I remember when they used beef tallow and those fries were so damn good. If you took McDonald's fries and cook them in Tallow today it would blow your fucking mind
Exactly! These poor kids today have no idea what McDonald's fries are supposed to taste like. What they serve now are impostors! McDonald's isn't very smart. Beef tallow is healthier than vegetable oils so they have no excuse now not to switch back. Better tasting fries will bring in more business! It's not rocket science!
I remember the beef tallow fries, and once the oil recipe was changed, it was absolutely noticeable. I still mention the beef tallow on occasion, and younger people have no idea what I'm talking about, they really missed out on how good McD's fries really were.
That's something to know also the prices were way different not like now with the Inflation Monster wrecking havoc over things and food not being as great as it used to along with size shrinking as also seen in the movie The Founder.
lol! I’m 39 and remember 2 things in 1989… my sister (and bff!) being born and McDonalds fries still being good! My parents (who know cattle) noticed it RIGHT away in the 90’s (1990-1991 I think?) when they stopped. They literally were so mad they started going to Burger King. Things were never the same in our family since…. lol
"Back in my day" You do realize it's stupid easy to make McDonalds fries at home right? Get a small deep fryer, use your fat of choice, get the right cut potatoes of the right type of potato and directly from the freezer cook until the appropriate color. I've made them at home it tastes the exact same, to be fair I used to work there but it's so simple. It's just a specific potato, a specific fat to cook it in at a specific temperature. You can look all of it up online.
I mentioned the beef tallow to someone the other day, someone who is close to 70yo. they had no idea what I was talking about. I wasnt even alive when their fries used beef tallow, and yet I know more about it than they do. its not that "younger people have no idea what you are talking about", its that some people just dont care about such things, regardless of what their age is.
Didn't know McD's fries were different outside the US. Makes sense because here in Ireland, they're unremarkable compared to what you get in a standard chip shop.
American here Irish fries taste better then the American version in my opinion though anything potato related does. The potatos are grand over there simply unreal
they were still good for the short time they used sunflower oil but now they are not worth the box they are put in tho i say half of that is the mentally disabled people they use who are in a constant panic attack and throw your food at you in the window and scream at you to go away
@@mmclaurin8035 He won't because McDonalds didn't change for vegetarians or for health reasons. They changed because a rich guy got a heart attack and then paid for ads criticizing McDonalds. So RFK, like the rest of the administration bowing to the wealthy, isn't going to change back for you.
The irony of 5:46 is that the switch to hydrogenated vegetable oils (canola/margarine) based on the NHSA's advice is probably killing more now than beef tallow and butter ever did.
@@michaelfarrell4824Um yes that’s exactly what it means. People fought against consuming a natural animal fat, and in turn the seed oils that we now consume are 10x more detrimental to our health
it does help. it's sort of like marinading chicken. For instance John Legend's fried chicken recipe where he marinades the chicken. I got bored and did it with potatoes and my favorite fried chicken mixture and people have told me I could make money off of my fries. When soaking the fries, do so for at least 30 minutes, it's a bit of trial and error but perhaps a table spoon of spice mixture per potato. It may sound a lot but not everything is going to get absorbed. Jphn Legend explains how to make his chicken on youtube, thankfully it's one of those that is just seasoning salt, cayanne and garlic powder.
My mother, my ancient golden retriever and I stopped at McD for some McDonalds fries on lent in 2013 on our way home from the vet. They were both very ill and I took every opportunity to make them happy. Mama wanted her fries during lent. We ate in the car in the parking lot, facing a wall. We fed the fries to the dog and pretended there was a movie on the wall. We made up a plot and dialog. It was a magical lunch made even more everlasting because my dog died a week later and my mother followed 2 weeks after him. I will hold this memory in my heart for the rest of my life.
I remember when Burger King tried to up their fry game. It did the opposite of what they wanted. I stopped going because their fries were so bad compared to the old ones
I'll still get burgen king VERY VERY occasionally...like...rarely really. One is just super close to my house, closer than any other fast food place. That's the only reason why. Their fries are still so awful compared to mcdonalds fries. They are...fine I guess? when hot, but still not "good" even when perfect.
Checkers/Rally's are my favorite fast food fries. McDonald's is second place, but I wish they would go back to their original recipe with the beef tallow.
