Everyday things about Big Island life that make visitors go "Wha?" (how much, closing)

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

We could do the reverse of what mainland people do and it's amazing to us. I visited some mainland relatives this summer and they put potato chips in a bowl on the table and left them there for several days. !!!! The potato chips not only stayed crispy, but there weren't any bugs in the bowl! Extremely amazing to me but they seemed to think it was normal.
.....
Here, in order to keep chips crispy and bug free the first thing is we get corn chips instead of potato chips. Corn chips can withstand several hours in high humidity and still have a crispness to them.

Potato chips are so central to the American Way of Life (along with Truth and Justice) that I'm amazed that more recently transplanted mainlanders don't go screaming back home on this basis alone!

My theory about the popularity of "Hawaiian style" kettle chips is that they last a little longer in the open air because they have a hard coat of extra oil which makes them more waterproof.

The problem I find with corn chips as a substitute, is that unlike potato chips, which go limp within hours, corn chips go tough.

Potato chips are gonners in about an hour and a half or so. We also have an old oven which has a pilot light so it stays warm and dry inside. All of our chips are stored in the oven after they've been opened in order to retain any hope of crispness.

That's really quite brilliant, 'Catz. I nominate you for a $500 CDF award for sharing that innovation.

[67Cam]

Tell me you guys are kidding about the "couple hours" shelf life of opened chips?! Really? Come on, are you punkin' us mainlanders?

[davephan]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

We could do the reverse of what mainland people do and it's amazing to us. I visited some mainland relatives this summer and they put potato chips in a bowl on the table and left them there for several days. !!!! The potato chips not only stayed crispy, but there weren't any bugs in the bowl! Extremely amazing to me but they seemed to think it was normal. Of course, they had humidity of about ten percent and it had just barely started to warm up for summer so this may have been before there were any bugs around. Although, maybe they don't have bugs in their house. I didn't see any. Didn't ask, though.

Here, in order to keep chips crispy and bug free the first thing is we get corn chips instead of potato chips. Corn chips can withstand several hours in high humidity and still have a crispness to them. Potato chips are gonners in about an hour and a half or so. We also have an old oven which has a pilot light so it stays warm and dry inside. All of our chips are stored in the oven after they've been opened in order to retain any hope of crispness.

Would it work to use a FoodSaver vacuum sealing system? Put the chips and other food items in containers. The air is then vacuumed out with the FoodSaver system.

Vacuum Sealer & Food Sealer Accessories at FoodSaver.com.

I use the FoodSaver system to seal premeasured 2 cup sized Minnesota wild rice in plastic. I buy the wild rice in bulk and divide the 50 pound bag into many small 2 cup vacuum sealed FoodSaver bags.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by davephan

Would it work to use a FoodSaver vacuum sealing system? Put the chips and other food items in containers. The air is then vacuumed out with the FoodSaver system.

You missed the point. When guests come over you don't put out a bowl of dip and a Foodsaver bag of chips.

And to 67CAM, no, we're not kidding. When the humidity is high a bowl of chips can go limp in an hour or so, and in many places there will be ants or other wee beasties throwing a luau in the bowl in about the same time frame.

That last point throws some people even more than the limp chips do. We have a lot of bugs on the Big Island. Lots. All kinds. There's no cold winter to make then die back like most of the mainland gets. So gardening and householding both have special challenges... termites, roaches, fruit flies, mosquitoes, centipedes, scorpions, ants, fleas, ticks, whiteflies, aphids... we've got them all and more, any time of year.

So of course you keep your food in insect proof containers, but as soon as you put any of it out on the table the battle for control begins.

[hawaiian by heart]

^^^^^

Thus the pidgin term "kakaroach" Take without asking.

[whtviper1]

Perhaps places selling AC should put in the advertisements - while you are cool and refreshed, keep your chips fresh just like the mainland!

[hotzcatz]

Does AC de-humidify enough to keep potato chips crisp? That might make the cost of AC more worthwhile. There's dehumidifiers, but what with the louver windows, I doubt we'd be able to keep the wind out enough that the dehumidifier could de-humid everything.

Hmm, maybe a "crisper" box would be less expensive to run. Just a closed in box with a small heat source under it. Do you think the pilot light/flame helps keep the humidity out or is it the heat part? Heating a small box would be a lot easier than a small box with a flame under it.

Generally, though, high humidity is pretty good. You get off the airplane and you can just feel your skin relax into it. No more lotion, lip balm and all that other goopy stuff you need on the mainland to feel comfortable.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

Does AC de-humidify enough to keep potato chips crisp?

Yes - And eliminates mold/mildew. And you don't need special furniture. Or not keep certain things.

I do find it interesting people think there is much humidity in Hawaii - try Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, and all states south of those if you really want humidity in the summer. They must have AC for day to day living and enjoy crisp chips!

[hawaiian by heart]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

Does AC de-humidify enough to keep potato chips crisp? That might make the cost of AC more worthwhile. There's dehumidifiers, but what with the louver windows, I doubt we'd be able to keep the wind out enough that the dehumidifier could de-humid everything.

Hmm, maybe a "crisper" box would be less expensive to run. Just a closed in box with a small heat source under it. Do you think the pilot light/flame helps keep the humidity out or is it the heat part? Heating a small box would be a lot easier than a small box with a flame under it.

Generally, though, high humidity is pretty good. You get off the airplane and you can just feel your skin relax into it. No more lotion, lip balm and all that other goopy stuff you need on the mainland to feel comfortable.

Yes its wonderful.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by 67Cam

Tell me you guys are kidding about the "couple hours" shelf life of opened chips?! Really? Come on, are you punkin' us mainlanders?

Not much of an issue. Buy fresh tropical fruit for snacks instead of potato chips.

Problem solved.