Mayo, ketchup, and gravy are the usual go-to french fry dips. At least, that's how it is advertised. And then there are the people who list a fourth option: milkshake. (I can hear the french fry dip purists yelling at the back as I write this sentence.) Surprisingly, this pairing is backed by science.
Two factors surround the concept of dipping french fries into milkshakes. The first one is the salty-and-sweet dynamic which, according to a 2011 study, activates the tongue's sugar receptors. These receptors make the salt enhance the sweetness instead of clashing against the taste. This dynamic is present in many food pairings that we like to munch on today, like chicken and waffles, and chocolates and pretzels.
The second factor of the milkshake-french fries pairing is the hot-and-cold dynamic, which is said to fire up different parts of the brain, which results in a fantastic eating experience.
To put it simply, it is not an odd phenomenon. It just happens that our taste buds and brains work that way.
How about you? Where do you dip your french fries?
(Image: Pixabay)