Documentaries like this always have me wondering what the founders of the place would think of what they've become. Honestly I love their fries and it's the only thing I still trust from their menu
I had a friend who refused to believe that it was possible to make better fries at home than McD fries... I mean, not everyone is a capable cook, but not everyone is incapable of boiling water, chopping vegetables or getting flavor enhancing ingredients. Also not everyone is incapable of grasping that there are different potatoes... My ex-friend told me "They're all the same, they're potatoes" when I tried explaining that there were different kinds of potatoes and that he needed to look up the names of the ones where he lived and get the ones better suited for fries... Haven't had McD fries in a while since i've been doing my own from scratch at home... and I think people should just stop going to those greedy places that keep upping their prices for mediocre quality (and that's putting it nicely).
same like people that say pasta is pasta. NOOOO fresh tastes so much better for one. They just don’t have the tastebuds i suppose. Or they are so used to eating crap that they actually even prefer the crap.
I'm a chef and I've made my own fries and tried dozens of other homemade and I've never had a homemade fry better than either McDonalds or Wendys. That and they're a pain in the ass to make from scratch so why bother when there are cheaper faster alternatives?
Thanks for this! 🍟 I vividly recall when they stopped using beef tallow... then their fries tasted like Burger King's. Eventually, they figured out the flavoring to make them very like the old ones. I wish they could figure out a vegetarian and vegan version (that still taste as particularly delicious).
There is a recipe on youtube. Peeled, cut to exact size, rinsed and dried Russet potatoes, a quick parboil with CORN SYRUP. Cooled, dried and frozen to store. Quick fry a batch for a few minutes and re fry. I made a whole basket and ate them all. It takes time but works. A 5 pound bag will make a lot of fries. Take Care.
Fun Fact: McDonald's Store #1 out in San Murderdino, is now the Official McDonald's Museum. Be DAMN Careful going there, San Bernardino is called San MURDERDINO for a reason.
Bro getting murdered while going to visit the McDonalds museum would easily be one of the most fuckin depressing possible ways to die that anybody could ever come up with.....
7:50 I fricking LOVED Burger King's '98 french fries. I was really upset when they made them super thick a few years later, just screwed the whole surface area to inside ratio.
The '98 fries were around quite a while iirc. I loved them as a kid in the late 90s through the 2000s. The thick-cuts were introduced alongside crinkle-cut "satisfries" back around 2010. I _do_ like BK's thick fries, but I'll always miss their 90s/early-00s fries because the flavor coating was delicious
I worked for several branches here in Europe for 10 years and they pretty much use the same potatoes and methods, potatoes follow a very selective process called "gold standard" in which any potato with deformities or imperfections are discarded followed by the usual peeling and rising process to discard the extra starch, all of this is done in processing plants across Europe the Netherlands being one of the main producers, then they are air sealed, deep frozen and shipped to their respective destinations, it takes a few days at most for the fries to reach the restaurants and they are kept in -18C° the whole time, the fries are cooked in completely uncured vegetable oil and seasoned only with salt making them %100 vegan and gluten free, restaurants follow daily protocols to measure their oil vats PPM in order to keep it fresh and clean, most people still say McDonald's fries are the best than any other fast food company.
but compared to the local "cafetaria" they are nothing. the spice mixes those guys put on the fries makes them many times better than any (other) fast food fries.
I sometimes like Burger King fries better, but they can be so inconsistent whether they're best or inedible that I've stopped trying. Having diabetes makes skipping fries altogether that much easier.
I remember eating at a McDonalds in Pattaya Beach, Thailand, and they still used beef tallow for their fries. I ate there several times, and loved every bite.
"Tallow is fat that comes from the hard tissue around a cow's organs, like the kidneys and loins." Y'all want that, really? I don't remember but I bet they were greasy and nasty, and I love animals. McDonald's UK fries are still unreal, especially paired with a double McPlant
I was born in '93 and the first McDonald's opened in my hometown around '96, so I've never tasted the tallow fries. But I still feel like there's something special in the "McFries", and it's consistent throughout my almost-three-decades' memory with McDonald's, and across continents. I was born and raised in China and now live in the US. The fries I bought last week across the street can still summon the good old memories when I was a child, when McDonald's was not a "fast food" but considered a special treat for children.
The answer, cuz theyre crap, so they taste like crap. Literally just taking standard ass walmart frozen fries and air frying or pan frying them is 1000 times better.
