French fries and a hamburger, a classic combination

French fries, or chips, are potatoes that have been cut and deep-fried (i.e., french-fried potatoes). Called 'french fries' in North America, the name is often shortened to just 'fries'. They are usually known as 'chips' in the Great Britain, Ireland and the Commonwealth, excluding Canada, and "frites", "frieten" or "pommes frites" in Belgium, France and Germany. In the regions where the word "chips" is in more common usage, the term "french fries" is usually also understood; "chips" in these regions, however, usually refer to much thicker, and slightly less greasy, slices of potato than "french fries" (see fish and chips). Usually, the first f in french fries is not an uppercase f, since it does not refer to the nationality. French fries are distinct from potato chips (also called 'crisps'). Download high resolution version (2008x908, 239 KB)fries and burger Photograph available under GFDL license. ... Download high resolution version (2008x908, 239 KB)fries and burger Photograph available under GFDL license. ... Binomial name Solanum tuberosum L. The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a perennial plant of the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family, grown for its starchy tuber. ... World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is the third largest continent in area and in population after Eurasia and Africa. ... Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations is an association of independent sovereign states, most of which are former colonies once governed by the United Kingdom as part of the British Empire. ... Fish and chips in wrapping paper Fish and chips is deep-fried fish in batter with deep-fried potatoes, and a popular take-away food. ... Chips from Russet baking potatoes, a variety high in sugar. ...

The Belgians are noted for claiming that french fries are Belgian in origin, but have presented no absolute evidence; the French have also been cited as possible creators of the dish. Whether or not french fries were invented in Belgium, they have become the national dish, and they are the "symbolic" creators, at least for the rest of Europe. French fries have gained international prominence perhaps partly due to their pre-eminence in fast-food menus, propagated by fast-food chains like McDonald's and Burger King (Hungry Jacks in Australia). In America, french fries are typically served with hamburgers, a latter-day descendent of the French "steak-frites" combination. They are also often eaten with meat, fish, and vegetables or by themselves. They also make up half of the classic food combinations fish and chips and "moules-frites", a popular Belgian dish consisting of steamed mussels and french fries. Fast food is food prepared and served quickly at a fast-food restaurant or shop at low cost. ... McDonalds Corporation ( NYSE: MCD) is the worlds largest chain of fast-food restaurants [1]. Although McDonalds did not invent the hamburger or fast food, its name has become nearly synonymous with both. ... Burger King (BK for short) is a large international food corporation that sells fast food in chain stores. ... Hamburgers often contain lettuce, onions, and other toppings, as shown here. ... Fish and chips in wrapping paper Fish and chips is deep-fried fish in batter with deep-fried potatoes, and a popular take-away food. ...

The largest producer of french fries in the world is McCain Foods Limited, a Canadian company in Florenceville, New Brunswick. Such is the popularity of french fries that McCain Foods Limited can produce potato products at the rate of more than 1,000,000 lb/h (125 kg/s) in its 30 potato processing plants on six continents around the world. McCain Foods Limited, a privately owned company established in 1957 by the McCain brothers in Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada, is the worlds largest producer of french fries and other oven-ready frozen foods. ... The village of Florenceville is located on the banks of the St. ...

Origin of the name

The logical explanation of the origin of the North American name of the dish is that it derives from potatoes that have been "fried in the french manner". The English verb fry is ambiguous: it can refer to both to sautéing and to deep-fat frying, while the french verb it derives from refers unambiguously to the latter.

Some feel that the word "french" in "french fries" is refers to the verb "to french", which means "to cut in thin lengthwise strips before cooking" (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Ed.) On the other hand, "to french" is defined as "to prepare, as a chop, by partially cutting the meat from the shank and leaving bare the bone so as to fit it for convenient handling." (Oxford English Dictionary) in other dictionaries, seeming to suggest that the meaning of this process is not necessarily as set as it may appear. In addition, the verb "to french" did not start appearing until after "french fried potatoes" had appeared in the English-speaking world.

