No other chain has come close to beating out the iconic fries.
May 19th, 2023 1:14 pm.
If you ask a fast food lover about their favorite french fries, there’s a good chance they’ll point to McDonald’s. While there are those who would give that coveted title to rivals like Wendy’s or Arby’s, many consumers agree that there’s nothing better than the nostalgic Golden Fries from the iconic Golden Arches. McDonald’s signature savory side dish even earned the #1 spot on our own ranking of the best fast food fries in America.
According to surveys, McDonald’s has been crowned as the King of French Fries in America. Photo: MacRumors
Given all the hoopla surrounding McDonald’s french fries, it should come as no surprise that they once again stole the crown in the recently released statistics for the most popular french fries in America.
Consumer analytics platform CivicScience shared the results of a new survey this week that asked more than 7,000 consumers about their favorite fast food fries. Half of those surveyed chose McDonald’s french fries as their favorite, making the chain the “running winner” among adults who eat fast food, CivicScience said.
The other big five fast food chains considered in the survey—Wendy’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, KFC, and Arby’s—don’t even come close to McDonald’s. Wendy’s french fries were the favorite of the second-highest number of respondents, with 15%, while Chick-fil-A followed close behind with 14%. Meanwhile, 11% of those surveyed chose Burger King fries as their favorite, while 9% and 2% chose Arby’s and KFC fries, respectively.
So what is it about McDonald’s french fries that makes them such a favorite among consumers? The undeniable appeal of fried and salty chips adds texture. Many fans praise the fact that they are slightly crispy on the outside, but soft in the middle. And when McDonald’s fries come out of the fryer, customers say they’re totally second to none.
There is a reason for this optimal texture. McDonald’s says it typically uses Russet Burbank, Russet Ranger, Umatilla Russet and Shepodie potatoes, “varieties known for producing delicious fries that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
According to surveys, McDonald’s has been crowned as the King of French Fries in America. Photo: Jataka
Another way McDonald’s differentiates itself from the competition is a not-so-secret ingredient in its frying oil to enhance flavor. Although McDonald’s no longer uses beef tallow in its cooking oil, the chain has confirmed that its current oil blend contains beef flavoring.
While the popularity of McDonald’s fries is undeniable, customers haven’t been paying much for the classic side dish in recent months, a fact underscored by a new Civic Science survey. The fast food giant had a successful first quarter of 2023 and beat earnings and revenue expectations, but the company said customers are holding back on including items like French fries in their McDonald’s orders. The drop in orders for French fries did not surprise customers, many of whom said they had become “outrageously expensive”.
With information from Eat This, Not That!
