Every French Fry Cut, Ranked Worst To Best

French fries have long been embraced by American cuisine (despite being stolen from overseas). In France, the French like to claim fries were invented by Parisian chefs who created the recipe just before the onset of the French Revolution, according to NY Daily News. In nearby Belgium, the Belgians also like to lay claim to the fry, even though the origin story there is less well-known, reports The Culture Trip.

Those that have been misled about fries' origins can also blame Americans. According to National Geographic, french fries got their name when soldiers from the U.S. went to France during World War I and tried the snack for the first time. There's also another explanation for the incorrect name: in Old English, "to cut lengthwise" translates to "to french," reports Expatica.

Fries are now available at almost every fast food chain in the states. From Wendy's to McDonald's to Burger King, there's an opportunity to get a side of fries. The food — simply made from pieces of potato that are fried and salted — is deliciously simple. But whether that potato is cut into zigzags, shaved into curls, or finely julienned into matchstick-size pieces, everyone has an opinion on which shape is the tastiest. When it all comes down to it, preference for french fry shape is usually based on how crispy, crunchy, and dippable a fry produced by a particular potato-cutting method tends to be. Here is every french fry cut, ranked worst to best.

This potato cut is slightly better than the previous one because Potato Smiles come pre-cut into individual, bite-sized pieces. Although the smiley face-shaped fries are distinctly round — where standard french fries are long and slender — these tubular angles produce a satisfying texture. The curves of each Potato Smile give rise to a delicious crunchy shell, which covers a softer potato texture underneath. Potato Smiles are even small and easily handheld, enabling them to be dipped like a normal french fry. The fact that they're sold in the freezer aisle also makes them very accessible.

But Potato Smiles' unique shape means they aren't made like regular french fries. They're made from a mix of boiled mashed potatoes and binding agents like cornflour which contribute to their delicious variety of textures (via FlavourofFood). Even the most commonly found frozen Potato Smiles made by McCain are made with mashed potatoes, according to the company. Not only does this french fry cut look nothing like a regular french fry, but the process of making Potato Smiles makes them more like a thanksgiving side rather than a delicious fast food item. However, that doesn't mean they won't make you grin with every bite.

Since the 1980s, these fries have been touted as a healthy alternative to their mainstream counterpart. In 2010, the New York Times reported that sweet potato fries were being recommended by doctors to diabetes patients, due to their nutritional benefits. Despite being viewed as healthier, sweet potato fries are usually just as high in calories as typical fries, Men's Health reports. But they can end up being healthier due to their tendency to be baked (meaning less oil). In addition to nutrition, they're also distinctly a cut of french fry, earning sweet potato fries a place in the ranking.

On the downside, these fries are not just a different cut, but a different potato. You're going to notice when a serving of bright orange fries shows up on your plate, instead of those gorgeously golden ones. They also tend to have issues when frying them, leading some sweet potato fries to end up soggy. The reason for this is that sweet potatoes contain "more sugar, more water, and less starch" than regular potatoes, according to Food 52. Because sweet potato fries sometimes need to be baked (via New York Times Cooking) to ensure their crispiness, their cooking process also knocks them down the list. Some would even argue that any potato snack that isn't sizzled in oil isn't a "fry" at all.

Cottage fries are the round and ridged fries that complement meals at famous burger joints such as New York's J.G. Melon. According to Food52, cottage fries are so-named to refer to the individual shingles on the roof of a cottage. Fortunately, this shingle-like shape allows them to dip or scoop up various sauces. Also on the plus-side, cottage fries contain a delicious duplicity of textures. As The Kitchn writes in their recipe, the potato pieces are "lightly crisped on the outside and super fluffy on the inside," similar to Potato Smiles' crunchy-yet-soft nature. However, cottage fries are better, because they are not made from mashed potatoes.

For the negative aspects of this french fry cut, the shape of cottage fries is untraditional. Cottage fries are essentially circles, whereas french fries are usually more like rectangles. For this reason, they'll place below the traditionally cut fries. Also, people tend to get these fried potatoes confused with home fries. It's a common mistake since both home and cottage fries are prepared the same way, according to Better Homes and Gardens. But any french fry shape that can be so easily confused shouldn't be a clear winner.