Many other widely disseminated legends for the origin of the name also exist.

By one account, the fried potatoes are called 'french fries' because they are commonly fried in the Belgo-French manner (that is to say, frying them twice with a small pause in the middle). This is plausible, and seems to suggest the word "french" implies the manner in which the food is fried.

Other accounts say that they were once called 'German fries' but the name was changed either for political reasons (Germany was once the enemy of the United States) or simple historical reasons (a traditional theory poses that it was in France during World War I that American soldiers first encountered the dish). This seems unlikely, as Germany was not as famous for its "french fries" as other European countries, in addition to the fact that German immigrants did not seem to bring the dish over to the United States. Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ...

Another claim is that the inclusion of the word "French" in the fried potatoes is most likely a confusion as to the nationality of those who introduced the food to American and Canadian soldiers in World War I. When American and Canadian soldiers were stationed in southern Belgium, where many major battles of World War I took place, they were served "pomme frites". Since the region of Belgium the soldiers were in was predominantly French-speaking, the soldiers brough the dish back to the United States as "french fries". Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ...

History

Many possible claims as to the origin of "french fries" exist.

Many attribute the dish to France, and offer as evidence a notation by President Jefferson. "Potatoes deep-fried while raw, in small slices" are noted in a manuscript in Thomas Jefferson's hand (circa 1801) and the recipe almost certainly comes from his French chef, Honoré Julien. In addition, from 1813 ("The French Cook" by Louis Ude) on recipes for what can be described as "french fries" occur in popular American cookbooks. Recipes to fried potatoes in French cookbooks date back at least to Menon's "Les soupers de la cour" (1755). However, according to the Food Reference Web site, the first reference to French fried potatoes in English was in 1894 in O. Henry's Rolling Stones, "Our countries are great friends. We have given you Lafayette and French fried potatoes." In addition, when the controversy over Freedom Fries first began, the French embassy claimed that the food was actually Belgian. 1894 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... O. Henry was the pen name of William Sydney Porter (September 11, 1862 – June 5, 1910), whose clever use of twist endings in his stories popularized the term O. Henry Ending. ... Marie-Joseph-Paul-Roch-Yves-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette (September 6, 1757–May 20, 1834), was a French aristocrat most famous for his participation in the American Revolutionary War and early French Revolution. ... Freedom fries was a short-lived name used in the United States for french fries. ...

Belgium itself also lays claim as the "origin" of French Fries, even though it acknowledges the possibility of the dish being from northern France. According to the popular Belgian belief, this recipe for potatoes was first used in the Meuse valley, between Dinant and Liège, Belgium. The poor inhabitants of this region had the custom of accompanying their meals with small fried fish, but when the river was frozen and they were unable to fish, they cut potatoes lengthwise and fried them in oil to accompany their meals. (Belgian Federal Portal) In 1861, a Belgian entrepreneur named Frits is said to have opened a stand selling this product. He is also said to have given it its own name, frites, which is the french name for the dish in Belgium.

Variants

French fries have numerous variants, from "thick-cut" to "shoestring", "curly", and "waffle-cut". They can also be coated with breading and spices to create "seasoned fries", or cut thickly (often with the skin left on) to create "steak fries". Sometimes fries aren't fried at all, but cooked in the oven: these are often sold frozen, and are called "oven fries." A crouton is a small piece of dry or fried bread, often seasoned, that is used to add texture and flavour to salads, notably the Caesar salad, and in soups. ... Screen shot of Spice OPUS, a fork of Berkeley SPICE SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuits Emphasis) is a general purpose analog circuit simulator. ...

In Australia, Britain, Ireland, and many other countries, the term french fries is only used by fast-food restaurants serving narrow-cut (shoestring) fries prepared in the American style. Traditional chips in these countries are usually cut much thicker and cooked for a shorter period of time than American-style french fries, making them less crunchy on the outside and fluffier on the inside. This results in a relatively healthier dish as the area saturated with oil is much less. Chips form one half of the popular British takeaway dish fish and chips. In another example of two nations being divided by their common language, potato chips are called crisps in British English. Fish and chips in wrapping paper Fish and chips is deep-fried fish in batter with deep-fried potatoes, and a popular take-away food. ... Chips from Russet baking potatoes, a variety high in sugar. ... Diagram showing the geographical locations of selected languages and dialects of the British Isles. ...

