Today marks National French Fry Day in the United States—and while there is universal love for the crispy, salty delicacy, some states have a chip on their shoulder about the best type of fry.
Research from McCain Foods and Talker Research has revealed the favored fry by state and unveiled which one is the most popular overall.
The Context
The holiday used to be observed on July 13, but fast-food chain Checkers & Rally’s organized an online petition in 2022 for the second Friday in July to be the national fry-day.
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What To Know
The research, commissioned by McCain Foods and conducted by Talker Research, polled 5,000 U.S. adults on their thoughts and feelings when it comes to fries.
The study found that, on average, a single American can eat at least 17 pounds worth of small servings of fries per year.
Nationwide, that equates to Americans eating a minimum of 5,61 billion pounds of fries each year.
So, how did the preferences vary by state?
Straight and seasoned came out on top and was the preference in 28 states.
The rest of the nation was split between shoestring fries, curly fries and crinkle-cut fries.
Colorado was the only state where waffle fries were the most popular.
Newsweek spoke to Chef Mark Slutzky, director of culinary at McCain Foods, about the study and the different preferences in fries across the country.
“Fry styles often tie into regional identity and nostalgia, and personal preferences are shaped by the restaurants you grew up with and the type of fries they used,” he said.
“In the Midwest, certain fried chicken restaurants are known for their crinkle-cut fries, for example, as are Chicago hot dog stands. Shoestring fries are more associated with burger chains that are popular in the Northeast. And in Colorado, where there are a lot of brew pubs, waffle fries top the list, which are perfect for piling high for cowboy nachos or other loaded fry creations,” he added.
As for the top seasonings and dips? Salt, garlic powder and Parmesan were the sprinklings of preference, while ketchup and ranch and cheese sauces came out on top for other condiments, according to the study.
What People Are Saying
Chef Mark Slutzky, director of culinary at McCain Foods, told Newsweek over email: “Local dishes can also play a role in the type of fry you gravitate toward. For example, shoestring fries are popular in Detroit, which is known for its chili cheese fries. On the West Coast, straight-and-seasoned fries are perfect for dishes like California burritos and carne asada fries. Everyone has their favorite type of fry but, preferences aside, French fries are the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Few things bring people together like a plate of crispy, golden fries.”
What Happens Next
The study found that a total of 77 percent of people were likely to share their fries with others, and 83 percent would share their last fry with someone that they love.