27 Interesting Facts About French Fries You Should Know About!

French fries can be eaten as a side dish or snack, and some people eat them with burgers.

These French fries are served hot and crispy. You can find these fries on the menu of restaurants, fast food centers, pubs, and bars.

Millions of people eat French fries. French fries are consumed by different countries and are named differently. In British English, they call it chips; in North American English, they are known as French fries, finger chips in Indian English, in France or Belgium they are called French-fried potatoes, deep-fried potatoes, or simply fries.

If you love to eat French fries and liked reading this article, you would definitely like our other articles on food facts and American food facts.

Who Invented French Fries

The French fries are prepared by cutting the potato into even strips, then drying and deep frying it in oil. Russet potatoes are mainly used to make French fries.

According to some people, the origin of these fries is in Belgium. Locals used to eat fried fish along with their meals, but when the river was frozen, they cut potatoes vertically, fried them in oil, and used them as a substitute for fried fish. Belgium petitioned UNESCO and claimed that mayo and fries were their food.

It is also said that in 1802, when Thomas Jefferson, then President of the United States of America, came back from a tour of France; he introduced French fries to America from France. Charles Dickens was the first author to write about French fries. He describes them as 'Husky chips of potato, fried with some reluctant drops of oil'.

July 13 is celebrated as National French Fries Day. French fries have many different names.

In France, these French fries are known as patates frites, frites, or pommes frites in French. In the United Kingdom, they're called 'chips'. French fries were once upon a time called 'French fried potatoes', which means potatoes that had been 'French fried' to 'French fry' food.

There are 'kukoamines' molecules present in potatoes that lower blood pressure. Other potato specialties are a great source of fiber, and fiber helps lower cholesterol. French fries are more nutritious and have all the vitamins, including iron, vitamin C, and magnesium. 

Congress tried to take the 'French' out of the fries and rename them 'freedom fries' but failed to do so. North Dakota is the world's largest French fry producer. McCain Foods is the world's largest producer of frozen French fries cooked at home and in restaurants. 'Frietmuseum' is a museum in Bruges, Belgium, dedicated to fries.

Thanks to French fries, potatoes are kids' favorite vegetable and first love. Not all potatoes are best for fries, and only starchy potatoes are best for fries. Waffle fries are unique and aren't made anywhere near as similar to waffles.

There are at least 30 varieties of French fries. The thicker the potatoes are cut, the thinner the fat content. French fries go with mayonnaise, tomato sauce, peanut sauce, tartar sauce, ketchup, and other sauces.

French fry machines are still around. According to a McDonald's menu from the '50s, fries cost 10 cents. McDonald's sells huge amounts of French fries.

Who invented French fries is the biggest question, as the person behind this invention is not known for certain.

Different Types Of French Fries Recipe

Commonly available French fries are the classic ones that are crispy, fried, and salted. The best part is cooking them. To do that, you must know how to dice potatoes and deep-fry them while maintaining their color and texture. French fries have different textures and tastes.

French fries are easy to cook, and it is always good to cook them at home. Home food is always good for your health. Here are a few varieties of French fries you should try at home:

​Tornado Fries: These originated as street food in South Korea. Wash the potato and dry thoroughly.

Insert a skewer in the center and cut it in a swirling manner with the help of a knife. Brush them with butter, dip them in the cornflower batter, and deep fry them until they turn brown. Once done, garnish with mayonnaise and peri-peri.

Sweet Potato Fries: Take sweet potatoes and slice them into 2-3 in (5.08–7.62 cm) long, 0.5-0.25 in (1.27–0.64 cm) wide, and toss them with the oil. Sprinkle them with pepper and salt in a small bowl. Preheat the oven to 400 °F (204.4 °C). Bake until brown and crispy. Serve hot.

​Steak Fries: Preheat oven to 400 °F (204.4 °C). Add potato wedges, paprika, salt, oil, cumin, and pepper to a large bowl and toss them properly. Transfer these wedges to a large ungreased baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and crispy.

​Pommes Soufflés: These are a variety of French-fried potatoes, and the slices of potatoes are fried twice. The fried potatoes puff up like a balloon and turn golden brown.

​Shoestring: Cut the potatoes into long, thin pieces and deep fry them, or they can even be baked.

The above are a few recipes related to French fries. You can try many more varieties of French fries, depending on your taste buds.

