French Fries

food · potatoes · fried · comfort food

Cut into strips. French fries are made by slicing potatoes into thin, even sticks called batonnet or julienne cuts. These uniform pieces cook evenly and get extra crispy on the outside while staying fluffy inside.

Start with real potatoes. Cooks peel and cut fresh potatoes, then often blanch them in hot water before frying. This removes extra starch and helps them turn golden and delicious instead of soggy or burned.

Fried in oil. The potato strips are dropped into very hot oil, which cooks them fast and creates that satisfying crunch. Some modern cooks also use air fryers, which use hot air instead of oil to get similar results.

Origin mystery. No one knows for certain whether French fries came from France, Belgium, or somewhere else. People have been eating fried potatoes for centuries, but the exact birthplace of this beloved snack is still debated by food historians.

Frozen and convenient. Today, most restaurants use pre-cut, blanched, and frozen potatoes that arrive ready to cook. This makes French fries faster and more consistent to prepare in kitchens around the world.