What is the main ingredient in French fries?

The main ingredient in French fries is potatoes. The potatoes are cut into batons, dried, and deep-fried in oil, usually with salt added after cooking.

The familiar form developed alongside the spread of potatoes and commercial frying in Europe and North America. Their precise origin is disputed, with Belgium and France both strongly associated with the dish. Thomas Jefferson helped popularize the idea of “potatoes served in the French manner” in the United States after an 1802 White House dinner.

French fries are not the same as potato chips: fries are thick, moist-centered strips, while chips are thin, crisp slices in North American English. Variants include shoestring, curly, crinkle-cut, steak, and sweet-potato fries, but ordinary French fries are made from potatoes.