How It's Made French Fries

Summary

This video explores the fascinating history and production process of French fries, which originated in Belgium in the late 17th century and gained popularity during World War I. The journey begins with the careful harvesting of high-quality potatoes, followed by a thorough cleaning and sorting process using advanced machinery. After peeling and meticulous inspection, the potatoes are chopped and cooked in non-hydrogenated vegetable oil before being frozen. Today, French fries are a beloved fast food staple worldwide, showcasing both culinary tradition and modern technology in their preparation.

Takeaways

• 🍟 French fries originated in Belgium in the late 17th century.
• 🇧🇪 The name 'french fries' gained popularity during World War I due to American soldiers associating them with French-speaking Belgium.
• 🌍 Today, french fries are a beloved staple in fast food culture worldwide.
• 🚜 The process of producing frozen french fries begins with the mechanical harvesting of high-quality potatoes.
• 🧼 After harvesting, potatoes undergo a thorough cleaning process to remove soil, rocks, and leaves.
• 📏 Potatoes are sorted by size using a specialized sorting device with vibrating grids.
• 🔪 Larger potatoes are used for traditional strip-shaped fries, while smaller ones are shaped into cubes or rings.
• 🔥 The potatoes are steamed to soften their skins for easy peeling before being washed and inspected.
• 🖥️ A high-tech quality check involves cameras analyzing the size and color of each fry, eliminating those that don't meet standards.
• 🍳 Fries are cooked in non-hydrogenated vegetable oil for about 2 minutes before being frozen at temperatures between -5 to -25°C.

Q & A

Where did French fries originate?

French fries originated in Belgium in the late 17th century.

Why are they called French fries?

They became known as French fries during World War I due to American soldiers associating them with French-speaking Belgium.

What is the first step in producing frozen French fries?

The first step involves mechanically harvesting high-quality potatoes to ensure efficiency and precision.

How are potatoes cleaned after harvesting?

After harvesting, potatoes undergo a thorough roller process to remove small rocks, soil, and leaves, ensuring they are clean.

What is the purpose of the sorting device?

The sorting device classifies the potatoes according to their size, separating smaller potatoes from larger ones for different fry shapes.

How are the potato skins removed?

The potatoes enter a steaming chamber where pressurized steam softens the skins, allowing them to be removed easily by a specialized peeler.

What happens to the potatoes after peeling?

After peeling, the potatoes are washed and then inspected by workers who discard any with green or spoiled areas.

What are the two methods for chopping potatoes?

One method uses a hydraulic system where running water propels the potatoes against cutting blades, while the other uses rotary mechanical slicers.

How is quality control maintained during production?

A camera analyzes each potato's size and color during production, flagging and eliminating any that do not meet quality standards.

What happens to the fries after frying?

After frying, excess oil drains from the fries before they are sent to the freezing area, where they are frozen at temperatures between -5 to -25°C.