Four chefs declared that the French fries should be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, served hot, and seasoned to perfection as they named their number one fast food fry
Four chefs named the best fast food restaurant for French fries(Image: LauriPatterson via Getty Images)
It’s no secret that Americans have a deep affection for French fries, with an estimated 4.5 billion pounds consumed across the nation each year.
For many, fast food chains are the go-to spots to indulge in this potato delight. McDonald’s, with its over 41,000 locations worldwide, is among the top choices.
Known not only for its iconic meals like the Big Mac and quarter pounders, but also its fries. However, McDonald’s surprisingly came in second place during a taste test conducted by a team of four chefs.
The culinary experts included Matt Ayala, executive chef at Francois Frankie in Chicago, Illinois, Elliot Bell, chef-owner of Charlie’s in St. Helena, California, Dominic Iannarelli, chef-owner of Prime and Providence in West Des Moines, Iowa, and Vivek Surti, founder and owner of Tailor in Nashville, Tennessee. They sampled a variety of fries to determine the best.
While they agreed that the recipe for the perfect fry can be subjective, they identified some key elements that contribute to a superior fry. According to them, a great fry should be crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, perfectly seasoned, and served hot, reports the Mirror US.
McDonald’s is often considered the best place for fries(Image: Getty Images)
However, they did recognize that the style of French fry can vary significantly among fast food vendors. Factors such as the thickness of each slice, the cut – whether they’re crinkle fries, waffle cut, steak fries or curly – and whether they are pure potato or a mix of potato and seasonings, can all influence the final product.
The culinary experts have spoken, crowning Arby’s the ultimate monarch of the fry world, with McDonald’s and Rally’s/Checkers tying for the runner-up spot.
Chatting with AllRecipes, Vivek expressed his preference: “Arby’s is the best. First, they’re curly, so they’re automatically more fun. The seasoning they add to the curly fries is more than just salt, so there’s more flavor. Arby’s also puts their curly fries through a batter, which results in more texture and bits that get crispy.”
Arby’s was named the best fast food outlet for fries(Image: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
As well as offering a fun option, a curly fry has a greater surface area meaning it can spread the seasoning and become even crispier. Dominic added: “Arby’s seasoned curly fries are my favorite because so few places have them.”
The chefs gave kudos to Arby’s fries for their seasoning, heat, and crunch. Matt highlighted that they fulfill the “fast food French fry trifecta” by being “always coming out hot and crispy”.
Despite McDonald’s ubiquitous presence, Arby’s boasts locations in 48 states and several countries, missing only Rhode Island and Vermont within the US.
To top off their fry experience, the chefs suggested the Horsey Sauce as an ideal dipping companion, edging out the traditional ketchup sidekick.
Other favored accompaniments included ranch dressing, cheddar cheese sauce, and Arby’s Sauce, the latter being a savory blend of ketchup and barbecue.