I buy goes into panic buy status for a while. So frustrating!
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u/Equivalent-Ring2115 Feb 03 '23
Not sure if it is panic buying. Could be a restaurant or cafe owner who is struggling to get stock of their own. Agree with the sentiment though!
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u/Weak_Bullfrog6227 soon to be Richmond citizen Feb 02 '23
I work in a wholesale outlet, we still have heaps of boxes but when they’re gone they will be gone for months. The flooding we had late last year destroying the potato farms and it’s not a simple thing to grow back
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u/therealfrankpenny Feb 02 '23
The frozen Chip shortage is a different thing unrelated to inflation. It's been caused by the extremely wet lead up to summer, which didn't allow the potato farmers to get their crops in. Thus, the frozen food companies have had to cut manufacturing. I'm in Ballarat, and it's been an issue since December.
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u/ValorousGekko Feb 02 '23
I’m sorry are you only just realising this? Chips have been low for ages.
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u/snowblocker Feb 02 '23
Side note - I haven’t seen a Woolies that has freezers like that for a long time! Reminds me of my local Safeway from when I was a kid
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u/Tygie19 Ex-Melbournian living in Gippsland Feb 02 '23
I used to work on a potato farm in Gippsland so I have a source of free spuds (I get the seconds that aren’t good enough for selling). Feeling grateful to have a place to get spuds right now!
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u/bog_w1tch Feb 03 '23
Currently eyeing off my home grown bags of spuds and excessive eggs from my chooks ... am I sitting on a gold mine?
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u/mrarbitersir Feb 03 '23
...and I can't stress this enough Homer, you had to sell your Chicken Salt futures BEFORE the chip shortage. Before!
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u/Figerally Feb 03 '23
I just dropped by to say that the roasted potatoes glazed with duck fat is pretty tasty. Everyone tends to ignore these.
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u/Sad_Hospital_1714 Feb 03 '23
There's a little asian snack shop in Braybrook that does homemade potatoe cakes. You get at least a dozen for $5.
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u/Ecstatic-Media-6774 Feb 03 '23
I sell potato chips $30 for 10 kg size 13 mm. Anyone interested? In Collingwood
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u/tmofee Feb 03 '23
I was in broken hill today for work, thought on the way home I’d stop in my local fave chip shop and closed. No stock.
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u/Safe_Job_909 Feb 03 '23
My kids are Coeliac, the gluten free chips were the first to disappear from the freezer like the proverbial canary in a Coal mine (yes there is a difference between gf and normal chips in processing)
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u/Marshy462 Feb 02 '23
I jagged a lonely bag of marathon dimmies the other day. Feels like the start of covid again, at least they haven’t shut the gun shops.
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u/mhac009 Feb 02 '23
Still able to head out and hunt the potatoes in the wild aye?
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u/Marshy462 Feb 02 '23
I was referring to a bizarre moment in recent history when all the supermarket shelves were empty and the government shut the gun shops
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u/MikeAlphaGolf Feb 02 '23
Now’s the time for the sweet potato to establish itself as the superior form of chip.
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Feb 02 '23
Plenty of potatoes in the veggie section 🤷♂️
This says a lot about our society.
Alexa, play waltzing Matilda.
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u/the908bus Feb 02 '23
I am trying to love broccoli chips…
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u/BiggyG12 Feb 02 '23
Is this a thing?! I think that could be kind of delicious with lashings of salt...
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u/Wooden-Trouble1724 Feb 02 '23
Lucky I panic bought some 😅
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u/Tygie19 Ex-Melbournian living in Gippsland Feb 02 '23
You and all the others who cleaned out this freezer. I can’t believe panic buying is still a thing.
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u/Wooden-Trouble1724 Feb 03 '23
Meaning like two months I got one more than I normally would have and haven’t eaten them yet
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u/nocturnal_confidant Feb 02 '23
Mate, grab a bag of spuds and make these, you won't go back to your McCains I'll tell you that much https://www.broadsheet.com.au/national/food-and-drink/article/recipe-annabel-crabbs-glass-potatoes
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u/Drakaasii Feb 02 '23
Mate you're joking if you think I'm getting home from work and spending 2 hours cooking spuds
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u/Electronic-Humor-931 Feb 02 '23
My Coles some how had some for the first time in forever, only crinkle cut ones though. They wouldn't have lasted long either.
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u/Shootinputin89 Feb 03 '23
Yet somehow Macca's could do potato scallops (cakes) using 100% Aussie potatoes.
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u/seraph321 Feb 03 '23
I don't think I've ever bought a bag of frozen chips in my life. I had no idea people think of them as a staple product.
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Feb 02 '23
To be sure...to be sure.
Just grow them in a pot plant or your backyard. Must be one of the easiest things to grow
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u/martoonthecartoon Feb 02 '23
I cannot believe the level of stupidity humans show, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, potatoes, cmon people get a grip on yourselves. You watch it won't be long before idiots start selling individual frozen chips on facebook and market place
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u/strange_de_ja_vu Feb 02 '23
Make your own and avoid the poisonous vegetable/seed oils they are lathered in!
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u/L0ckz0r Feb 02 '23
I haven't seen raw potatoes go yet. Just buy a bunch and cut them up. Stick them in the freezer if you're worried.
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u/Radical_Provides Feb 02 '23
Literally who cares
They're potato chips
Eat something else
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u/mrarbitersir Feb 03 '23
Probably all of the potato farmers being hit by crippling debt with all of their crops destroyed by floodwater
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u/onlymostlyguts Feb 02 '23
Asked my fish and chips shop to swap out a dim sim for a potato cake the other day. He said that best he could do was swap it for a calamari ring because potato cakes cost so much now.
What world is this where calamari rings are cheaper than potato cakes?!