I Tried Every Fast Food French Fry In America
Summary
TLDRIn a quest to determine America's best fast food fries, the video features a taste test of fries from various national chains. The criteria include flavor, texture, and salt level, with a scale of 1 to 10. In-N-Out, known for burgers, falls short with their fries, while Jack in the Box surprises with their curly fries. Shake Shack comes close with their crinkle cut, but old oil affects the score. Dairy Queen unexpectedly impresses with their fresh, hot fries, and Freddy's Frozen Custard takes the lead with their thin, seasoned fries. Carl Jr.'s waffle fries also make a strong showing. However, KFC's fries, with their undeniable crunch and buttery taste, secure the top spot by a narrow margin, showcasing that the fast food giant is not just about chicken.
Takeaways
- 🍟 The French fry is a staple in fast food restaurants, often uniting customers despite the competition for new menu items.
- 🏆 The quest to find America's best fast food French fries involves rating major chains based on flavor, texture, and salt level.
- 📈 To qualify, a fast food chain must have over 300 locations and be nationally recognized, not just regional.
- 🍟 In-N-Out's fries, while not typically favored, can be improved by ordering them well done for a crispier texture.
- 🥇 Jack in the Box's curly fries surprisingly took an early lead with a great crunch and seasoning.
- 😋 Shake Shack's fries were praised for their size, seasoning, and creamy interior but lost points due to old fryer oil taste.
- 🍗 Popeyes' fries were described as having a fried chicken skin taste and were appreciated for their flavor despite a lack of crunch.
- 👑 KFC's fries stood out for their unique seasoned batter and almost perfect crunch, earning them a high score.
- 🍟 McDonald's fries, known for their nostalgic taste, were noted for their cleanliness, good potato flavor, and seasoning.
- 📉 Sonic's fries were considered average with acceptable salt levels but lacked the desired crunch and potato flavor.
- 🏅 The final verdict awarded KFC the title for the best French fries among the fast food chains reviewed, edging out with a score just above Carl's Jr. and McDonald's.
Q & A
What are the criteria for a fast food restaurant to be considered in the French fry competition?
-A fast food restaurant must have over 300 locations and must be a nationally recognized chain, not just a regional one.
What are the three factors on which the French fries are rated?
-The French fries are rated based on flavor, texture, and salt level.
What is the trick to getting better fries at In-N-Out?
-Ordering them well done improves the texture and crispiness of the fries.
Which restaurant's fries were described as having a 'nice, pure potatoey flavor'?
-The fries from In-N-Out were described this way, particularly when ordered well done.
What is the ideal texture for French fries according to the script?
-The ideal texture should have a snappy crisp crunch, little to no SOG (sogginess), no oily greasiness, and a fluffy but not dry interior.
Which restaurant's fries were rated the highest in the initial taste test?
-Jack in the Box's curly fries received the highest rating in the initial taste test.
What is the issue with the fries at Shake Shack?
-The issue with Shake Shack's fries is the old fryer oil, which leaves a bitter aftertaste.
Why did the reviewer think Dairy Queen's fries were surprisingly good?
-The reviewer was surprised by the hot, fresh, and well-seasoned fries at Dairy Queen, which had a nice crunch and no bitterness.
What was the final outcome of the French fry competition?
-KFC's French fries were determined to be the best in the competition, but only by a small margin.
What was the main complaint about the fries at Popeyes?
-The main complaint about Popeyes' fries was the lack of crispiness and the greasiness of the fries, despite good flavor.
Which restaurant had the longest wait time for their fries?
-The longest wait time was at Whataburger, with a wait of 7 minutes and 40 seconds to 8 minutes and 30 seconds as guessed by the reviewer.
Outlines
🍟 The Quest for America's Best French Fries
The video embarks on a journey to determine the best French fries among major fast food chains in America. The criteria for inclusion are chains with over 300 locations and national recognition. The evaluation is based on flavor, texture, and salt level, with a scale from 1 to 10. The host shares a personal trick for enhancing In-N-Out's fries by ordering them well done, despite not including this variant in the competition. The initial leader is identified, and the quest for the top fry continues.
