Talk:French fries

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Chips and fries

It is simply wrong to include the British "chip" in an article about "french fries". French fries are by definition thin, and as such french fries are a subset of the chip, and not the other way around - ie a thick cut chip can not be called a "french fry", but a french fry can be called a "think chip". As such to include chips in a discussion of french fries is to show a clear misunderstanding of the chip, and a bias for US english. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jamspandex (talk • contribs) 20:37, 2 May 2022 (UTC)

Agreed. Chips are not a type of french fry, they are chips. Foreigners don't get to decide the etymology of British food stuffs Marlarkey (talk) 12:55, 9 May 2022 (UTC)

There is a distinction, certainly in the minds of Brits as I've said on this page before, but sources either don't make that distinction clear enough, or don't make it at all, to justify a separate page. Find some good quality sources on this and then we can talk. Without sources, there is nothing that can be done. SpinningSpark 13:36, 9 May 2022 (UTC)

Re "French fries are by definition thin", that may be UK usage, but in US usage, French fries includes all sizes, from shoestrings (the fast food format) to steak fries (which can be very thick). --Macrakis (talk) 14:07, 10 May 2022 (UTC)

Totally agree that's why the real fries (thin and crispy) are from belgium. French fry is originally more thick with more ponouced taste of potato 2A02:2788:10C4:2C9:69BB:598D:32DE:5F01 (talk) 14:40, 10 July 2024 (UTC)

Really, there are three items "crisps" (US "chips") which are fried *slices* of potatoes and *not* "chips" potatoes; chips (UK name for fried chipped potatoes) and then fries, for the thin cut potato. Really, "Chip" should have it's own item, "French fry" should have it's own item, and "crisps or potato chip" it's own item. In the UK call chips "chips" and not "potato chips", since the "potato" is implicit. For clarification, in France the "french fry" is "pommesfritte", also in Germany, where it is frequently referred to as "pommes". This is the most usual. These translate as "fried potato". It is unfortunate that that in the US they use the name "chip" for something that is not actually made from chips, but from sliced. A little like calling petrol, "gas" when it is not actually a "gas" but a liquid (yes I know it is short for gasoline, and I realise it is somewhat off topic, but is nevertheless an example of US english using words for things which are not actually correct descriptions). — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jamspandex (talk • contribs) 20:37, 2 May 2022 (UTC)

Agreed that UK crisps/US potato chips are different from UK chips/US french fries. But French-fried potatoes (pommes frites) are a single grouping, with a variety of thicknesses: very thin (pommes paille), thin (pommes allumettes, similar to fast-food fries), or thick (pomme Pont Neuf or bûches, similar to UK chips and US steak fries). --Macrakis (talk) 02:25, 10 May 2022 (UTC)

"US English using words for things which are not actually correct descriptions."? Right. Calling out the US for this sort of thing, when it is very common in British English, is a bit rich. 2601:547:CB00:3D40:CC87:B428:5151:642D (talk) 13:54, 11 October 2024 (UTC)

I had the same reaction when I got linked to 'french' fries, from 'chips', as an ozzie it pains when Wikipedia 'English' seems to be hijacked as American (no offense). I imagine this has cropped up in many similar situations, surely there is a way to reflect non-americanist articles? Perhaps the topic should be 'Fried Potatoes' with 'French Fries' as a section. ˥ Ǝ Ʉ H Ɔ I Ɯ (talk) 01:00, 24 June 2022 (UTC)

British "chips" = American "French fries". It's not that complicated. In British English "French fries" might be a subset of "chips", but everything Brits call "chips" are "French fries" to Americans. This is simply an example of WP:ENGVAR. And since this subject does not have a strong national affiliation, we use the title it was first given (French fries). Which, by the way, is also why the article should be written using American English, contrary to the argument made above. Tad Lincoln (talk) 21:01, 29 September 2022 (UTC)

"British "chips" = American "French fries". It's not that complicated." No, it's not. You're simply wrong. Obvious 'French fries' are sometimes sold as 'chips' in UK fast food outlets - kebab, burger, chicken sort of places but 'chips' are most commonly associated with fish and chip SHOPS - the vendors not the dish. Just about everywhere else (including British McDonalds) restaurants, pubs etc sell 'fries' NOT 'French fries, the latter is an expression rarely heard in the UK.

There is simply no comparison between a 'chip'(as from a British chip shop or British fish and chip shop) and a 'French fry'. The former is soggy and pulpy, the latter, crisp. The former is a pale yellow-white colour, the fry is dark yellow-brown. The chip is oily, the fry rarely so. Traditionally, the chips are splashed with a synthetic malt vinegar and heavily seasoned with fine salt and then sold over the counter wrapped in heavy paper. This food is not, I can attest from personal experience, much liked by Americans, who know only the French fry.