Potato wedges are typically thick fries cut straight from an unpeeled potato. In some parts of the U.S, potato wedges are known by a different name. In the Pacific Northwest, they are also referred to as "jojo's." In the Bay Area, they're called "mojos." The fries are even popular in Australia, where they're called "Aussie Wedges." Along with name discrepancies, no one can seem to agree on who invented them, the Portland Tribune reports. Just like many other french fry shapes, potato wedges have their share of passionate, argumentative fans. And they should, since the satisfyingly fluffy and hefty fries are preferred by many.

The wedges are close to the steak fry shape, but a little more untraditional due to their skin-on qualities — which often lead to a less crispy fry. Also, they are sometimes baked, sometimes fried, or sometimes breaded like a chicken, according to the Seattle Times. Because of the inconsistencies with their name, origin story, and preparation, the potato wedge is among the middle of the thickly cut french fry cut — you just never know what you're going to get. They're neither the worst nor the best thick fry. Overall, these fries are closer to what's wanted in a cut than the aforementioned shapes, but not all the way there.

Arguably the most petite french fry cut is the shoestring. Although you may have heard this shape referred to as other names, including matchstick, straw, or julienne, they all indicate the same small fry. Shoestring fries are often associated with the Pik-Nik or Utz companies. Although the products made by these companies are more a potato chip than a french fry, their shoestring snacks exemplify what's best about this french fry cut: they are super thin and delicate. 

According to National Day Calendar, there's even an American holiday dedicated to this fry type. August 12 is "National Julienne Fries Day," in case you didn't know. Their popularity makes sense, because shoestring fries are closer to the style of the classic fast food side. Matchstick fries are similar to the shape sold by McDonald's. However, they're a little too small for some people's taste. Also, this shape can sometimes lead to an unsatisfyingly small snack that will leave you wanting more fries. The shoestring shape can even cause the fries to be too soggy.

Like the previous shape, curly fries require certain instruments to be cut. To make those curls, the Food Network recommends using a vegetable spiralizer. More often than not, curly fries are also heavily seasoned, giving them their orangish hue. That seasoning is often likened to Cajun or Old Bay spices. One recipe recommends using ingredients like onion, garlic, cayenne, and paprika to make the authentic curly-fry flavor. According to The Daily Meal, this recipe is pretty standard. That's why curly fries taste consistently flavorsome wherever you order them.

Curly french fries are less despised than crinkle-cut, but — maybe, because of that — they've made less of a comeback. Aside from Arby's beloved menu item, curly fries are associated with bowling alleys and dive bars, reports GrubStreet. Like this reputation, the history of curly fries is just as underrated. 

Overall, these salty, crunchy, exciting-looking fries are celebrated by many. However, the requirement of seasoning is doing too much work in this french fry. Take away that Old Bay flavor and the shape you're left with still isn't the best. It may be nostalgic, but curly fries are neither the best for dipping nor the most consistent. It's a noble fry, nonetheless.

It's hard to find a better shape than the standard french fry cut. Somewhere between a steak fry and a shoestring fry is what most people want when they order the classic side. This shape is thin. It doesn't need to be fried twice. Most importantly, it's most likely to be crisp. Most of the time, the standard fry cut is bound to produce an easily made, dippable, accessible, nostalgic, and altogether quintessential french fry. 

Even though new french fry trends like TikTok's mashed potato fries are created all the time, U.S. citizens are eating about 30 pounds each of the standard fries every year. These fries aren't coated in Old Bay flavors or made from sweet potatoes, they aren't shaped like a waffle or a smiley face, they aren't baked in the oven, they don't need to be cut using a fancy French cooking technique to be made, either — they are the classic french fry cut. All that's needed is a knife, some oil, and salt. 

Since the first half of the 20th century, french fries have been available at fast food and other American restaurants all over the country. This slim, crunchy, and crispy type of french fry has persisted. It doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon.