3.Why+the+Fries+Taste+Good

Group 3

Paige Knapp

//Why Do The Fries Taste SO Good?//

Although Thomas Jefferson purchased the recipe for "pommes frites" from France in 1802, French fries were not popularized in the United States until the 1920s. The first to make an industry out of the manufacture and distribution of french fries was J.R Simplot. His plant in Aberdeen, Idaho, is still functioning today, processing one million pounds of potatoes daily. Simplot first broke into the business after starting a potato farm with his partner, Lindsey Maggart. Together, they purchased a potato sorter - a fantastic new device. However, a discrepancy between them over the use of the sorter ended in a coin flip. Simplot got the sorter, and the rest, as they say, is history.

His business quickly expanded to onions, as well. When World War II rolled around, Simplot found a booming business in dehydrated food. He became a huge supplier for the United States Military. His success only continued with the rise of refrigerators and freezers. Processed food soared in popularity. TV Dinners, Cheez-Wiz, and Miracle Whip all began around this time. The perception that processed food was even more tasteful and innovative than fresh food helped the business to sky rocket. Simplot knew he wanted to get in on the action. Returning to his trusty potatoes, Simplot - through many rounds of trail and error - created a frozen french fry. Because they tasted best cooked in hot oil, the appeal of frozen french fries was decreased in housewives due to time restrictions. Simplot redirected the marketing towards restaurant owners. At the same time, Ray Kroc and the McDonalds franchise were seeking a quicker way to make their french fries. After switching to Simplot's frozen fries with no ill results, they became the biggest user of Simplot's fries.

But what really makes those fries taste so good? First of all, flavor can involve up to 90 percent of just aroma. Turns out, the "flavor" is actually the chemicals reacting in your mouth and releasing into your olfactory system. Flavor is so important to the success of food, an entire industry has formed around it.