HISTORY
FRIETGESCHIEDENIS
10 FACTS
ABOUT FRIES
Did you think that you, as a real Belgian, knew everything about our national pride?
Big chance you’ll learn something new here!
At the end of the 17th century, in the Maas area between Dinant and Liege, people had the habit to catch and fry small fish. When at the end of the 18th century the Maas was frozen solid, they replaced the fish with strips of potatoes: the invention of the fry.
Later, during WW1, there were chip shops behind the front lines so the soldiers could go and get a hot meal every now and then. This was how the American soldiers fighting over here were introduced to our fries, but they thought they were in France.
It is because of a historic mistake that our fries are known as French fries abroad. (time to claim them back! Click here).
A different theory says that “French fries” is coming from the English verb “to French”, which means something like “cutting into strips”.
FACT 1
FACT 2
Really tasty fries are made fresh and are not coming from the freezer. If you still want to use freezer fries, let them defrost before you fry them. This way, the temperature of the oil won’t go down too low, and your fries will be nice and crispy.
STEP 1
FACT 3
Did you know that the ideal fries are made from potatoes called “bintjes”, preferably one from Flanders? These potatoes are the firmest, which makes them perfect for our fries.
FACT 4
Too thick, too thin… 11mm is the size of Real Belgian Fries. This way you still can perfectly taste the potato after frying them
FACT 5
Some recipes tell you to rinse the fries once you’ve cut them, while others tell you to not do that. By not rinsing them, more starch stays on the fries, making them very crispy.
FACT 6
Fries are traditionally fried in animal fat (ox fat or horse fat). This gives them that typical taste and smell.
FACT 7
Around 1820, the first mobile chip shops travelled from fair to fair, but the fries were so popular that at every town square one would stay permanently. Now there are more than 5000 chip shops in Belgium.
FACT 8
The oldest chip shop in our country is called Max and is located in Antwerp (at the Groenplaats); it has existed since 1842! In Brussels you can find the popular chip shop Maison Antoine (Place Jourdan, Etterbeek).
FACT 9
The only fry museum in the world can be found in Belgium, in Bruges.
FACT 10
Belgium is the largest producer of French fries in the world. Annually we produce around 5 million ton of fries.
RESERVEER UW FRIETWAGEN
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