When you ask people around what their favorite food is, a lot will often say something like “Fried Chicken” or French Fries. Studies show that a lot of people from Canada and the United States love their food fried. What makes frying so likable is that it takes little effort to cook up some fantastic food. Just heat a frying pan, add some oil, when it’s hot enough, add the food you want to fry.
Incredibly, the amount of food that people fry is unremarkable. Have you ever heard of fried ice cream? How about a fried margarita? Yes, such things do exist. If those fried foods got you interested, here are some more facts about fried food that you should know about:
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1. Fried Chicken Came From Overseas
Who would have thought that something so American such as country fried chicken would come from abroad? If you’re into wtf facts like these, you’ll be surprised to know that deep frying chicken parts is a century-old tradition from Scotland.
In the past, most scots immigrated to the US and brought their tradition with them. Traditions such as playing bagpipes during a fireman’s funeral, the humble potato, and fried chicken were all brought by the Scots into the country.
If we trace back the origins of fried food, history shows us that as early as the 1st century, people from ancient Mesopotamia were already deep-frying food. Ancient Romans also fried chicken and called it “Pullum Frontonianum.”
2. Fried Intestines
In the Philippines, there’s a favorite street food that might not be for the faint of heart. Although a lot of people will say balut, the country actually has a lot of weird food. One of those foods is fried isaw. Fried isaw is made by cleaning pig or chicken intestines, coating them in a thick batter, and deep-frying them. Alternatively, some people grill isaw and add barbeque sauce to it.
Filipinos love isaw so much that even children love it as an afternoon snack. A stick of isaw with a fistful of rice can cost just 20 cents. Filipinos love it so much that sometimes, they ask the vendor to include the leftover fried crumbs with their orders. Isaw tastes good and is a must-try for tourists who want to be safe and adventurous at the same time.
3. Fried Insects
Cambodia is another country which enjoys its share of fried food. In fact, people love it so much that they often deep-fry giant tarantulas and other insects. People usually cook these critters with garlic, sugar, and chili until they’re crispy.
Many parts of Asia, including China and Vietnam, also eat fried silkworms, batod or beetle grubs, grasshoppers, and even scorpions are part of their fried menu. Be sure to try out these exotic foods when you’re in these countries.
4. French Fries Aren’t Really French
One of the most widely consumed fried foods is the french fry. It’s so loved by many that almost every American consumes 16 pounds of it every year. Canadians show their love for french fries through their world-renowned poutine. Poutine is a dish made with french fries, cheese curds, and gravy. However, how did deep-fried potato sticks get its name?
Believe it or not, American soldiers get the credit for naming these simple potato sticks. In World War I, American troops stationed in Belgium first got a taste of these fries. As Belgium’s official language was French, soldiers nicknamed the dish “French Fries.” Ever since that fateful event, the name stuck, and we’re here enjoying our french fries.
5. The Healthiest Oil
A lot of health-conscious people often say that fried food is unhealthy and contributes to obesity. Although overeating fried food can lead to such problems, there are healthy oils you can use to make fried food healthier. When it comes to deep-frying, the healthiest oil to use is safflower oil and rice bran oil. You can also use peanut oil if you don’t mind the nutty aftertaste.
For pan-frying, the king of oils is the undisputed extra virgin olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil or EVOO, for short, contains fatty acids that are often classified as HDL or high-density lipids. These lipids are good for cardiovascular health. Aside from HDL, EVOO also has good amounts of vitamin E and K, and antioxidants that help prevent cancer.
Takeaway
Fried food is one of the best types of food you can get. It’s easy to prepare, fast to cook, and best of all, it’s yummy. From fried chicken to french fries, there’s a lot of food that tastes better when fried. The five facts mentioned above are just a few reasons why fried foods not only taste good, they’re interesting as well.