🏆 The French Fry Competition Heats Up
The host and his colleague rate various fast food fries based on three main attributes: flavor, texture, and salt level. They discuss the ideal characteristics of a great fry, including a crispy exterior, fluffy interior, and maximum saltiness without overpowering the taste. The video presents a range of fries from different fast food chains, highlighting the best and worst among them, with Jack in the Box's curly fries emerging as a strong contender early on.
🌭 The Mid-Tier Fries and Unexpected Results
The exploration of fast food fries continues with a focus on those that fall in the middle of the ranking, offering a decent eating experience without necessarily standing out. Chains like Arby's and Culver's are mentioned, with the latter showing a slight improvement over previous experiences. The host also visits Del Taco and is surprised by the quality of its fries, which have good saltiness and potato flavor despite a lack of crispness.
🍔 The Rise of Unexpected Contenders
The host samples fries from several more fast food chains, including Rally's and Jollybee, the latter of which impresses with its well-seasoned, fresh-tasting fries. The video captures the host's enthusiasm for Jollybee's fries, which are crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside, with a seasoning that gives them a competitive edge. However, the search for the best fry is still ongoing.
🏎️ A Race to the Top for Fast Food Fries
The video script describes the host's experience as he rates more fast food fries, including those from Sonic, Raising Canes, A&W, Five Guys, Popeyes, and Chick-fil-A. The host notes the varying qualities of the fries, such as texture, salt levels, and flavor. While some entries fail to make a significant impact, others, like Freddy's thin and flavorful fries, rise to the top with high scores, making the competition for the best fries even more intense.
🍟 The Final Showdown: KFC's Fries Take the Crown
The host concludes the taste test with fries from Carl's Jr., KFC, and McDonald's. Each is meticulously evaluated, with KFC's fries standing out for their undeniable crunch, buttery taste, and seasoned batter. Despite a close competition, KFC's fries are awarded the highest score, making them the leader in this fast food fry contest. The video ends with the host reflecting on the top contenders and encouraging viewers to try the top-rated fries for themselves.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡French fries
💡Fast food restaurant
💡Crunch
💡Salt level
💡Flavor
💡Texture
💡Regional vs. National
💡Well-done fries
💡Ranking
💡Nostalgia
💡Presentation
Highlights
The quest to determine the best fast food French fries in America.
Criteria for inclusion: over 300 locations and national recognition.
Fries are rated on flavor, texture, and salt level.
In-N-Out's well-done fries offer a fresh potato taste but lack crunch.
V. Schnitzel's fries have a good salt level but are soft, not crunchy.
Wendy's fries are double-fried, resulting in a burnt taste.
Jack in the Box's curly fries have excellent crunch and seasoning.
Dairy Queen surprisingly offers the hottest and freshest fry with near-perfect salt levels.
Steak and Shake's fries lack the expected crunch and have a bitter aftertaste.
Carl's Jr. waffle fries stand out for their crunch and seasoning.
KFC's fries are almost battered, with a crispy exterior and a pureed interior.
McDonald's fries offer a classic taste with a good balance of salt and texture.
The importance of oil quality in the taste and aftertaste of fries.
The impact of fryer oil age on the development of a bitter flavor.
The use of crinkle cut as a common style among chicken-focused fast food chains.
The significance of seasoning from edge to middle for a well-seasoned fry.
The final verdict places KFC's fries at the top of the list.
