Four chefs name their favorite fast food fries – no one says McDonald's
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
It’s safe to say that Americans love French fries with over 4.5 billion pounds said to be eaten across the USA every single year.
And for many, the fast food chains are the place to go when you want to tuck into the potatoey treat. McDonald’s ranks among the most popular fast food restaurants, boasting over 41,000 locations worldwide.
The Golden Arches is known for its fries as well as its meals such as the Big Mac and its quarter pounders. But, surprisingly, the chain ranked second-best by a team of four chefs during a taste test.
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 & Providence in West Des Moines, Iowa, and Vivek Surti, founder and owner of Tailor in Nashville, Tennessee, tasted a host of fries to decide which is best.
While they conceded the recipe for the perfect fry can involve a deal of personal preference, there were some key areas they believe hold the key to a perfect fry. The chefs concluded that a fry needs to be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, seasoned to perfection, and served hot.
However they did acknowledge that the style of French fry can differ a lot between fast food vendors. This includes the thickness of each slice, the cut - whether they’re crinkle fries, waffle cut, steak fries or curly - and whether they are potato only or a blend of potato and seasonings.
The chefs unanimously decided that Arby’s should be crowned king of the fry. In second place they picked both McDonald’s and Rally’s/Checkers.
Speaking to AllRecipes, Vivek said: “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.”
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 applauded the seasoning, temperature, and texture of the Arby’s fries. Matt says they complete the “fast food French fry trifecta” by “always coming out hot and crispy”.
While fast food juggernaut McDonald’s might have branches in every state, Arby’s has branches in 48 states, as well as Canada, Costa Rica, Egypt, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Turkey. The chain currently has no branches in Rhode Island and Vermont.
The panel of chefs concluded by recommending the Horsey Sauce - or horseradish for those not in the know - as the perfect dip for fries. It narrowly fought off competition from the classic ketchup accompaniment.
Other top sides included ranch dressing, cheddar cheese sauce, and Arby's Sauce. The signature sauce is a mix of ketchup and barbecue.