This Is Why Your Favorite Fast-Food French Fries Are So Good, According To Chefs
There's some secret science to a fried potato.
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When it comes to comfort food, few things deliver instant joy like a hot, salty side of fast-food fries. From Canada to Shanghai to the cafés of the country where they (allegedly) got their name, French fries are a global food fave. They’re crispy, greasy, easy to eat with one hand, and one of the best ways to use a potato known to man.
But what exactly makes fries so universally delicious? And with fries on the menu at every diner, drive-in, and dive, where can you go to find the best ones?
To find out, we asked three potato-loving professionals (including a fry expert who develops fries for major fast-food chains) to break down what makes this humble side so iconic.
Tip 1: Each cut has a different vibe.
You may not know his name, but you’ve undoubtedly eaten his fries. Chef Mark Slutzky is head of culinary at McCain Foods (the company that makes one in four fries sold worldwide, including the ones at your fave drive-thru). For Chef Mark, the most comforting part of fries is the cut.
His favorite? The classic straight cut. “It’s nostalgic,” he says. When he wants more texture, he grabs crinkle-cut fries. “They’re designed to give you more crunch,” he says. For chicken sandwiches or tenders, he’ll go for seasoned fries. And if he’s dining in? “Curly fries are a little harder to find, which makes them feel special. And they pair perfectly with ketchup or even a milkshake.” (Something all our chefs agreed on.)
Tip 2: The right texture ratio is required.
Chef Justin Freeman from Denver's plant-forward hotspot Somebody People says it’s all about the ratio: crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Without that contrast, fries just feel heavy.
“I go for McDonald’s because they’ve figured out the right balance,” he says. “There’s always that perfect mix of crunch and softness. And they’re well-seasoned; enough salt, but not too much.”
He also shouts out seasoned curly fries as a close second. “They remind me of being a kid,” he says. “There’s a nostalgia factor. They’re fun.”
Tip 3: Eat them hot, dip them cold.
Kelli Ferrell, owner of Nana’s Chicken & Waffles and star of Real Housewives of Atlanta, is very clear on one thing: fries need to be hot. “Fresh out of the grease, straight from the drive-thru,” she says. “That’s the only way they taste right.”
Her go-to is McDonald’s, and her signature move? Dipping them in the sweet-and-sour sauce. “It’s something I’ve always done, and now my four daughters do it, too.” For her, it’s not just a snack. It’s a little comfort ritual.
She also uses fries as a spoon for ice cream. “It sounds weird, but it works,” she laughs. “It’s that sweet-and-salty thing. Totally addictive.”
Which fast-food restaurant makes your favorite fries? Let us know in the comments (and tell us why you love 'em)!
For endless ways to dress up your fries, download the free Tasty app to browse and save our favorite recipes — no subscription required.
