French fries are certainly an all-time favorite snack of many people, with some even having a strong opinions on their preferences.

On National French Fry Day, observed every July 13, we celebrate and enjoy this versatile snack.

French fries may not be the healthiest, but they've certainly become a staple as a snack or side dish.

Even with its rather unclear origin, fries have stood the test of time and continue to be enjoyed by people of all ages.

On National French Fry Day, let's have a look at some interesting facts about the yummy snack. (Courtesy: National Today, Kidadl, National Day Calendar).

  • French fries may not be French at all. As mentioned, its exact origins are unclear, but it is believed to have originated in Belgium
  • In a National Today survey of 1,000 Americans, McDonalds' fries took the top spot in the ranking of America's fast food fries, with a whopping 35% of the votes. Chick-fil-A wins a distant second place with 13%, while Five Guys is in the third spot with 12% of the votes
  • In the same survey, 21% of Americans said their favorite French Fry style is regular, followed closely by curly fries (20%) then by steak-cut fries with 14% of the votes
  • The term "French Fried Potatoes" first appeared in print in "Cookery for Maids of All Work" by E. Warren in 1856
  • In 1802, Thomas Jefferson had "potatoes served in a French manner" at a dinner in the White House
  • The world's longet curly fry was 38 inches long and was found by a customer at Arby's
  • Although Americans love French fries, Belgians actually eat the most fries per capita. There’s even a museum in Belgium called "Frietmuseum" that's dedicated to fries
  • There was previously an effort in Congress to remove "French" out of the name of the popular dish and called them "freedom fries" instead
  • Not all potatoes are good to make into fries. Starchy ones are said to be the best for it
  • In the National Today survey, 33% of people said they don't dip their fries in milkshakes while 21% said they do
  • 55% of the respondents noted ketchup as their favorite condiment with fries, followed by ranch (15%) and cheese sauce (8%)

To mark the occasion, people can celebrate fries by indulging in them, perhaps in one of the restaurants offering deals to celebrate the occasion.

Some may try different dips than their usual ones, or top their favorite fries with seasonings or other delicious toppings like onion powder or jalapeno.

Others may even opt to try healthier options by choosing to enjoy sweet potato fries or by baking their fries instead of frying them.

French Fries
July 13 is National French Fry Day! pixabay.com
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