Fried potatoes facts for kids

Sliced potatoes frying in a frying-pan

Fried potatoes are a super popular food made from potatoes! They are cooked by frying them in hot cooking oil. You can find them as a tasty side dish with many meals, or sometimes they are the main part of a dish. People often add salt and other yummy seasonings to make them taste even better.

Different Kinds of Fried Potatoes

There are so many ways to enjoy fried potatoes! Here are some of the most famous types from around the world:

French Fries and Chips

• French fries are thin strips of potato that are deep-fried until they are golden and crispy. In some countries, like the UK, they are called "chips." They are one of the most well-known fried potato dishes!

Hash Browns

• Hash browns are made from potatoes that have been grated or shredded. These shredded potatoes are then fried until they form a delicious, crispy patty or a loose pile.
  • Potato cakes or patties are like hash browns that have been pressed into a flat shape, perfect for eating with your fingers.

Home Fries

• Home fries are a simple and classic potato dish. They are made by frying chunks, slices, or diced pieces of potato in a pan or skillet. Sometimes, the potatoes are partly cooked first by boiling or baking before frying.

Lyonnaise Potatoes

• Lyonnaise potatoes are a fancy French dish. They are made with sliced potatoes that are pan-fried and mixed with thinly sliced onions. Everything is cooked in butter with a sprinkle of parsley for extra flavor.

Papa Rellena

• Papa rellena means "stuffed potatoes" in English. This is a yummy Latin American dish! It uses a dough made from baked potatoes, which is then filled with different tasty ingredients before being fried.

Patatas Bravas

• Patatas bravas is a famous Spanish dish. It features white potatoes cut into small, irregular shapes, then fried in oil. They are served warm, usually with a spicy tomato sauce or a creamy garlic sauce called aioli.

Potato Chips and Crisps

• Potato chips (or "crisps" in some places) are super thin slices of potato. They are peeled, then deep-fried until they are crunchy, and often flavored with salt or other seasonings. They are a popular snack!

Potato Pancakes

• Potato pancakes are shallow-fried pancakes made from grated or ground potato, mixed with flour and egg. They often have garlic or onion and other seasonings.
  • Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake.
  • Latke is a special potato pancake from Jewish cooking. It's often made with potato puree and served with apple sauce or sour cream.

Potato Waffles

• Potato waffles are shaped like waffles but are made from potato. You can fry them, bake them, or even grill them!

Potatoes O'Brien

• Potatoes O'Brien is a dish that mixes pan-fried potatoes with colorful green and red bell peppers. It's a great way to add veggies to your meal!

Rösti

• Rösti is a traditional Swiss dish. It's like a large, crispy potato pancake, usually made from grated potatoes that are fried until golden brown.

Tater Tots

• Tater tots are small, bite-sized pieces of grated and shaped potatoes that are deep-fried. They are a very common side dish, especially popular with kids in the USA!