10 Things You Didn't Know About French Fries
Is there anyone who doesn't like French fries? There are few things better in life than the wafting smell, the golden color, the crunchy first bite, and the light fluffiness of a French fry. And believe it or not, this simple fried potato has quite an interesting history.
10 Things You Didn't Know About French Fries (Slideshow)
Skinny, chunky, crinkly, cut into wedges or steaming hot from the local fast-food joint, everyone has a favorite type of French fry. America's ongoing love affair with French fries means we just can't get enough of the finger-licking potato delight. We devour nearly 2 million tons every year — a demonstration of their versatility, tastiness and great value.
While French fries are eaten all over the world, every culture has its own preferred condiment. Americans dunk them in ketchup, Brits eat their chips with salt and malt vinegar, mayonnaise is a popular accompaniment in Belgium, and in Vietnam they serve their fries with soft butter and a sprinkling of sugar. And fries are so versatile, they can be topped with everything from chili and cheese to foie gras, and they can even be a vessel for s'mores (check out this recipe for s'more fries).
No matter where you live, you most likely love fries. "The French fry should be the global symbol of peace," Paul Abraham, co-owner of New York's popular Sticky's Finger Joint, told us. "Like fried chicken, it is found, consumed, and loved all over the world. Salt them, season them, top them, or dip them. Have them anyway you want."
When a food product is eaten and loved all over the world, there are bound to be some interesting facts and figures that crop up that can boggle the mind, like which famous company is responsible for a full third of American French fry sales, or the fact that there is a museum in Belgium entirely devoted to the classic fast-food snack. Read on to learn 10 things that you didn't know about French fries.
Origin Story
Should they even be called "French" fries? Belgians claim to have invented "Frites" and there is an ongoing disagreement between the Belgium and France over its true origin. Some also believe that the fry may have first been introduced in Spain via Colombia.
McDonald's is the Driving Force
Around seven per cent of the potatoes grown in the U.S. end up being sold by McDonald's. They sell more than ⅓ of all the French fries sold in restaurants in the U.S. each year.