Dear God's, that voice for this channel could hold an audience talking about the wonders of eating poo. Seriously is he an ex teacher? I could listen to him all damn day!
My car died, ending an insane streak of daily McDonalds consumption. "Yeah, I'll take double cheeseburger $3 bundle and 6 piece $3 bundle. Yeah, and let me get a medium Coke and a hot mustard with the nugs."
I remember watching the fries being sliced fresh at the original Golden Arches stand in my city. Those were delicious compared to today's pre-cooked and frozen version.
@@212caboose Why would you lie about something like that? 😂 They stopped using beef tallow in 1990 bcuz an executive wanted to cut corners so he’d get a bigger bonus. Who the fxck in 1990 had ever heard of a vegan? 🤣 such a weird thing to lie about lmfao
@@212caboose It would be very simple to fry them in a different oil if that were the case. Instead, they choose to make them with 19 ingredients?? When I make fries there are 3. Potatoes, oil and salt. Here some of the McDonald's fries highlights: Dimethylpolysiloxane: Also used in silly putty Dextrose: A sweetening agent. Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate: Prevents discoloration TBHQ: Toxic in large quanitites. Prevents oxidation Dimethylpolysiloxane: A silicon like additive. People are free to eat what they want but you couldn't pay me to eat that crap.
You're a moron if you think it's "poison". And you're an even bigger moron if you think they're using a homogenous oil to fry them which is where a lot of the "ingredients" come from.
6:53 it's the year 2025 and now we have idiots saying “trans fat aren’t much healthier than beef fat”. This the same as saying cancer isn’t much healthier for you than exercising.
What have you done!!? Don't you know the words "McDonalds Fries" are, like, a summoning spell for disgruntled Gen-Xers? "They're supposed to be cooked in beef tallow!" "I know, Aunt Angie." "And the pies are supposed to be FRIED!" "Yes. You've mentioned that, Aunt Angie." (pregnant pause) "WE USED TO DRINK WATER RIGHT FROM THE HOSE!!!" "Yep -- there it is."
I had a really good experience working for McDonald’s. I was going through a really awful terribly painful divorce and had developed an anxiety called “Agoraphobia” the fear of or anxiety when leaving the house and being around people. I got the job at McD’s and that fear dies right off! I had moved (again) and I remember I worked at Burger King when they unveiled their brand new “Stealth Fries” and had what was known as Free French Fry Day. You could come in and not have to order anything, and still get a small size Stealth Fry. I don’t know why I remember it was the 2nd of January 1999. And I had “fry duty”. When I arrived for work there were lines around the block, and I thought, “omg I’m going to die in a Burger King....” But they put me on fry duty and it was actually not that bad! When you’re on Whopper Boards, or Specialty Boards you have to remember all kinds of orders, with everyone’s specific requests, like no onions, extra pickles etc. But on Fries 🍟, you just make sure they’re fresh! It was actually one of the funnest days I had working there! But I still remember the original recipe for McDonald’s fries, and omg they were the absolute BEST!!! 🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟
I love them so much that i don't even need salt to enjoy them. If you ask for fries without salt then they have to fry a fresh batch so you'll always have a fresh thing of fries. Perfect when hot, mediocre when cold
Their ORIGINAL fries were good. The fries they have now aren't perfect and aren't much better then what you can make at home. I actually think Burger King fries are the best right now.
Burger King’s fries have improved over the past few years, but still nowhere as good as McDonald fries. But you are right, as long as you double fry them, making them at home is better than any fast food fry.
For the future be aware this comment doesn’t help anyone. It shows this comment at 8:45 because of how UA-cam works. The comment needs to be “ 0:10 this video starts at 8:45 “ That defeats the algorithm.
As soon as I found out that the U.K's McDonald's french fries are only 3 ingredients, and we in America have 17 ingredients in the same fries, it's kind of ruined it for me. 🍟😒
Blame the American consumer for wanting fries to look a certain way. The ingredient soup is because people complained about french fries not looking good. Like acid pyrophosphate is to keep them from turning brown/grey because freezing potatoes tends to do that.
Yes. Our political system allows corporations to push addictive and harmful food ingredients on the population. Meanwhile, the politicians and corporations get filthy rich. Reject consumerism. Reject the food pyramid.