Transcripts
it's the one thing that almost every
fast food restaurant has they may not
have burgers or chicken sandwiches but
they have fries and everyone can eat
them it's the one thing that unites us
all and it's so simple even with fast
food restaurants constantly fighting for
your money your attention with their
next Frankenstein creation the French
fry has remained untouched and unchanged
now despite the Affinity many of us
share with french fries there's one
question that divides us all that we
have to answer which fast food
restaurant has the best french fry in
America so that's why I'll be eating and
ranking fries at all of the biggest fast
food restaurant chains in America to
answer that question now for a fast food
spot to be considered in this
competition we have two rules number one
it must have over 300 locations which
leads me to number two cannot be a
regional restaurant it must be a
nationally recognized fast food chain
and I'm joined by Christian yet again je
and col producer of the burger show we
will be rating these on a scale of 1 to
10 based on three things flavor texture
and salt level so let's begin with
probably one of the most contentious
french fries in America all right we're
at in and out one of my favorite burger
places of all time how do we think their
Fries Are going to do not good
unfortunately but I do have a trick I
want to show you can I just get one
order of french fries just normal and
then another order of fries um well done
Inn out just has that Nostalgia man look
at these outfits look at how clean it is
in there look how organized it is look
at the quality of this receipt feel us
that's fine that's card stock I don't
even want to go anywhere I don't even
care if their fries or bad I'm just
happy to be here awesome thank you very
much it didn't even feel like 9 minutes
you know honestly I'm giving him the
pass and I'm sure people think oh he's
so biased I don't give I had a good time
where's the palm trees where's the palm
trees there they are there they are what
gets a high rating in flavor it's a nice
pure potatoey flavor no bitter oil
aftertaste which means the oil has not
been recycled which happens a lot in
fast food restaurants now what is a good
texture first off it should have nice
Snappy crisp crunch little to no SOG no
oily greasiness and the interior must be
fluffy but not dry and salt level you
could have the most perfect texture and
flavor but it is all lost at the salt
that it should be salted to the absolute
maximum as much salt as you could
possibly put on it without it actually
tasting just like salt now let's begin
one of my favorite places of all time
In-N-Out I know what you're thinking
Josh In-N-Out fries suck and they kind
of do but I am showing you a trick here
the key to a good In-N-Out fry is always
order them well done
why pause we will not enter the Well
Done fries in the competition because I
don't think it's a fair Advantage we
have to do specifically what you would
get if you just ordered fries and I'm
going to taste test and count just the
typical order of fries could be a little
saltier but I'm happy with where the
salt's at really fresh potato flavor
because they're literally cut them and
frying them this is probably the
freshest fry we will have all day now
we're going to address the problem they
are the softest least crunchy french fry
I think you can buy and that has always
been their problem that's a 90° I love
the salt on them today I love the fresh
potato taste texture not even there it's
not toothsome no Crisp that's a 4.3 on
the regular one below average the normal
version of the fries I'm going to give
them a four they're just not that good
and that's the rating that's get to go
in the competition but if we were going
to rate the Well Done version which is
the right way to order this would at
least be a 6.5 in- and- out is not going
to win the french fry game as much as I
love it but when you do go order them
well done moving on and the first spot
on the board in and out look I love you
but it's not a matter of if you'll be
beat it's a matter of when onto our next
spot V schnitzel I'm not going to lie
this place looks closed we we Wier the
inside it looks like everything is off
can I just get one large order of fries
thank you look at this mascot I have to
take a picture of this thank you 3
minutes and 13 seconds I will say they
just open and I'm pretty sure we are
their first customer vitel oh yeah
that's is good hang on hang on something
interesting happened a second I just
want to see if it happens again thank
you for your business but we currently
visit us again during our normal
business how the do we get fries when
they're closed maybe they just leave
that on hoping people don't come through
the drive-thru the Wier schil corporate
is probably watching this right now
they're like the mother wish addess this
all right 1 2 three salt level is good
could be saltier but like I'm happy with
the salt level most places are
undersalted crunch not really there it's
just kind of soft it's stiff but not
crunchy I don't know I feel like out of
all the fries that we have to taste
today to me this is like maybe a 5.5 I
