The Best Fast Food French Fries: A Breakdown

In the world of fast food, french fries sit above anything else as the most loved side dish. With so many options available, each fry offers a unique experience in flavor, texture, and even the sauces that pair with them. Based on a survey, here’s a detailed look at eight popular fries and what makes each stand out. We’ll also take a look into how they’re made, what makes them special, and, according to EPHS students, what sauces pair perfectly with them.

1. Chick-fil-A Waffle Fries

   

Survey Rank: 28.1%

How They’re Made: Chick-fil-A’s waffle fries start with whole potatoes that are cut into waffle shapes, giving them a wide surface area great for dipping into sauces. They’re cooked in canola oil until golden brown, giving them a crispy outside and a tender, potato-filled interior.

What Makes Them Special: The unique waffle shape gives these fries a distinct texture and makes them great for dipping. Their large surface area holds more sauce, making each bite full of flavor.

Best Sauce: Chick-fil-A Sauce or their signature Honey Mustard is a favorite among the people.

2. Wingstop Fries

   

Survey Rank: 27.2%

How They’re Made: Wingstop fries are hand-cut and seasoned with a secret blend of sugar, salt, and spices. The sugar adds a unique sweetness that contrasts with the saltiness, creating a balance that’s both addictive and delicious.

What Makes Them Special: Their thick cut offers a hearty bite, and the blend of sugar and salt makes them stand out in the fast-food fry game. The fresh preparation also ensures a consistency in quality that many chains don’t always achieve.

Best Sauce: Wingstop’s ranch is a popular pairing, adding a creamy richness to the sweet-salty combination.

3. McDonald’s Fries

   

Survey Rank: 18.4%

How They’re Made: McDonald’s fries are made from Russet Burbank potatoes. They’re cut thin, partially fried, and then frozen before being fried again once ordered at the restaurant. The fries are cooked in a blend of oils and then lightly salted.

What Makes Them Special: McDonald’s fries are known for their thin, crispy texture and perfectly balanced saltiness and consistent flavor. They’re crispy on the outside but still fluffy on the inside, which is why they’ve remained a fan favorite for decades.

Best Sauce: Ketchup is the classic choice, but McDonald’s BBQ or Sweet and Sour sauce can offer a great twist.

4. Culver’s

   

Survey Rank: 7%

How They’re Made: Culver’s fries start with fresh, hand-cut potatoes that are peeled and sliced into fries. These are then blanched to remove excess starch and are partially cooked. The partially cooked fries are frozen to help them maintain their shape and texture. When ordered, they are fried in canola oil until they achieve a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior.

What Makes Them Special: Culver’s fries are special because they’re made from fresh, hand-cut potatoes, which gives them a great flavor and texture. They’re pre-cooked and temporarily frozen to keep them crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Best Sauce: Culver’s fries are best paired with ketchup or, of course, Culver’s ranch.

5. Johnnie’s Beef       

   

Survey Rank: 6.1%

How They’re Made: Johnnie’s Beef fries are made from fresh, hand-cut potatoes. They are sliced, soaked in water to remove excess starch, and then fried twice: first at a lower temperature to cook them through and then at a higher temperature to achieve a crispy texture. This double-frying process ensures they’re crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. 

What Makes Them Special: Johnnie’s Beef fries are special due to their double-frying technique, which gives them a unique crispy texture and fluffy interior. The fresh, hand-cut potatoes and the careful preparation process enhances their flavor and overall quality.

Best Sauce: Although Johnnie’s doesn’t offer specialty sauces, ketchup is a powerful choice.

6. Portillo’s 

   

Survey Rank: 6.1%

How They’re Made: Portillo’s fries are made from freshly cut Idaho potatoes. They’re blanched to remove excess starch and then fried in 100% soybean oil to achieve a crispy exterior while maintaining a fluffy interior. The fries are often seasoned with a simple salt to enhance their natural flavor.

What Makes Them Special: Portillo’s fries are special because they combine the use of high-quality Idaho potatoes with a unique cooking process. The blanching step ensures they cook evenly, and the double-frying method helps achieve their signature crispiness. Their simple seasoning allows the natural potato flavor to shine through, making them a popular choice among fans.

Best Sauce: Classic ketchup, cheese, or plain are the most popular choices when it comes to these fries.

7. Cane’s     

   

Survey Rank: 4.4%

How They’re Made: Cane’s crinkle-cut fries are fried to a golden crisp. Their thicker cut provides a substantial bite, and they’re lightly salted, ensuring their job to complement (rather than overpower) Cane’s famous chicken fingers.

What Makes Them Special: Cane’s fries are known for being the perfect companion to their chicken and signature Cane’s Sauce. The crinkle-cut shape gives the fries a balance between a crispy exterior and soft, fluffy inside.

Best Sauce: Over any of their other sauce options, Cane’s Sauce is the clear winner here.

8. Wendy’s

   

Survey Rank: 3.2%

How They’re Made: Wendy’s fries are made from fresh, whole potatoes that are cut into thin slices then coated with sea salt seasoning. They are cooked in vegetable oil until crispy, preserving a soft interior. The coating helps retain their natural potato flavor and improves crispness.

What Makes Them Special: Wendy’s fries are special because they are made from fresh, never-frozen potatoes and coated with a unique sea salt blend. The coating helps enhance their crispness and flavor, and the use of natural, fresh potatoes contributes to their distinct taste and texture.

Best Sauce: Sweet and sour sauce or ketchup is best paired with Wendy’s fries.

In conclusion, we hope you enjoyed our article. Not only that, remember, the next time you go out to a fast food restaurant, you have a view on the best fries chosen by EPHS students as well as which sauce(s) pairs well with them! Most cannot enjoy fries without a sauce!

Works Cited

• Fink, B. (2023, April 3). I Tried 12 Fast Food French Fries and These Are the Ones I’ll Order Again. Allrecipes. Retrieved September 9, 2024, from https://www.allrecipes.com/fast-food-french-fry-taste-test-7371202
• Palumbo, D. (2023, February 1). Does Wendy’s Really Make Better Fries Than McDonald’s? The Takeout. Retrieved September 9, 2024, from https://www.thetakeout.com/mcdonalds-fries-vs-wendys-new-fries-taste-test-review-1850048325/
• Rivera, D. (2023, March 1). We Blind Tested 5 Fast Food Seasoned & Curly Fries — Here’s The King. UPROXX. Retrieved September 8, 2024, from https://uproxx.com/life/best-fast-food-seasoned-fries-2023/
• Strozewski, Z., & Cameron, M. (2023, May 16). McDonald’s Still Has the Best Fries, According to a New Survey. Eat This Not That. Retrieved September 10, 2024, from https://www.eatthis.com/mcdonalds-best-fries-civicscience-survey/
• Vänni, K. (2022, April 29). We Found the BEST Fast-Food Fries You Can Order. Taste of Home. Retrieved September 10, 2024, from https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/best-fast-food-fries/
• Walsh, K. (2024, June 10). I Asked 4 Chefs To Pick the Best Fast Food French Fries—Their Pick Was Unanimous (And Shocking!). Allrecipes. Retrieved September 8, 2024, from https://www.allrecipes.com/chefs-favorite-fast-food-french-fries-8658156
• Walsh, K. (2024, June 10). I Asked 4 Chefs To Pick the Best Fast Food French Fries—Their Pick Was Unanimous (And Shocking!). Allrecipes. Retrieved September 9, 2024, from https://www.allrecipes.com/chefs-favorite-fast-food-french-fries-8658156