And you’re Out!
Beloved burger chain In-N-Out has flunked a new french fry test — with critics categorizing the “divisive” side as “stale, room-temp matchsticks.”
“Yes, they’re famously and proudly cut fresh, using Kennebec potatoes,” the fast food experts at Eat This, Not That! explained.
But, they say of the famed Southern California brand — now found everywhere from the Pacific Northwest to Texas and soon, Tennessee — the restaurant’s “infamous” aversion to frying their high-quality product twice, or even blanching them before they hit the fat, seals their fate.
The not-so-hot findings earned In-N-Out a rank of second from the bottom.
And that’s not the only chain to earn a good tsk-ing from taste testers — the seemingly teflon Five Guys, with its well-done burgers, sky high prices and seemingly unshakable popularity, took something of a beating, ranking all the way down at No. 9 on unlucky list of thirteen.
While acknowledging the belovedness of the boardwalk-style treat, the fresh-cut, twice-cooked product earned itself something of a cold shoulder for being “notoriously on the greasier side,” with special focus on their status as some of the “least-healthy fast food fries” in existence, according to the pros at the site.
And who can do no wrong, as far as the list is concerned, anyway? McDonald’s, that’s who — the grease jockeys at the Golden Arches earned the highest marks here, with the insiders stating that “the fries often steal the spotlight from everything else on the menu, burgers included.”
Fresh potatoes are used, with styles rotated throughout the year to “guarantee seasonal freshness,” the eaters explained, calling the end result “light and starchy on the inside, and perfectly crispy outside (with the exact right amount of salt for finger-licking supremacy).”
“McDonald’s fries are undeniable and irresistable,” they claimed.
The relatively unsung hero of the Wendy’s menu board came in second place, while underdog Arby’s managed to claim the bronze at No. 3 for their curly fries.
The seasoning of the cravable spirals — “a tasty blend of onion powder, cornmeal, garlic power, baking soda, and other spices” — helped them best other, trendier offerings like Chick-Fil-A’s waffle-cut faves, which had to be content with the No. 5 spot.
Hometown legend Shake Shack got a nod for its crinkle-cuts at No. 7 — referred to as “some of the best” in the category by the testers.
The best fast food fries for 2024, according to critics
- McDonald’s
- Wendy’s
- Arby’s Curly Fries
- Burger King
- Chick-fil-A
- Taco Bell Nacho Fries
- Shake Shack
- Culver’s
- Five Guys
- Sonic Groovy Fries
- WingStop
- In-N-Out
- Arby’s Crinkle Cut
