The Origin Of French Fries

The Origins Of French Fries

By Conner Marquez & Tristan Pulver

Have you ever wondered about the origins of some of the most popular fast food menu items? From curly fries to sweet potato fries, waffle fries to even smiley fries, you've probably seen them all at some point. But have you ever stopped to ask why, how, or where they even came from? Maybe you've already pondered some of these questions, but why did you? The answer is simple: they're just so darn popular! In this article, we'll dive into the fascinating history behind these beloved fast food staples and answer all of your burning questions. Get ready to learn something new!

The Origin

French fries have become an integral part of the modern American diet, with fast-food restaurants and diners serving them as a side dish or a snack to accompany burgers, hot dogs, or fried chicken. However, the history of French fries traces back to the streets of Paris, where they were first popularized in the late 18th century. While the exact origin of French fries is still debated, historical records show that a French cookbook published in 1775 mentions "fried potatoes," which is believed to be the earliest reference to the dish. 

The popularity of French fries grew rapidly in France and soon spread to other parts of Europe and North America. By the late 19th century, French fries had become a popular street food in the United States, and they were commonly sold by street vendors and at fairs and carnivals. In the 20th century, the mass production and marketing of French fries by fast-food chains led to their widespread popularity and transformed them into a staple of American cuisine. Despite their association with American culture, French fries remain a quintessentially French food. In fact, the name "French fries" is believed to have originated from the way the potatoes are cut, which is similar to the French julienne technique. Today, French fries are enjoyed all over the world, with variations ranging from shoestring fries to thick-cut steak fries.

The Ultimate Fry?

Among the dozens of kinds of fry cuts the six most popular are regular, curly, waffle, sweet, crinkle, and wedge. Regular is the typical fry that you can get almost anywhere, curly fries are usually shaped like a spring, waffle fries are shaped in a grid-like pattern, sweet fries are like regular fries but are made out of sweet potatoes instead, crinkle fries are also like regular fries but are much more wavy and are the kind you find in your school cafeteria, and wedge fries (referred to as potato wedges) are much thicker than regular fries.

Out of these fries we conducted a small survey to get a feel for the most popular fry. In last with the least amount of votes is the sweet fry, above that is regular, then crinkle and wedge tie for 4th place, for a close 2nd place in votes is the waffle fry, and curly for 1st. It seems that sweet fries are heavily disliked and the two favorites are the waffle and curly fries. Understand that this was a very small survey and may not be completely accurate for which fry is the most popular.