Alex Carson
French Fries
French fries are one of the most loved fried foods all over the world. Most
Remained the Same
Since McDonald’s opened in 1955, the menu was limited. The hamburgers and cheeseburgers have remained on the menu all this time, but have been rebranded and reimagined. What has stayed the same after all these times is the fries?
No Varieties
If you are hoping to one day order curly fries, waffle fries, thick-cut fries, or sweet potato fries at McDonald’s, don’t hold your breath. They don’t want to mess with perfection.
Different Around the World
McDonald’s fries vary depending on where you live. For example, in the UK, the ingredient list is much shorter than the ingredients used in the United States.
Made From Real Potatoes
Many people don’t believe it, but McDonald’s fries are made with real potatoes. They aren’t organic, but they are made from real potatoes. They don’t add any chemicals until later.
Four Types of Potatoes
McDonald’s uses four types of potatoes to make their fries, including Russet Burbank, Russet Ranger, Umatilla Russet, and Shepody potatoes. How they use the potatoes is unclear unless you are a bigwig with the company.
3.4 Billion Pounds
Each year, McDonald’s buys 3.4 billion potatoes. That’s a lot of potatoes.
Factory Cut
Many people think that the fries are put in molds to get their uniform shape. They are actually cut with knives in a factory.
19 Ingredients
Mythbusters, Grant Imahara dug into the fry making process. He managed to discover that the United States version of the McDonald’s fry uses 19 different ingredients.
Look-Alike
There is a reason why every fry looks the same. They are all dipped in sugar and sodium acid pyrophosphate to get them to cook evenly.
Flash Frozen
Before the fries are tossed into the fryer, they are
Beef Fat
In the beginning, the fries were cooked in beef fat. Today, they are cooked in tallow or lard. Even though they don’t taste like a burger, they certainly aren’t vegetarian.
1992
In 1992, the fry recipe changed. Because beef fat, tallow, and lard were so expensive, the company switched to vegetable oil. The public didn’t really like the change, so the recipe continued to evolve over the next 20 years.
Not a Vegan Option
Even though the fries are not cooked in animal fat, they still contain natural beef flavor and milk. This means that they are not an option if you are vegan.
Second Healthiest Fry
McDonald’s fries are the second healthiest next to Sonic. The
Salt-Free
If you want your fries salt free, the employees will make them for you. Some people order salt free just to get a fresh batch. Since this is a pain for the employees, you shouldn’t order salt free fries just to add your own salt later.
Fresh Fries
If you really want fresh fries, you should simply ask. It is easier for the employees to whip up a batch of salted fries rather than unsalted ones. Simply asking for a fresh batch will be much better received.
Serving Size
According to Harvard University’s nutrition and epidemiology professor, Eric Rimm, the adequate serving of fries is six. This is funny because the number of people on the planet who can stop eating fries after just six is six.
Walk It Off
If you eat a small serving of McDonald’s fries, it would take you an hour to walk them off. They contain 230 calories; therefore, you would need to walk for one hour, run for 20 minutes, or bike for 30 minutes. If you go with a large serving, you would need to double your workout time. If you are watching your weight and counting your calories, you should stick with the small order.
Most Popular
Off all the items on McDonald’s menu, the hamburger, the cheeseburger, the McRib, the McDouble, the shakes, the McNuggets, and the Filet-O-Fish, the fries are the most popular. It isn’t just the United States where the fries are so popular. They are the most ordered food in every restaurant around the world.
The Golden Arches
The Golden Arches aren’t just an M for McDonald’s. The arches are also a symbol for the fries.