@@rainzerdesu That is the worst part. McD’s fries in the UK look exactly like American ones. I studied abroad in the UK, and their fries were delicious. The biggest difference was in the ketchup. They use real sugar in their ketchup instead of HFCS, and the ketchup in the UK was a bit sweeter as a result.
@@uspockdad6429 It's really cause people are counting ingredients wrongly. Blame US labeling laws. For example, in the US, Mcdonalds fries are listed as using "Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil) and counting that as 5 different ingredients. In the UK that is listed as "Blend of Non-Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Sunflower, Rapeseed)". Canola oil is rapeseed oil so they're the same in that. The only two ingredients that differ are beef flavor and sodium acid pyrophosphate (the one to prevent frozen potatoes from turning grey).
@@rainzerdesu but how do you explain that in the rest of Europe the fries also only contain: potato, oil and salt 3 ingredients, and in most places the oil used is 100% sunflower oil. so no blend of different things, just sunflower oil. and no preservatives used, but still the same golden/yellow sticks of potato.
If you actually want to know what's in McDonalds fries.. - 1. Potatoes (base vegetable.. Keep scrolling) 2. Vegetable oil blend for frying (Part of "Proprietary Formula" that may contain any combination of): - Canola oil (processed vegetable oil) Health note: When heated to high temperatures, can produce harmful compounds - Corn oil (processed corn oil) Health note: High in omega-6 fatty acids; excessive amounts may promote inflammation - Soybean oil (processed soybean oil) Health note: Like corn oil, high in omega-6; may contribute to inflammation - Hydrogenated soybean oil (chemically processed to be more solid) Health note: Contains trans fats, which can: • Increase bad cholesterol (LDL) • Decrease good cholesterol (HDL) • Increase heart disease risk • Promote inflammation Combined oil risks: - When these oils are mixed and heated at high temperatures, they create acrylamide, which has serious health implications: • Classified as a probable human carcinogen by International Agency for Research on Cancer • Linked to increased risk of: - Kidney cancer - Endometrial cancer - Ovarian cancer • Neurotoxic effects on brain and nervous system • DNA damage potential • Reproductive problems (shown in animal studies) • Higher cooking temperatures increase acrylamide production - The specific combination used may vary by batch/location - Combined effects of multiple harmful compounds may be worse than individual effects 3. Dextrose (pure glucose/sugar) Health note: - Causes rapid blood sugar spikes - Can contribute to diabetes/insulin resistance - Promotes tooth decay - Contributes to weight gain 4. Sodium acid pyrophosphate (chemical preservative/color retention) Health note: - Can interfere with calcium absorption - May cause mineral imbalances in high amounts - Some people report digestive discomfort 5. Salt (sodium chloride) Health note: Excessive sodium intake linked to: - High blood pressure - Heart disease - Water retention - Kidney strain 6. TBHQ (tert-Butylhydroquinone - synthetic preservative) Health note: Studies show potential risks: - Nausea and vomiting - Tinnitus (ear ringing) - Vision disturbances - Delirium in high doses - Some studies suggest possible carcinogenic properties - May affect DNA structure - Neurological effects reported in some studies 7. Hydrolyzed wheat (chemically broken down wheat protein) Health note: - Contains gluten (dangerous for celiac disease) - May contain MSG-like compounds - Can trigger wheat allergies - Often highly processed 8. Hydrolyzed milk (chemically broken down milk protein) Health note: - Dairy allergen - May contain MSG-like compounds - Can cause digestive issues in lactose intolerant people - Often highly processed 9. Natural beef flavor (combination of ingredients to mimic beef taste) Health note: - Despite "natural" label, often contains processed ingredients - Contains hydrolyzed wheat and milk as starting ingredients - May contain MSG-like compounds - Exact composition not fully disclosed 10. Citric Acid (used in oil mixture) Health note: - Can erode tooth enamel in high concentrations - May cause acid reflux in sensitive individuals - Some people report digestive discomfort 11. Dimethylpolysiloxane (anti-foaming agent) Health note: - Synthetic silicone-based chemical - While FDA approved, studies raise concerns about: • Potential organ system toxicity • Bioaccumulation in body • Environmental concerns (non-biodegradable) • Possible endocrine disruption at high exposures
Nope... This is from their website. If it were a published lie...Any lawyer worth a sh*t would SUE the FUK outta McDonalds, make a huge name for themselves and be rich forever. French Fries Ingredients: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Natural Beef Flavor [wheat And Milk Derivatives]*), Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate (maintain Color), Salt. *natural Beef Flavor Contains Hydrolyzed Wheat And Hydrolyzed Milk As Starting Ingredients. Contains: Wheat, Milk. If you wanna hate the place...fine but don't be a G.D. liar.
