Cheddar fries are a beloved snack and appetizer for good reason – the combination of hot, crispy fries and gooey, melted cheese is hard to resist! But there’s more to cheddar fries than meets the eye. Here are some fun facts about the origins, variations, and best practices for making cheddar fries at home.
The History of Cheddar Fries
Like many savory comfort foods, the exact origins of cheddar fries are difficult to pin down. However, most food historians agree that cheddar fries likely originated in the United States in the 1960s or 1970s. As French fries rose in popularity across the fast food industry, creative cooks began experimenting with different toppings and cheeses. Adding shredded cheddar cheese on top of hot French fries proved to be a winning combination.
The first documented evidence of “cheddar fries” on a menu comes from a pub in Vermont called The Oasis in the late 1970s. Cheddar, of course, has strong ties to Vermont and parts of upstate New York. The owner claims to have invented the dish. By the 1980s, cheddar fries made their way to higher end restaurants looking to elevate the basic plate of cheese fries. Nowadays, cheddar fries are served at diners, pubs, sports bars, and backyard cookouts across the country.
Regional Variations
Cheddar fries may have originated in the Northeastern U.S., but cooks across North America have put their own spin on the concept. Here are some of the most popular regional variations:
- Poutine: This French Canadian take on cheddar fries also includes gravy.
- Carne Asada Fries: This California specialty includes grilled steak on top.
- Chili Cheese Fries: Popular throughout the Midwest, these include chili and an extra dose of cheese.
- Disco Fries: Found in New Jersey diners, disco fries include cheese, gravy, and onions.
- Hogtown Fries: This Florida spin includes BBQ pulled pork and bacon.
While cheddar is most common, other melty cheeses like Monterey Jack, queso blanco, and Swiss may be used. The possibilities for customized flavor combinations are endless!
Cheddar Fries as a Competitive Eating Challenge
Due to their indulgent, heavy nature, cheddar fries have become a feature dish in the world of competitive eating. Major eating competitions like the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest often include cheddar fries as a side challenge. Here are some notable cheddar fry records:
- Joey Chestnut holds the world record for cheddar fries, consuming over 10 pounds in 10 minutes in 2007.
- Miki Sudo holds the women’s record, eating 4.5 pounds of cheddar fries in 2018.
- The most cheddar fries eaten in 1 minute is 1.75 pounds, achieved by Darron Breeden in 2017.
While competitive eaters can put away platefuls, the average person struggles to finish a more reasonable order of cheddar fries. But that doesn’t stop restaurant patrons from trying!
Nutrition Facts
Part of what makes cheddar fries so tasty also makes them quite unhealthy. Here are the nutrition facts for a typical order of cheddar fries at a restaurant:
| Nutrient | Amount | Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 610 | 30% |
| Fat | 36g | 55% |
| Carbohydrates | 51g | 17% |
| Protein | 15g | 30% |
| Sodium | 870mg | 37% |
As you can see, a single order provides over half of the recommended daily saturated fat intake and significant amounts of sodium. The calorie count is also very high for a single snack or side. While the occasional indulgence won’t hurt, nutritionists recommend limiting high fat, high calorie dishes like cheddar fries.
The Best Potatoes for Cheddar Fries
For optimal crunch on the outside and fluffiness on the inside, most chefs recommend using russet potatoes. The oblong, brown-skinned russet is ideal for frying due to:
- High starch content – This helps the exterior crisp up in the oil.
- Low moisture – Less water means less splattering in the oil.
- Thicker shape – Flat wedges fry evenly and hold toppings better.
Yukon gold or red potatoes can also work well, but avoid waxier, moister varieties like new potatoes. Thoroughly drying the potato wedges after slicing but before frying is also important. This helps achieve maximum crunch.
How to Make Perfect Cheddar Fries at Home
Recreating that appetizing balance of crunchy fries and melted cheese at home is easy to do with this step-by-step guide:
- Cut russet potatoes into 1/4 to 1/2 inch wedges and soak in cold water for at least 30 minutes to remove starch.
- Pat the wedges thoroughly dry. Allow to sit for 10 minutes to dry further before frying.
- Heat oil to 350°F in a heavy pan or pot. Fry wedges in batches for 4-5 minutes until golden brown.
- Drain the fries on a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt.
- Place the fried potatoes in an oven-safe dish and top with grated cheddar cheese.
- Bake at 400°F for 5 minutes until the cheese is fully melted.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
For even coverage, use at least 1/4 cup shredded cheese per potato. Feel free to toss on extra toppings like bacon bits, sour cream, green onions, or chili before serving.
Toppings and Dipping Sauces
Cheddar fries certainly don’t need anything extra, but additional toppings and sauces can really bring the flavor over the top. Here are some popular mix-ins and dips for loaded cheddar fries:
- Bacon: Crisp cooked bacon or bacon bits add crunch.
- Jalapenos: Spice things up with sliced pickled jalapenos.
- Shredded Chicken: For a meal, top with pulled rotisserie chicken.
- Guacamole: Cool, creamy guac contrasts nicely with the hot fries.
- Queso Dipping Sauce: No need for extra cheese on top with a side of queso for dipping.
- Ranch Dressing: A classic pairing that also comes on the side.
- BBQ Sauce: Sweet and tangy barbecue sauce pleases any crowd.
Feel free to freestyle and come up with your own trademark loaded fry creation! The cheesier and meatier, the better.
