Do you know your french fries history? These crispy, salty sticks of deliciousness are the ultimate side dish, whether you're chowing down on a juicy burger, a fancy steak, or some bougie steamed mussels.

According to UC Davis, the average American is all about that fry life, consuming a whopping 40 pounds of French fries per year! And if you thought McDonald's was just about the burgers, think twice... They dish out around nine million pounds of fries per day.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture even confirms that a quarter of all potatoes in the U.S. are transformed into these golden beauties.

Where Are French Fries Actually From Originally?

It turns out the beloved french fry might not be so French after all! Both France and Belgium claim to have invented this delectable dish, but many sources point to Belgium as the OG fry nation. According to Belgian myth, poor villagers in Namur whose diet consisted mostly of fish needed a new dish when the nearby river froze in the late 1600s. That's when the villagers cut up potatoes and fried them up for all to enjoy. French cookbooks, on the other hand, have recipes for fries going back to the late 1700s, and both countries celebrate the dish equally.

Regardless of where they came from, everyone loves fries – an international favorite!

The next time you're munching on some fries, take a moment to appreciate the international mystery behind your favorite snack.