Prompt Cast
The History of French Fries: From South America to a Global Staple
TLDR The history of French fries dates back to the late 17th to late 18th century in France or Belgium, where people began frying potatoes. While the exact reason why they are called French fries in America is unclear, theories include the early adoption of the French technique of deep-frying, Irish migration to the US, and American soldiers being served the dish in Belgium during World War I.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
French fries are called French fries in America, but this podcast episode explores the history of this ubiquitous food and what the French actually have to do with it.
01:33
The history of French fries begins with the origins of the potato in South America and its introduction to Europe by the Spanish in the late 1500s.
02:51
The potato's popularity in France was largely due to Antoine Augustus Parmentier, who heavily promoted them through publicity stunts and banquets, leading to the rise of fried potatoes known as frites.
04:04
The origin of French fries can be traced back to the late 17th to late 18th century in what is now France or Belgium, where people began frying potatoes, and while the exact reason why Americans call them French fries is unclear, there are multiple theories.
05:30
The three main explanations for why French fries are called French fries are: the early adoption of the French technique of deep-frying by Thomas Jefferson and others, the Irish migration to the US bringing the dish of French potatoes, and the American soldiers being served the dish in Belgium during World War I where they were called frites.
06:51
The British call French fries "chips" because a cut piece of fruit or vegetable was called a chip, and fried fish and fried chipped potatoes eventually combined to make the staple dish known as fish and chips.
08:13
The story of the origin of French fries is likely apocryphal, as there are mentions of fried potatoes in cookbooks as early as 1822, but regardless of their true origin, French fries have become a staple dish found in almost every country in the world today.
