Ketchup and fries is an undeniably delicious fast-food pairing - but when did the dynamic duo become such an iconic match?

French fries and ketchup each have a long (and surprising) history, but how did these two items with very different origins come to be a common pairing?

I am not alone in this — it's a big thing in Belgium, where some people believe French fries were invented. Many residents believe that ketchup is too strong and overpowers the taste of the fry ...

It wouldn’t be fair to say that I bought an air fryer simply to reheat french fries, but it would be disingenuous ... Once a fry starts to cool, the water inside the fluffy starch granules ...

And while we’re on seasonings, can everyone agree that ketchup is the best dip for french fries? The Belgians might beg to differ, as they dip their fries in mayonnaise, and people in France ...

Indeed, we all love french ... straight-cut fries, while others prefer them crinkly. We like them salted, or with vinegar, or perhaps covered in gooey cheese. We dip them in ketchup, of course ...

The crisp exterior, housing a steaming, creamy centre, dipped in treacly ketchup, is universally adored. They are the currency of parental bribery. And for grown-ups, French fries are an indulgence.

Hand dipping a seasoned French fry into a heart-shaped dish of ketchup - Photo By Cathy Scola/Getty Images I started shopping at Aldi when I took a pay cut, and now it's my go-to store.