<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23.1
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>a68805ex23-1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 23.1
<TEXT>

<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


        We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-79547) of Bridgford Foods Corporation of our
report dated December 22, 2000 relating to the financial statements, which
appears in the Annual Report to Shareholders, which is incorporated in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also consent to the incorporation by reference of
our report dated December 22, 2000 relating to the financial statement schedule,
which appears in this Form 10-K.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Orange County, California
January 22, 2001

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
