It is said that Americans consume more fried food than any other nation in the world. This indeed may be true, but that was not always the case. Fried food has been around since as early as the first century, so they had to come from somewhere other than America. Here are a few facts that you may not have known about these delicious treats.
Number Five: Deep-Frying Food First Started in Asia and Europe. Frying pans were invented in ancient Mesopotamia over 1,000 years ago. The first use of deep-frying can be traced back to as early as the 1st century CE. According to a Roman cookbook called Apicius, the ancient Romans first used deep-frying to prepare “Pullum Frontonianum,” which is a chicken dish.
Number Four: Sheep Tail Fat Is a Frying Delicacy. From the eighth to the 15th centuries, frying food was one of the main methods in Arabic food preparation. Several books from this period of time detail how frying with sheep tail fat was considered a delicacy. They even describe how to extract, clarify, perfume, color, and store this fat. If sheep tail fat is anything close to lamb chops, I can definitely understand why it was held in such high regard in the past.
Number Three: Fried Tarantulas and Worms Are Eaten in Parts of Asia. In many cultures, eating insects is the norm, and in some it is even considered a delicacy. In Cambodia, fried tarantulas are considered one of these delicacies. They are usually fried in oil, salt, sugar, and sometimes garlic until crisp, then sold as street food. Fried silkworms are sold and eaten in several countries in Asia but are mainly fried in China and Vietnam.
Number Two: Some Fried Foods Are Actually Healthy. Even though consuming fried foods can often be considered one of the most unhealthy things you can do to your body, there are actually healthy options. Foods fried in sunflower oil or olive oil pose no risk of an increase in heart disease or premature death, according to a study in Spain.
Number One: The Average American Eats 16 Pounds of French Fries a Year. Some may not know this, but french fries aren’t actually French. French fries were invented in Belgium and are actually their national food. Even though Belgium is considered the number one consumer of this classic menu item, Americans consume literally tons of fries per year. It is estimated that the average American eats between 16 and 29 pounds of French Fries per year. French fries are so beautifully delicious that they are a bit of an indulgence for many people around the world. And that, my friend, is a freaky fact that I cannot deny!