According to American culinary celebrity Alton Brown, Belgian pommes frites are usually fried in horse fat. However, he is mistaken, as traditionally, ox fat was used, although now nut oil is usually preferred for health reasons. Belgian fries must be fried twice, and are thicker than french fries, but thinner than British chips. Fries with Mayonnaise is actually the national dish of Belgium and Belgians are very fussy about how their fries are served. Even the smallest Belgian town has its own "frietkot" (a Flemish word literally meaning "fries shack" which has also been adopted by the French speaking part of the country in addition to the French "Friture"), the Belgian equivalent of the British "Fish & Chips", only that its main dish is... fries with mayonnaise. Belgians actually have their "Frites met/avec Mayonnaise" as a main dish, without any side orders. Alton Brown (born on July 30, 1962 in Los Angeles, California) is the creator and host of the television show Good Eats, a cooking show on the Food Network. ... Binomial name Equus caballus The Horse (Equus caballus) is a large ungulate mammal, one of the seven modern species of the genus Equus. ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... French fries and a hamburger, a classic combination French fries, or chips, are potatoes that have been cut and deep-fried (i. ... In cooking, mayonnaise is a thick, creamy sauce, usually of a white or light yellow color, which is made and eaten cold. ... In cooking, mayonnaise is a thick, creamy sauce, usually of a white or light yellow color, which is made and eaten cold. ...

In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the word chips is used for both forms of fried potato; although the phrase hot chips unambiguously refers to french fries or chips.

Three basic ways to cook them

French fries cooking in the Joël Robuchon method

French fries draining after cooking

Most home cooks who prepare french fries from potatoes that they have cut themselves cook them a single time in a generous amount of oil pre-heated to a temperature around 375°F (190°C) until they are golden and slightly crisp. Many restaurants, especially those reputed to have excellent french fries, cook them in two batches: the first at a temperature that varies from chef to chef but that is generally around 350°F (177°C), until the fries are nearly cooked but still limp and pale; the second, after the first batch has been removed from the oil and allowed to cool, at a higher temperature, generally around 375°F (190°C), until they are golden and crisp, which normally takes less than a minute. A third method, invented by the celebrated French chef Joël Robuchon for the home cook, is to put the sliced potatoes into a saucepan with just enough cold oil in it to cover the potatoes, then cook them over high heat until golden, stirring occasionally. Frozen french fries are widely available in supermarkets; it is not unheard of for them to be baked instead of fried. Download high resolution version (1343x1105, 196 KB)fries cooking Photograph available under GFDL license. ... Download high resolution version (1343x1105, 196 KB)fries cooking Photograph available under GFDL license. ... Download high resolution version (1495x1210, 279 KB)fries draining Photograph available under GFDL license. ... Download high resolution version (1495x1210, 279 KB)fries draining Photograph available under GFDL license. ... Joël Robuchon (born 7 April 1945) is a celebrated French chef. ...

Accompaniments

French fries are almost always salted just after cooking for enhanced taste. They are then served with a variety of condiments, most notably ketchup, tomato sauce, mayonnaise, tartar sauce, brown sauce, vinegar (especially malt vinegar) or gravy. In the Netherlands, peanut sauce is also popular (also called satay sauce, after the Indonesian meat sate on which the same sauce is used). The Dutch also use the word mayonnaise to refer to frietsaus (fries-sauce) a thicker, less acidic sauce made specially to accompany french fries. Another interesting combination is Patatje Oorlog (Dutch for: French Fries War), which is French Fries with mayonnaise, peanut sauce and raw onions. Organic Ketchup, a 21st century condiment Ketchup (or catsup) is a popular condiment, usually made with ripened tomatoes. ... Tomato sauce is a condiment made with tomatoes, and sometimes also ham, onions, basil, salt, oil, garlic and various spices. ... In cooking, mayonnaise is a thick, creamy sauce, usually of a white or light yellow color, which is made and eaten cold. ... Tartare sauce (also known as tartar sauce) is a thick white sauce made from mayonnaise and finely chopped vegetables (usually including pickled gherkins, capers and pickled onions) which is frequently used to season fish and chips and other fried fish dishes. ... HP Sauce is a popular brown sauce produced in Aston, Birmingham, England. ... Vinegar (from Old French vinaigre sour wine) is a sour liquid made from the oxidation of ethanol in wine, cider, beer, or the like. ... Gravy is a thickened sauce, usually made from a base of the juices and extractives that run from meat during cooking. ... Binomial name Arachis hypogaea L. The Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a species in the pea family Fabaceae native to South America. ... Grilled beef satay Satay (also written saté) is a dish that may have originated in Sumatra or Java in Indonesia but is popular in many southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. ... In cooking, mayonnaise is a thick, creamy sauce, usually of a white or light yellow color, which is made and eaten cold. ...

In Utah, USA, and the surrounding area, French Fries are often served with Fry sauce, a mixture of spices, mayonnaise, and ketchup. In Quebec and New Brunswick, both in Canada, french fries are the main component of a dish called poutine: a mixture of french fries with fresh cheddar cheese curds, covered with hot gravy. In the United States, fries are sometimes coated with melted cheese, called cheese fries. Often this is in combination with chili. Other variations are cheese fries (fries covered with melted cheese usually Cheez-Whiz, mozzarella, or swiss cheese) or garlic and cheese fries (cheese with garlic mayonnaise). State nickname: Beehive State Other U.S. States Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. ... Fry sauce is a condiment common in Utah. ... ... Motto: Spem reduxit (Hope was restored) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Fredericton Largest city Saint John Lieutenant Governor Herménégilde Chiasson Premier Bernard Lord (PC) Area 72,908 km² (8th)  - Land 71,450 km²  - Water 1,458 km² (2. ... Poutine (pronounced, roughly, poo-tin, or peuh-tsin; exact Quebecer pronunciation is IPA — listen to it in WAVE or OGG) is a popular junk food snack similar to American disco fries. ... Cheddar cheese is a pale yellow, sharp-tasting cheese originally made in the English village of Cheddar, in Somerset. ... Curd is a dairy product obtained by curdling (coagulating) milk with rennet or an edible acidic substance such as lemon juice or vinegar and then draining off the liquid portion (called whey). ... Gravy is a thickened sauce, usually made from a base of the juices and extractives that run from meat during cooking. ... chili may refer to: chili (capsicum) - the fruit and plant of any one of several species of the genus Capsicum chili con carne - the common name for a spicy stew-like dish chili powder - a spice mix containing cumin, dried ground peppers and other spices, traditionally used to flavor this... Mozzarella is an Italian fresh cheese made from water buffalo or (more often outside of Italy) cows milk, the second used for most types of pizza or served with sliced tomatoes and basil in Caprese. ... Cubes of Emmental Swiss cheese Swiss cheese is the generic name for several related varieties of cheese, originally made in Switzerland. ... Garlic (Allium sativum) is a bulbous perennial food plant of the family Alliaceae. ...

Health aspects

French fries may contain a large amount of fat (usually saturated) from frying and from some condiments or topping and may be bad for the health of those who consume them regularly. Some researchers have also suggested that the high temperatures used for frying such dishes may have results harmful to health (see acrylamides.) In the United States about 1/4 of vegetables consumed are prepared as French Fries and are believed to contribute to an epidemic of obesity. Frying french fries in beef tallow, the traditional McDonald's recipe, produces a very tasty product but adds saturated fat to the diet. Replacing tallow with tropical oils such as palm oil simply substitutes one saturated fat for another. Replacing tallow with partially hydrogenated oil reduces cholesterol but adds trans fat. [1] (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0813/is_n7_v23/ai_18650428) In biochemistry, fat is a generic term for a class of lipids. ... A saturated fat is a fat or fatty acid in which there are no double bonds between the carbon atoms of the fatty acid chain (hence, it is fully saturated with hydrogen atoms). ... The chemical compound acrylamide is an amide with chemical formula C3H5NO and structure It is a white odorless crystalline, soluble in water, ethanol and ether. ... Vegetables on a market Vegetable is a nutritional and culinary term denoting any part of a plant that is commonly consumed by humans as food, but is not regarded as a culinary fruit, nut, herb, spice, or grain. ... Tallow is rendered beef or mutton fat (suet). ... Palm oil is a form of edible vegetable oil obtained from the fruit of the Oil palm tree. ... Cholesterol is a steroid lipid, found in the cell membranes of all body tissues, and transported in the blood plasma of all animals. ... A trans fatty acid (commonly shortened to trans fat) is an unsaturated fatty acid molecule that contains a trans double bond between carbon atoms, which makes the molecule less kinked compared to cis fat. Research suggests a correlation between diets high in trans fats and diseases like atherosclerosis and coronary...

United States political controversy

On March 11, 2003 the cafeteria menus in the three United States House of Representatives office buildings changed the name of french fries to freedom fries in a symbolic culinary rebuke of France stemming from anger over that country's opposition to the United States government's position on Iraq. French toast was also changed to freedom toast. In response, the French embassy noted that french fries are Belgian. "We are at a very serious moment dealing with very serious issues and we are not focusing on the name you give to potatoes," said Nathalie Loisau, an embassy spokeswoman. March 11 is the 70th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (71st in Leap year). ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The House of Representatives is the larger of two houses that make up the U.S. Congress, the other being the United States Senate. ... Freedom fries was a short-lived name used in the United States for french fries. ... French toast is popular as a breakfast main course in North America. ...

Even though the name change started with private restaurants across the country and was later picked up by the House of Representatives, many French people considered the quick and highly visible reporting of the name change needlessly spiteful, and a media-driven attempt to direct Americans' attention away from the serious reasons for French opposition. See media manipulation and anti-French sentiment in the United States. The process of media manipulation is the way in which individuals or groups use various tricks -such as doing a big pile of poo- in dealing with the media in order to create an image of their side of an argument that is most favorable to the receiver. ... ...

In June 2004, the United States Department of Agriculture, with the advisement of a federal district judge from Beaumont, Texas, classified batter-coated french fries as a vegetable under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. Although this move was mostly for trade reasons (french fries do not meet the standard to be listed as a "processed food"), this received significant media attention partially due to the documentary Super Size Me. 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The U.S. Department of Agriculture, also called the Agriculture Department, or USDA, is a Cabinet department of the United States Federal Government. ... Beaumont is a city in Jefferson County, Texas. ... Vegetables on a market Vegetable is a nutritional and culinary term denoting any part of a plant that is commonly consumed by humans as food, but is not regarded as a culinary fruit, nut, herb, spice, or grain. ... Food preservation is the process of treating and handling food in such a way as to stop or greatly slow down spoilage to prevent foodborne illness while maintaining nutritional value, texture and flavor. ... Super Size Me movie poster Super Size Me is a 2004 documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an independent U.S. filmmaker. ...

Chips in court

In 1994 the well-known owner of Stringfellows nightclub in London, Peter Stringfellow took exception to McCain Foods use of the name "Stringfellows" for a brand of long thin french fries and took them to court. He lost the case. London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... Peter Stringfellow (born October 17, 1940) is a businessman and minor British celebrity. ...

See also

• Freedom fries

Freedom fries was a short-lived name used in the United States for french fries. ...

External links

• The Belgian fries website. (http://www.belgianfries.com)
• The Food Reference Website on French fries. (http://www.foodreference.com/html/qfrenchfries.html)
• Straight Dope Staff Report: What's the origin of French fries? (http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mfrenchfry.html)