was say this is a solid six flat I'll
match that six and there it is our first
new leader honestly to be expected I
mean not that surprised by it so let's
move on to our next spot Water Burger I
hate this place I always have and I
always will waterg today can I just get
one large french fry thank you are you
guys ready for this to be the longest wa
for French fries that we've had today 7
minutes 40 seconds that's my guess I'm
going to guess 8 minutes and 30 seconds
awesome thank you very much appreciate
it new record you know maybe we talk too
much that's what it is I'm not going to
lie this presentation is the best french
fry presentation I have seen today so I
will give you that shout out water bger
good God damn we need to bring like a
bow and arrow with
us that's some crunch on there no
salt look look look you can see the salt
on this one let me know if it's enough
oh that was nice flavor-wise I'm not
picking up a ton of potato they're
really really really muted in flavor
salt level not great you get a salty one
here and there but for the most part
they're all relatively almost borderline
unseasoned but texturally these are kind
of like the Hallmark french fries
they're just kind of what you expect
they're really dry and crisp on the
outside and powdery on the inside in
comparison to some of the other fries
I'd give this a six and a half it's
definitely above mid it's hard right
because like the flavor really brings it
down but the texture brings it back up
on the scale I'm thinking about like
what I eat like a hand like a good
amount of these it's got enough salt for
me to do that I'm going to say so 6.7
good job waterb not bad moving on an
immediate new leader not too bad for one
of my least favorite spots but I don't
expect this being in first place for
much longer moving on to the next all
right we're back at Zach be's can I get
a large french
fry yes sir thank you very much they
almost hit seven we had the exact same
problem last time when we went to ZX
right I think they took a long time last
time can we get a quick rewind check
we're still next to a Highway by the way
the Zach Beast fry is a crinkle cut
season fry I will say the thickness of
them is causing quite a lot of
flaccidity I like that they're season
but there's definitely like a flavor in
there that I do not like no you think
it's the oil so flavor is weird salt
levels are good crispiness
I don't know the texture I get when I
eat this is like I bite into it I hear a
little crack but not a crunch and then
it's chewy and then it's immediately
just like mashed potato I usually like
crinkle cut fries these are some of the
worst I've ever had I'm going to give it
a four 4.3 all right Zach be nice try
the chicken's great fries a four and our
first tie honestly this kind of makes
sense being on par within and out moving
on to our next Contender guess where we
went hi can I just get an order of a
large fry thank you window thank you
it's crazy how Burger King always smells
exactly the same we'll share it Burger
King here we go
no salt right off the bat W it's
seasoned but it's not these used to be
amazing texture not crunchy taste potato
seasoning non-existent I'm starting to
get annoyed okay I've eaten a lot of
french fries today and I'm on a diet I
still got to eat 180 gr of protein today
give me a Gooding fry and I'm also fing
tired of people being like these like
fast food teenage workers that are
underpaid it's not about them it's about
the billions of dollars that this
company is generating and they cannot
standardize the way that they make their
fing french fries that's aing tube I was
going to say 2.2 moving on I'm shocked
BK came in with the worst fry of the day
so far I don't know how that's possible
onto the next spot Jack in the Box hi
can I just do one order of seasoned
curly fries a medium and a medium french
fry as well thank you she gave you your
fries before your card yeah I almost
drove off without my I saw that we're
exactly where you would expect the Jack
in the Box to be right by a major
highway so it might be a little loud
Jack and the MOX has two fries they're
known for their curly fries but they
also have regular french fries so we're
going to taste test both depending on
which one is better that will be the one
that we end up pitting against the rest
of the fries let's taste it's actually
not bad that's good crisp curly all
right cheers here's the thing it almost
feels like an unfair Advantage with the
curly fry But ultimately this is about
salt crunch flavor so curly is easily
the better one crunch good God that's
like one of the best crunches we've had
all day is it's seasoned but you don't
lose the flavor of like the toasted
roasted potato salt levels perfect the
curly is like probably I'm going to give
it an eight I was going to give it an
eight and then the French fry it's
actually not bad it's one of the better
ones that we've had today I would give a
regular french fry a 6.7 yeah I'd give
it a six just because the flavor of the
potato seems like non-existent regular
fries a six curly fries and eight not
bad Jack in the Box moving on a shocking
new leader with Jack In The Box and a
great curly fry coming in this early