There's nothing that you can consume that doesn't have some adverse effect on your health. Nothing, right down to the air you're breathing. Life's too damn short to be a hypochondriac about your fries.
Recent research suggests that animal fats are actually healthier than vegetable oils. Animal fats are also less calorie-dense. You're better off using butter than margarine.
That's not the question. The questions are "Why do they taste like NOTHING after 15min?" and "Why do they look and taste after 5yrs exactly as they did after 15min?".
Order them "no salt" so you're guaranteed made-to-order fries that are practically still sizzling. There's still some salt anyways because they can't avoid it
Vegetarians used to froth over the fries at my old job. The menu labeled them as vegetarian because of course potatoes aren't meat. Turns out they were fried in beef tallow...
We used to drive miles for McDonald's fries because there were so few McDonald's back in the day. We would enjoy an appetite enhancer on the way. Good times.
McDonald's had health organizations against them even back in the 60s? That makes sense but I was growing up in the Super Size Me days so that was my frame of reference when it comes to McDonald's opposition.
I do enjoy McDonald's fries, but out of all the drive-thru burger chains I prefer Wendy's fries. If we're talking burger chains as a whole, the winner by a WIIIIIIDE margin is Five Guys. The taste and texture is vastly superior, and the cajun fries are simply out of this world.
Their taste more natural ...you can literally taste the chemicals in McDonald's fries 😂.....sometimes have an aftertaste also but that could be from bad used oil
Too bad the McDonalds fries today are made from the worst potatoes you can find, in overused oil, and stored in the fridge for 5 days before you get them
Used to love McDonald's french fries years ago, but they don't taste the same. I still go there a lot, but it seems like a lot of restaurants taste and quality has gone slightly downhill.
I know it’s controversial, but I actually prefer in n out fries the most. When they’re hot, they’re perfect. It’s literally fresh peeled and cut potatoes at the store, then cooked in pure sunflower oil and then lightly salted. And animal style fries? Forget it. Those are awesome.
I remember when they used beef tallow and those fries were so damn good. If you took McDonald's fries and cook them in Tallow today it would blow your fucking mind
Let's hope RFK makes this a reality.
Then the zios/Jews complained n it ended
Exactly! These poor kids today have no idea what McDonald's fries are supposed to taste like. What they serve now are impostors! McDonald's isn't very smart. Beef tallow is healthier than vegetable oils so they have no excuse now not to switch back. Better tasting fries will bring in more business! It's not rocket science!
i remember those fries.... good times.
What is beef tallow😊
I remember the beef tallow fries, and once the oil recipe was changed, it was absolutely noticeable. I still mention the beef tallow on occasion, and younger people have no idea what I'm talking about, they really missed out on how good McD's fries really were.
That's something to know also the prices were way different not like now with the Inflation Monster wrecking havoc over things and food not being as great as it used to along with size shrinking as also seen in the movie The Founder.
lol! I’m 39 and remember 2 things in 1989… my sister (and bff!) being born and McDonalds fries still being good! My parents (who know cattle) noticed it RIGHT away in the 90’s (1990-1991 I think?) when they stopped. They literally were so mad they started going to Burger King. Things were never the same in our family since…. lol
"Back in my day"
You do realize it's stupid easy to make McDonalds fries at home right? Get a small deep fryer, use your fat of choice, get the right cut potatoes of the right type of potato and directly from the freezer cook until the appropriate color. I've made them at home it tastes the exact same, to be fair I used to work there but it's so simple. It's just a specific potato, a specific fat to cook it in at a specific temperature. You can look all of it up online.
I mentioned the beef tallow to someone the other day, someone who is close to 70yo. they had no idea what I was talking about. I wasnt even alive when their fries used beef tallow, and yet I know more about it than they do. its not that "younger people have no idea what you are talking about", its that some people just dont care about such things, regardless of what their age is.
Maybe RFK will make them switch back to beef tallow
We would go through Burger King drive thru and get Woppers and then across the street to McD’s drive thru to get the fries 😂
*Whoppers
Yeah the beauty of mall food courts; get your burger, drink, and fries from whoever you prefer.
