Fritos

Fritos

The Fritos logo

Fritos is a brand of corn chips and snack foods created in the United States in 1932 by Charles Elmer Doolin. Fritos are made from deep-fried cornmeal and are a popular snack food in the United States.

History

The origin of Fritos dates back to 1932 when Charles Elmer Doolin, who was running a small confectionery business, purchased a recipe for fried corn chips from a local businessman. Doolin began making the chips in his mother's kitchen and selling them from his Model T Ford.

In 1945, Doolin partnered with Herman Lay, founder of the Lay's potato chip company, to distribute Fritos across the United States. This partnership eventually led to the formation of Frito-Lay, which later became a division of PepsiCo.

Production

Fritos are made by deep-frying extruded whole cornmeal. The process involves cooking the cornmeal into a dough, which is then extruded and cut into the familiar chip shape before being fried. The chips are seasoned with salt and other flavorings.

Varieties

Fritos are available in several varieties, including:

• Original
• Chili Cheese
• Flamin' Hot
• Bar-B-Q

Cultural Impact

Fritos have become a staple in American snack culture and are often used as an ingredient in various recipes, such as Frito pie, a dish made with Fritos, chili, and cheese.

A bag of Fritos on a white background

Casa de Fritos

In 1955, the Casa de Fritos restaurant opened in Disneyland, California. The restaurant was themed around Fritos and served a variety of dishes featuring the corn chips. Casa de Fritos is notable for being the birthplace of the Doritos brand, which was created when the restaurant began repurposing stale tortillas into a new snack.

Related pages

• Frito pie
• Doritos
• Frito-Lay
• PepsiCo