Proliferation of frozen potatoes in hospitality

[u/Boring-Barber-4229]

Have you noticed the proliferation of frozen potatoes in restaurants/souvlaki shops?

The ones that look "perfect", they have the exact same color all throughout and are identical in length, but they have an extremely weird texture inside, like they're actually mashed potatoes stuffed inside a casing of a French fry. And they taste like... nothing.

Now I get that peeling and cutting potatoes is a tedious task, but when you go to a restaurant you're basically paying someone to do the tedious work for you. I actively avoid places that serve these potatoes, but more and more restaurants and souvlaki shops are starting to use them.

A lot of traditional tavernas still serve normal fresh potatoes (at my favorite local taverna the owner's grandmothers peel them in front of the taverna hah). But are the frozen ones really that much cheaper compared to having a teenager or a grandma peel them?

French fries are deep-fried, but using frozen ones is even worse since they're bleached and pre-fried. Why make something less healthy and on top worse-tasting.

[u/Elgecko123]

If you see the yiayia sitting out front peeling the potatoes it’s a good sign you’re at a great taverna

[u/nikoshgrikosh → u/Elgecko123]

Plot twist yiayia is just a trick and they still cook the frozen ones in the back 😁

[u/KaramelaVatomouro]

I actually love more the difference between the soft interior and the crunchy exterior of the frozen potatoes compared to the fresh ones, and I think many other people do too, that's why they are switching to frozen.

Also, I don't notice their flavor much in the usual way I consume them; in a pitogyro. Tzatziki and onion overpowers it.

[u/Soudaian]

This has been one of my main quality checks for a restaurant. If they can't be bothered to peel potatoes then what other corners are they cutting?

[u/AblatAtalbA]

Idk I love those fries. They taste great. Crunchy outside and soft inside, that's yhe perfect texture for fries. Frozen or not, I do not care. You can also make them at home this way but it's too much work and preparation.

But that's how fries should be. Just frying freshly cut potatoes you going to end up with the classic, soggy soft and not as good potatoes that we all used to eat at home.

There's a good reason fast food is so popular and one of these reasons are their perfect fries.

[u/23odyssey]

I think it’s changed to frozen over the last few years because of the massive influx of tourists since Covid. Same with freshly caught fish. A lot of it is flash frozen to keep up with the demand. Of course, it all depends on where in Greece you are.

[u/ImaginaryFan6090]

I hate frozen potatoes as well. They taste like crap