Omg so did we!!! Burger Kings fries are really good, but no where near as amazing as McDonald’s’.
Kurger Bing Whompners? 😋
And KFC gravy.
Didn't know McD's fries were different outside the US. Makes sense because here in Ireland, they're unremarkable compared to what you get in a standard chip shop.
Taste the same both sides of pond. I can't notice the difference.
American here Irish fries taste better then the American version in my opinion though anything potato related does. The potatos are grand over there simply unreal
McDonalds fries haven't tasted like McDonalds fries since they started frying them in vegetable oil in 1993.
@R3troZone. Yup
"We used to walk to school in the snow uphill both ways, and we wore an onion on our belt, which was the style at the time"
they were still good for the short time they used sunflower oil but now they are not worth the box they are put in
tho i say half of that is the mentally disabled people they use who are in a constant panic attack and throw your food at you in the window and scream at you to go away
RFK will hopefully get places like McDonald's back to using beef tallow.
@@mmclaurin8035 He won't because McDonalds didn't change for vegetarians or for health reasons. They changed because a rich guy got a heart attack and then paid for ads criticizing McDonalds. So RFK, like the rest of the administration bowing to the wealthy, isn't going to change back for you.
The irony of 5:46 is that the switch to hydrogenated vegetable oils (canola/margarine) based on the NHSA's advice is probably killing more now than beef tallow and butter ever did.
That's not what irony means
@@michaelfarrell4824Um yes that’s exactly what it means. People fought against consuming a natural animal fat, and in turn the seed oils that we now consume are 10x more detrimental to our health
No
The Ingredient Bath sounds like something from a sci-fi horror movie.
it does help. it's sort of like marinading chicken. For instance John Legend's fried chicken recipe where he marinades the chicken. I got bored and did it with potatoes and my favorite fried chicken mixture and people have told me I could make money off of my fries.
When soaking the fries, do so for at least 30 minutes, it's a bit of trial and error but perhaps a table spoon of spice mixture per potato. It may sound a lot but not everything is going to get absorbed.
Jphn Legend explains how to make his chicken on youtube, thankfully it's one of those that is just seasoning salt, cayanne and garlic powder.
The Ingredient Bath is made from the partially hydrogenated oils of Chef Vlad's enemies 🩸
Don't be so afraid of chemicals.
You sound ignorant. Everything is a chemical and has a chemical sounding name. I just think it sucks ignorant people like you get to live
I was starting to get an appetite for some Mcfries, till that part
We want our fries to be fried in beef tallow again!
fax. I knew i wasnt imagining it. The fries tasted way better when i was a kid.
They'll cost 75x more if they do, ya know just cuz and all that.
Make America Great Again, Healthy Again, and Fries to be Friend in Beef Tallow Again!
can i have some extra disease with my fries pls
@@sdivine13 Consider how much beef they go through, they have more than enough tallow available just from getting their beef.
My mother, my ancient golden retriever and I stopped at McD for some McDonalds fries on lent in 2013 on our way home from the vet. They were both very ill and I took every opportunity to make them happy. Mama wanted her fries during lent. We ate in the car in the parking lot, facing a wall. We fed the fries to the dog and pretended there was a movie on the wall. We made up a plot and dialog. It was a magical lunch made even more everlasting because my dog died a week later and my mother followed 2 weeks after him. I will hold this memory in my heart for the rest of my life.
thats such a sweet story
🙏🏼🙏🏼
I remember when Burger King tried to up their fry game. It did the opposite of what they wanted. I stopped going because their fries were so bad compared to the old ones
Same thing with Wendy's. Their fries used to be good 18 years ago.
I get the onion rings. They aren’t good, but they have more flavor (kinda).
I liked them! I guess it makes sense that America would choose the worse option.
I'll still get burgen king VERY VERY occasionally...like...rarely really. One is just super close to my house, closer than any other fast food place. That's the only reason why. Their fries are still so awful compared to mcdonalds fries. They are...fine I guess? when hot, but still not "good" even when perfect.
They even had the audacity to claim THEY had the best fries. Better than Oreida frozen crinkle fries I guess.
Checkers/Rally's are my favorite fast food fries. McDonald's is second place, but I wish they would go back to their original recipe with the beef tallow.