Interesting Facts About French Fries

French fries are world-famous, go with everything, and are loved by kids. High-starch potatoes are perfect for French fries, and you should avoid new potatoes, red-skinned potatoes, and fingerling potatoes. These are a few tips on choosing the right kind of potato:

Among all the countries in Europe, Belgium consumes the most French fries. The world's longest curly fry measured 38 in (96.52 cm) long and was found at an Arby's. In the United Kingdom, over 80% of households buy frozen fries.

At one time, McDonald's offered waffle fries in Canada. For the first time since 1998, Burger King changed its French fry recipe in 2011. Belgians eat more French fries than Americans.

Country Which Eats The Most French Fries

Most fast-food centers or restaurants fry these potatoes more than once to give them a crispier, fattier result. After America introduced French fries, they were popularized by fast-food chains like Wendy's, Burger King, McDonald's, and Arby's.

According to The Wall Street Journal, and as per the experts, Belgians consume more French fries than Americans, and French fries are Belgium's national dish. There is always a fight for credit between Belgium, France, and Spain.

Different Flavors Of French Fries

French fries are loved and enjoyed by almost everyone. Are you aware that there are at least 15 varieties of French fry recipes that you can try at home? For a crispy French fry, cook the fries twice. Below are a few varieties of French fries for those who love French fries.

The potatoes are cut into medium-sized fries, fried in regular oil, and sprinkled with salt. Steak fries are yummy, and they have a slab-like shape that is perfect for dipping. Shoestring fries are also called matchstick fries, shoestring potatoes, or straw potatoes.

Crinkle-cut fries have a wavy form. Crinkle-cuts can be fried or baked, and they are available in frozen fries at the grocery store. Waffle-cut fries are famous because they resemble waffles and are fun to eat. You can fry these potatoes along with the skin.

Wedges are usually roasted and are the heaviest of all the French fry varieties. These potatoes can be baked or fried, and these are the options for vegans; they can be eaten simply by using vegan mayo. Tater tots are potatoes cut into small cylinders and deep-fried. Tater Tots is a trademark of Ore-Ida, which supplies frozen fries.

Cottage fries are round like flattened discs from the whole potato, and these are the easiest fries of all the fries.

Sweet potato fries are more nutritious and have a buttery and delicious texture. These sweet potato fries are made with yams, or sweet potatoes.

At the same time, potato chips are as thin as paper and are the crunchiest fries of all. Curly fries are very famous, and they have a twist-like shape. It is easy to make these curly fries at home.

Chip shop chips are mostly served with sausage or fried battered fish, and salt and malt vinegar are used for flavor. Home fries are block-sized sliced potatoes that can be fried or baked and are mostly enjoyed with eggs and bacon.

If you are concerned about your weight, oven-baked fries are the perfect fries for you. Bistro fries have a crunchy exterior and a fluffy interior. The potato is cut into skewered, spiral, deep-fried Tornado fries.

Pommes souffles are puffy and give a balloon-like shape. Before serving them, seasoned fries are seasoned with salt, old bay, black pepper, or Cajun spice. In these garlic fries, parmesan and parsley are used.

Truffle fries are found in high-end restaurants, and they are topped with truffle oil or fresh truffle zest. And many more varieties that you can create by yourself if you are passionate about cooking.

Origins And History Of French Fries

Some people say that these fried potatoes were originally from Spain. The origin of French fries is always a topic of discussion between the French, Belgians, and Spaniards. There are many great stories behind this.

A historian from Belgium named Jo Gerard says that these French fries were sold in Belgium during the 1680s. The Belgian people used to eat small fried fish with their meals.

But, when the river became frozen, they could not fish, and alternatively, they started frying potatoes in oil and had them with their meals as a substitute for fish. Hence, it is said that French fries originated in Belgium.

It is also said that some British or American soldiers went to Belgium during World War I and tasted the Belgian French fries. As the official language of the army was French, the word 'French' was suffixed to this dish.

On the other hand, France also takes credit for being the creator of French fries. Some people call them 'Pommes de Terres Frites' and believe that these French fries originated in France. This is supported by the words written by U.S. President Thomas Jefferson during the years 1801-1809.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 27 interesting facts about French fries: you should know about, then why not take a look at food trivia or food industry facts?