Us Brits clearly understand the difference between chips and (French) fries - as well as the fact that both may be encountered in popular British cuisine. The chip is an important part of British culture and it certainly isn't the place of Americans to lecture us about that. In fact, it's offensive and insulting.86.132.255.75 (talk) 15:35, 17 July 2023 (UTC)

How about Canadian? Best of both Englishes, or whatever the plural for English is. IPs are people too 🇺🇸🦅 02:13, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

The fact is for every article using North American English (both American and Canadian), there are about five articles using British English. Maybe that should be added to Wikipedia is fascist, but that essay doesn't exist. So one of the North American Englishes should be used, just to even things out. IPs are people too 🇺🇸🦅 04:30, 30 October 2023 (UTC)

That has no relevance whatsoever to this particular article. Ponsonby100 (talk) 07:51, 30 October 2023 (UTC)

I said at the end that the North American Englishes should be used in this article. The use of British English has clearly confused people, and American or Canadian English should be employed. Hell, I'm just going to switch to Canadian. IPs are people too 🇺🇸🦅 08:47, 30 October 2023 (UTC)

The English spoken in England is simply English. Just accept that the US has no language of its own. And chips ain't fries.

FTR, I have dual citizenship, so understand. 154.120.216.242 (talk) 18:10, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

Nope. When comparing dialects, there is British English and there is also American English, among many others. After gaining independence, we kept some things and discarded the rest. American English developed across a few centuries and is very much our own.

As to the chips/french fries debate, I agree with the previously stated idea that a new article titled "Fried potatoes" should replace the current "French fries" articles, international variants listed in alphabetical order, with all dialects of English allowed. I see no need to describe a chip as a variant of a french fry. 2601:547:CB00:3D40:CC87:B428:5151:642D (talk) 14:24, 11 October 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 4 April 2024

The "Global Use" section mentions how fries are being called and sold in the different countries and languages. It says about Belgium:

In Belgium, fries are sold in shops called friteries (French), frietkot/frituur (Belgian French), snackbar (Dutch in The Netherlands)

"frietkot/frituur" is Belgian Dutch, or Flemish, not Belgian French. So it should say:

In Belgium, fries are sold in shops called friteries (French), frietkot/frituur (Belgian Dutch), snackbar (Dutch in The Netherlands)

PhoeniX1860 (talk) 13:26, 4 April 2024 (UTC)

 Partly done I have researched this and can confirm you are correct. However, I've changed it to Flemish instead for consistency with the other text in the paragraph. ― novov (t c) 08:12, 5 April 2024 (UTC)

Greek

Can be added as a country if refs can be found to confirm that preparation is with feta cheese, fresh parsley and other ingredients. David notMD (talk) 04:43, 9 May 2024 (UTC)

There are lots of ways of serving French fries. Anyway, do you have any evidence that adding feta and parsley is a common Greek variant? --Macrakis (talk) 11:13, 9 May 2024 (UTC)

Lots of recipe blogs and personal websites, so did not see any I consider reference-worthy. What makes the fries 'Greek' appears to be hand-cut, leave skins on, fried or baked with olive oil, topped with feta cheese and either fresh oregano or parsley. I do not intend to add to list of countries, or an image. David notMD (talk) 10:18, 10 May 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 16 May 2024

In the origin section, specifically this paragraph:

Spain

In 1673, the Chilean Francisco Núñez de Pineda mentioned eating "papas fritas" in 1629 and women "sent fried and stewed potatoes" to the chiefs.

I would change the header to Chile, as it has the first registry of french fries and then continue with the history in Spain. Francisco Núñez de Pineda y Bascuñan is Chilean and his writings are about his experience in Chile, so the heading is misleading as the paragraph do not refer to Spain.

Also, I would rephrase the wording to be clearer: "mentioned eating "papas fritas" in 1629 and women "sent fried and stewed potatoes" to the chiefs." I would change it to

"Wrote about eating "papas fritas" (fried potatoes) in 1629, while he was being captive by the Mapuche (indigenous habitants of Chile), where women used to serve "fried and stewed potatoes" to the chiefs. 200.124.49.227 (talk) 13:13, 16 May 2024 (UTC)

 Not done: There is no need to change the header as Chile was owned by Spain. If you object to this reply, please establish consensus before reactivating the request. ABG (Talk/Report any mistakes here) 02:49, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

Preparation section

The preparation section is the messiest part of a messy article. It contains facts unrelated to French fries, and the references do not support the assertions being made. French fries are simply cut potatoes fried in fat, yet the articles present variations of the recipe such as cooking twice as if they were definitive or most common. Is anyone up to fixing this section? Skeptic2525 (talk) 16:54, 11 August 2024 (UTC)

AIUI cooking twice is standard practice. Bon courage (talk) 16:58, 11 August 2024 (UTC)