National French Fry Day is right around the corner, and it's one holiday I am ready to celebrate.
In this article, we will walk you through the brief history of the French fry, highlight the U.S. states where it is most popular, provide step-by-step guidance for making restaurant-quality fries at home, and list the drive-through deals that let you enjoy them for free or at a discount. With these details, you’ll be fully prepared to honor French Fry Day this year!
What is National French Fry Day?
National French Fry Day is celebrated on the second Friday in July (July 11th this year). It is a tradition that began in the early 2000s as a simple, fun food holiday in the U.S. While there is no hard evidence why this annual date was chosen, some believe that it was picked to coincide with France's Bastille Day. This gives a subtle nod to the holiday's name and the food's fabled origin (we will get to that later).
Over time, Fry Day has gained popularity thanks to social media and clever marketing campaigns. Now, it's not just a day, but often a weekly fry celebration for many fast-food chains, turning a simple snack into a nationwide fry fest.
Who Invented the French Fry?
Almost everyone has eaten French fries, but few people can tell you where this golden-brown potato dish was first created. The true origin of the French fry remains a matter of debate, with both France and Belgium claiming credit. What is clear is that the dish evolved from simple street food, with early versions known as pommes frites in French-speaking regions.
Potatoes were first brought to Europe from the Americas by the Spanish, who may have immediately created their own fried potato dishes (patatas bravas). Some historians argue that deep-frying as a general cooking technique points to a Mediterranean influence, which suggests that Spain may have played a bigger role in creating the French Fry than it is typically credited.
When you take a closer look, you'll find that the first real known mention of fried potatoes resembling modern fries appeared in a Parisian cookbook in 1775, La Cuisinière Républicaine. A Bavarian musician named Frederic Krieger took this recipe, brought it to Belgium, and opened a fry shop there, selling them as "Paris-style fried potatoes." Is that proof enough that fries really came from France? Not quite.
Despite this clear French connection, many Belgians fiercely defend their claim to the origin of the fries. Folklore suggests that villagers in Belgium's Meuse Valley invented fries as early as the 1680s, when they sliced and fried potatoes during a harsh winter when fishing was impossible. However, historians like Pierre Leclercq have disputed this timeline, noting that potatoes weren't widely grown in the region until decades later, and deep-frying would have been too costly for poor villagers. Yet Belgium has pushed UNESCO to recognise fries as national heritage, and today fries are central to Belgian food culture.
But let's throw another country into the French fry debate. Ironically, the term "French fries" entered American use after World War I, when U.S. soldiers encountered the dish in Belgium and, hearing the French language spoken, mistakenly attributed the fries to France. Maybe the USA was to blame for all the confusion!
No matter where they originated, French fries have been around for centuries, and they are likely here to stay. Just look at these facts that prove that much to be true!
French Fry Preferences by State
While European countries debate who invented the French fry, we in the USA will be devouring them by the handful. A recent study commissioned by McCain Foods surveyed 5,000 adults and shows just how devoted Americans are to French fries. The average person consumes approximately 17 pounds of food per year, totaling roughly 5.6 billion pounds nationwide. Virginia tops the chart at around 21 pounds per resident, while Alabama, Georgia, and Maryland follow closely with about 20 pounds each.
When it comes to quality, 72 % agree that the ideal fry is crispy on the outside and soft inside, yet opinions split over cut and style. 28 states, including North Dakota, Mississippi, and Alabama, rank straight-cut, seasoned fries as their top choice. Shoestring fries dominate in Hawaii, New Hampshire, Michigan, Maine, and Texas. Curly fries lead in Alaska, Kansas, Connecticut, and Oklahoma, and crinkle-cut wins in Nebraska, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania (and is also Illinois’s favourite). Finally, waffle fries only ranked in the top position in Colorado.
Classic salt is the top seasoning of choice (77 %), way ahead of garlic powder, parmesan, Old Bay, and paprika. Ketchup remains the favourite dip (68 %), followed by ranch and cheese sauce.
Fries are also a social food: 77 % would share a basket with friends or family, and 65% admit to stealing fries from someone else’s plate (I am definitely guilty of that!).
Lastly, would you guess that Californians and New Yorkers report the greatest joy while eating fries among all the states?
How to Make Perfect French Fries at Home
Anyone can make crispy, golden brown French fries. After all, they are just fried potatoes! But there is a little more to it than simply throwing some potato pieces into a deep fryer.
We turned to the kitchen queen herself, Martha Stewart, for advice on how to make perfect French fries at home, and here's what she recommends, aka the perfect classic double-fry.
To make perfect homemade French fries, start with russet potatoes, which are best thanks to their starchy texture and crisp finish. Cut the potatoes evenly into fry shapes, either using a sharp knife or a mandoline with a French fry blade. Start with six russet potatoes (about three pounds). Soak the cut potatoes in cold water for at least four hours (and up to 24) to leach out excess starch, then drain and dry them thoroughly.
The secret to restaurant-style fries is cooking them twice. Heat two inches of oil in a Dutch oven (or deep-fat fryer) to 300°F. Fry the potatoes in batches for about 3 minutes, just until they soften without browning, then transfer them to paper-towel-lined sheets and let the oil return to temperature between batches. The blanched fries can rest in the refrigerator for up to four hours.
For the second cook, the oil temperature should be higher, about 350°F. Fry the potatoes again until golden (about 4 to 4½ minutes), and add a pinch of rosemary and lemon zest in the final 20 seconds. Drain, season generously with coarse salt, and serve immediately.
The result: irresistible fries that rival your favorite takeout.
How to Celebrate National French Fry Day
If you don't feel like making your own French fries, you can celebrate in true American style and head to the drive-through to place your fry order. A few national fast food restaurants are offering fantastic fry deals for this fun food holiday.
- Burger King: Royal Perks members get a free order of fries (any size) with any purchase every week through December 31, 2025. For the holiday itself, Burger King is offering an additional promotion that appears in the app’s “Offers” tab: Royal Perks members can activate a buy-one-get-one-free deal on medium fries (or, at select locations, a free any-size fry with a $1 purchase). The one-day offer is redeemable only on July 11 and must be loaded into the BK app or on bk.com before placing your order.
- Fatburger: Get a free Fat or Skinny Fries with any burger or sandwich purchase when you order online from July 9–13, 2025. Use code FRYDAY25 at checkout. Offer valid at participating locations in 15 states.
- McDonald's: Score free medium fries with any purchase of $1 or more every Friday, including National French Fry Day, through December 26, 2025. This offer is exclusive to the McDonald's app.
- Checkers & Rally's: Celebrate National French Fry Day on July 11, 2025, by bringing a recent receipt from any competitor's fry purchase to a participating Checkers & Rally's and enjoy a free large Famous Seasoned Fries, no other purchase needed.
- Smashburger: Friday, July 11, 2025 is National French Fry Day, and Smashburger® is giving you a reason to celebrate with free fries with any $1+ purchase.
- White Castle: Grab the “National French Fry Day – Free Cheese Fries” digital coupon on the Value Offers page and scan it at checkout.
Once you have your hot, freshly cooked fries in hand, go ahead and take a picture, then post it on your socials using one of these relevant hashtags: #NationalFrenchFryDay, #FrenchFryDay2025, and #FryLove. I know I am getting excited for all the fry fun already!
Leave a Reply