French Fries & Ice Cream

By:  Lymey Lim
April 23, 2025

Lymey Lim

French Fries & 

Ice Cream

Salty and hot meet Sweet and cold

Sweet or Salty?

Most people think that in life, they have to make a choice between two options and no in betweens. For example, if they are given two options which are sweet and salty, they will think hard about which one to pick. But if you think outside of the box, why not choose savory? I introduce to you, a shockingly delicious sweet and salty alliance.

A Contrasting Combo: French Fries and Ice Cream

Recently, the controversial fries and ice cream trend has been rising to the surface of the internet and people are going crazy over whether it’s good or nasty. At first glance, this might seem like a silly joke– or even irony. The idea of dipping fries into ice cream sounds very disgusting and inconvenient to many netizens, because fries are greasy, and ice cream is cold and refreshing. However, a lot of people find this duo very delightful in both the taste and texture. “It’s amazing how the crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside hot salty fries fused together with the soft, cold, and sweet ice cream to create a simple but exploding, flavors-clashing delicacy, offering a unique and satisfying treat.”--some say. 

Science Behind Salty Mix Sweet Satisfying Sensation

Savory– a mix of salty and sweet taste that a majority of people call their “favourite flavor”. Why do our bodies perceive savory food as pleasurable? Maybe even surpassing salty or sweet alone? Well, here’s the scientific explanation: When we combine salty food with sweet food, we activate different taste receptors on our taste buds. The contrast between these two flavors can increase our sensory experience, making the food more interesting. Salty and sweet mixes create an incredible balance that is often perceived as pleasurable. Not only that, the combination of salty and sweet food also impacts the brain chemistry; they trigger the release of feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain, which may lead us to seek out this flavor combo more frequently as it provides a comforting sensation.

Balance and Moderations

While french fries and ice cream can be a good snack to treat yourself with, we have to keep it in moderation as fries are high in oil and sodium, and ice creams are high in fats and sugar content. This means that they should be enjoyed as occasional sweet treats. 

Works Cited

“Sugars, Sweet Taste Receptors, and Brain Responses.” PubMed Central, 24 June 2017, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5537773/. Accessed 23 February 2025.

“Why Do Salty and Sweet Flavors Taste Good Together?” Eater, 2 May 2018, https://www.eater.com/ad/17313326/sweet-salty-flavor-combination-science. Accessed 23 February 2025.