Pairing with Beverages
Cheddar fries call out for hearty, satisfying beverage accompaniments. Here are some of the best drinks to pair with cheddar fries:
- Beer: A crisp lager or pale ale helps cut through the richness.
- Hard Cider: The apples and spice notes complement the cheese.
- Burger-Style Milkshakes: Lean into the indulgence with a creamy, malty shake.
- Diners-Style Milkshakes: For a retro vibe, pair a classic vanilla or chocolate milkshake.
- Iced Tea: Unsweetened tea offers relief from the salt and fat.
- Fruit Juice: Apple or cranberry juice cuts the grease.
For alcohol-free options, sparkling water, iced coffee, and cold-brewed teas also help cleanse the palate between bites of cheesy fries. Or just stick with the traditional fast food pairing – a fountain soda!
Where to Find the Best Cheddar Fries
While you can obviously make cheddar fries at home, sometimes you crave an order from a restaurant that has perfected the dish. Here are some top spots across the U.S. for indulging in oozing, over-the-top cheddar fries:
- Hopdoddy Burger Bar (Texas): Austin-based burger joint with raved-about white truffle Parmesan fries.
- The Vortex (Georgia): Atlanta bar serves Totally Topped Tater Tots smothered in cheese, chili, and bacon.
- Culver’s (Midwest): This fast-casual chain does classic cheese fries or bacon cheese fries right.
- Elevation Burger (Virginia): Their skinny fries get even skinnier under mounds of cheddar and applewood smoked bacon.
- Slater’s 50/50 (California): Creative burger spot offering chili cheese fries with Angus beef chili.
Don’t forget to check your local sports bars, pubs, diners, and neighborhood taverns for their takes on loaded cheesy fries. Most restaurants serve some version of this beloved appetizer.
How to Eat Cheddar Fries
There’s really no “right” or “wrong” way to eat cheddar fries, but here are a few techniques to consider:
- Take a Bit of Everything: Skewer a few fries, some cheese, and any toppings in each bite.
- Cheese First: Scoop up melted cheese with fries for a gooey mouthful.
- Alternate Fry and Toppings: Eat a crisp fry, then a bit of chili or bacon, then more fries.
- Dip and Dredge: For maximum coating, dip fries in sauce or dressing before enjoying.
- Fork and Knife: Embrace using utensils to keep your hands (relatively) clean.
However you choose to eat them, have plenty of napkins on hand. Melted cheese has a habit of dripping and making a delicious mess!
Cheddar Fries Around the World
While cheddar fries originated in America, the concept of cheesy potato fries has spread globally. Here are some examples of local varieties to try when traveling:
- Patatas Bravas (Spain): Fried potatoes served with spicy tomato sauce and aioli.
- Poutine (Canada): French fries, cheese curds, and gravy.
- Cheese Kapsalon (Netherlands): Topped with Gouda, shawarma meat, garlic sauce, and more.
- Irish Nachos (Ireland): Waffle fries with cheese, bacon, and sour cream.
- Fritten mit Majo und Käse (Germany): French fries topped with mayo and cheddar.
You’ll notice cheddar isn’t always the cheese of choice. Local cheeses like queso blanco in Mexico or squeaky cheese curds in Canada are popular too. But the concept remains the same – hot, salty fries smothered in melted cheese never goes out of style!
Cheddar Fries in Pop Culture
As a staple menu item across America, cheddar fries have made plenty of cameos in movies, TV shows, songs, and more:
- In Nacho Libre, Jack Black’s character Ignacio, or “Nacho,” serves up cheesy nachos and fries at the monastery.
- On The Simpsons, Krusty Burger offers Ribwich value meals that come with “cheese-fried cheese fries.”
- In Katy Perry’s music video for “Last Friday Night,” a character is shown guiltily eating chili cheese fries following a wild party.
- On cooking shows like Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, loaded cheesy fries are often featured as a signature dish.
- In the 2012 comedy Pitch Perfect, the character Fat Amy laments wasting her “fries with cheese and jalapeno” after getting arrested.
As cheesy fries continue satisfying appetites for generations to come, we can expect more tasty references in movies, songs, and TV. They’re just that iconic!
Fun Cheese Fry Trivia
Here are a few more fun facts any cheddar fry fanatic should know:
- On average, Americans eat 30 pounds of cheese per year, one of the highest rates in the world.
- Cheese has “casomorphins,” natural compounds that trigger opiate receptors and a mild addictive response.
- Wisconsin uses more cheddar cheese than any other state, producing over 25% of America’s supply.
- The world’s largest cheese sculpture was a 6,000 pound block carved into a replica of the U.S. Capitol Building.
- Contrary to popular belief, dairy does not cause more mucus production or worsen respiratory symptoms.
So go ahead and indulge in those irresistible cheddar fries – your body isn’t producing extra phlegm! Cheese really can comfort both the body and soul.
Conclusion
Cheddar fries have come a long way from their humble origins in rural taverns to global prominence as a beloved, crave-worthy comfort food. Their popularity shows no signs of waning. Thanks to endless possibilities for customization with different cheeses, toppings, dips, and fry shapes, cheddar fries continue satisfying our cravings for that ideal salty-crunchy-ooey-gooey combo in each indulgent bite. So next time you come across a plate of piping hot, freshly melted cheddar fries, dig right in and enjoy a little taste of cheesy bliss!