French fries:

French fries are very popular in the developed countries including U.S.A. In India McCain is the largest French fry company. Approximately 0.6% of potato production was used for preparation of French fries in 2006-2007. Although India has huge French fry manufacturing capacities, but at present its actual processing is quite low. The limited number of outlets serving the product is one of the major reasons of its low utility and high price. However, the demand for French fries is increasing gradually. Generally, frozen French fries (par-fries) are prepared and sold. In India 0.02 mt potatoes were used in French fry production during 2007-2008.

                                        French fries

Besides chips and French fries, several products of potatoes in combination of other food ingredients are being manufactures and sold in the market in ready to eat forms. Some of these include Smiley's, Wedges, Nuggets, Bites, Tikkis, etc. Processed potato products like potato chips are no doubt popular but the cost of production of potato chips is very high because of the sophisticated technology used and high cost of frying medium and electricity. Therefore, these processed products are not within the reach of common man. In order to make the processed potato products available to a large section of the population at an affordable price, simpler methods of potato processing are needed.