with a number that high is going to be
hard to beat Next Up Shake Shack hi uh
can I just get a medium or a large
french fry thank you oh these smell good
these are
gbd seeing visual representation of the
salt on the fry you know it's seasoned
enough oh you can hear that because of
the size these you get a lot of that
creamy fluffy potato on the inside but
you still have all the crunch you want
because of the crinkle cut so you get
lots of crunch you get lots of fluff
texturally it's almost perfect salt
levels almost perfect it's seasoned just
about to the max I think you could go a
little more if I wanted to be really
nitpicky but I'm pretty happy about it
he's running away the crazy thing is the
initial flavor is like
the that's what a Ford Focus sounds like
when you straight pipe it I just want
you to know it doesn't sound good Ford
Fest this has the iconic french fry
flavor that I want but there's a problem
and you know what that problem is
towards the end you get that bitterness
and you know why old fryer oil
everything said that's a 7.7 even with
the bitter fry oil I'm going to give
this a solid 7.5 moving on you know we
love shake shake around here they were
so close to Greatness and being our
potential new leader but old fry oil
drags it down to second place next up
Arby's the giant boot what isn't it like
a giant hat hat whatever the it is why
is it a hat anyway can I get one large
order of crinkle fries one large order
of curly I hope their fries are better
than their Waggy Burgers wag poo burgers
thank you very much this is another
place that has two different kinds of
fries they're curly fries are the most
iconic but they also have crinkle cut
we'll taste both whichever one is the
better one will be the one that we judge
for the leaderboard oh hot they don't
have any salt of them no they're not I'm
not even finishing that that's horrible
that is the worst fry we've had today it
sucks because the crunch is incredible
literally no flavor it tastes like I'm
eating crispy oil now the curly for the
sake of the statement the curly fries
are better so we'll judge these crunch
is great the salt levels are a little
little better but it's still lacking
salt it's crazy cuz they're battered all
they have to do is season the batter
properly no potato flavor crunch is
there flavor is lacking it's kind of dry
preseason but still UND Seasons at the
same time it's a mid- french fry I would
say 5.5 it's a five moving on a shocking
result with ARB solidifying as a mid fry
hence being in the middle of the
leaderboard onto our next stop Culver
which has honestly been a frequent
disappointment so hopefully they step it
up this place is more known for its
cheese curds than fries so I'm hesitant
to say this will do well for them damn
how old is that but it's so so faded it
almost looks black and white they
probably printed that out in like 1952
hi uh can I just get a large french fry
and that's it thank you all right we got
the bag we forgot to record the time
oopsy doopsy but it was pretty fast I
would say like somewhere around 2 to 3
minutes and this is like feels Hefty in
this bag there's not space taken up by
carboard you like to take a little fry
feel that you like feeling my back
cheers that was disgusting it had like a
really taste you probably got a weird
fry yeah that one tastes fine why first
of all crunch I want more crunch but I'm
not unhappy with the crunch the inside
is nice creamy mashed potato like salt
levels pretty good it's almost where I
want it and flavor it's nice you know
you got that weird fry but I'm picking
up potato flavor which I like it's very
simple it's a 6.2 the texture is great
it's really fluffy it's above average on
the salt like first thing that touches
my mouth is potato then salt it is above
average overall 5.8 Culver just
constantly kind of disappoints us so
this is kind of a oneup for them good
job moving on all right Culver not
terrible now for the next we're
splitting this up here Christian will be
our representative in La while I travel
to New York here we are at the habits in
La cuz there's n near Josh I'm expecting
this french fry to be like a solid 6.0
either can I get a side of fries okay
407 so I only ordered fries cuz sweet
potato fries it's not even a real potato
are sweet potatoes good though I mean
there are some hitters that could be
another video thank you so much all
right here we are at the Habit this one
looks good right off the bat it's kind
of bitter but it's really it's nicely
salted I'm not really digging the flavor
it's a little soggy no that was a good
one that was a good one so overall
texture it's enjoyable it could be a
little bit crispier saltiness is about
70% there could be better I'm going to
give this a I mean it's it's a mid fry
honestly there's nothing exciting about
this this is going to be a 5.5 on to the
next one wow it's about as mid as mid
gets it's like Habit Burger and Arby's
are having a little mid off but we're
not done yet on to the next LA stop Dell
Taco I didn't even know they had fries
ooh jumbo shrimp kind of fast food place
to sell shrimp hey there can I get a
large fry please all right thank you a
solid french fry has to at least take 2