Jack in the Box are mine, but it really depends on the individual location. I live near one that gets them right, and it's dangerous to my diet.
Documentaries like this always have me wondering what the founders of the place would think of what they've become. Honestly I love their fries and it's the only thing I still trust from their menu
Wait, so you love documentaries telling you what you like is garbage compared to what it used to be?
@@JeremyLogan wait, so usually you start useless argument with strangers on the internet?
McDonald's is what it is thanks to Ray Croc not the McDonalds brothers who where not into franchising
I had a friend who refused to believe that it was possible to make better fries at home than McD fries... I mean, not everyone is a capable cook, but not everyone is incapable of boiling water, chopping vegetables or getting flavor enhancing ingredients. Also not everyone is incapable of grasping that there are different potatoes... My ex-friend told me "They're all the same, they're potatoes" when I tried explaining that there were different kinds of potatoes and that he needed to look up the names of the ones where he lived and get the ones better suited for fries...
Haven't had McD fries in a while since i've been doing my own from scratch at home... and I think people should just stop going to those greedy places that keep upping their prices for mediocre quality (and that's putting it nicely).
Amen
stupid people ngl.
same like people that say pasta is pasta. NOOOO fresh tastes so much better for one. They just don’t have the tastebuds i suppose. Or they are so used to eating crap that they actually even prefer the crap.
@@imluctor5997as an Italian "pasta is pasta" is straight up blasphemous
I'm a chef and I've made my own fries and tried dozens of other homemade and I've never had a homemade fry better than either McDonalds or Wendys. That and they're a pain in the ass to make from scratch so why bother when there are cheaper faster alternatives?
Nothing gives my tongue salt burn quite like McDonalds fries....because no other fries are so over salted 🤣
I don’t know where you live, but I haven’t had an actually salted McDonalds fry in the Midwest in about 7 years.
“But befaw we get started.” Pure poetry❤️
Best spelling of that I've seen yet. 😁😁
Buffalo wild wings is the only chain still using beef tallow for their fries.
Now, if only they'd start using chicken for their wings!
shoot now i want some fries
Same
Thanks for this! 🍟 I vividly recall when they stopped using beef tallow... then their fries tasted like Burger King's. Eventually, they figured out the flavoring to make them very like the old ones. I wish they could figure out a vegetarian and vegan version (that still taste as particularly delicious).
There is a recipe on youtube. Peeled, cut to exact size, rinsed and dried Russet potatoes, a quick parboil with CORN SYRUP. Cooled, dried and frozen to store. Quick fry a batch for a few minutes and re fry. I made a whole basket and ate them all. It takes time but works. A 5 pound bag will make a lot of fries. Take Care.
Fun Fact: McDonald's Store #1 out in San Murderdino, is now the Official McDonald's Museum. Be DAMN Careful going there, San Bernardino is called San MURDERDINO for a reason.
Bro getting murdered while going to visit the McDonalds museum would easily be one of the most fuckin depressing possible ways to die that anybody could ever come up with.....
Her name was Julia Child
7:50 I fricking LOVED Burger King's '98 french fries.
I was really upset when they made them super thick a few years later, just screwed the whole surface area to inside ratio.
Not if you get the fries crispy enough.
@@EnlightenedMinarchist Bigger fries are cooked longer to get cooked to the middle, meaning a browner exterior. Far better (in general).
The '98 fries were around quite a while iirc. I loved them as a kid in the late 90s through the 2000s. The thick-cuts were introduced alongside crinkle-cut "satisfries" back around 2010. I _do_ like BK's thick fries, but I'll always miss their 90s/early-00s fries because the flavor coating was delicious
I worked for several branches here in Europe for 10 years and they pretty much use the same potatoes and methods, potatoes follow a very selective process called "gold standard" in which any potato with deformities or imperfections are discarded followed by the usual peeling and rising process to discard the extra starch, all of this is done in processing plants across Europe the Netherlands being one of the main producers, then they are air sealed, deep frozen and shipped to their respective destinations, it takes a few days at most for the fries to reach the restaurants and they are kept in -18C° the whole time, the fries are cooked in completely uncured vegetable oil and seasoned only with salt making them %100 vegan and gluten free, restaurants follow daily protocols to measure their oil vats PPM in order to keep it fresh and clean, most people still say McDonald's fries are the best than any other fast food company.
but compared to the local "cafetaria" they are nothing.
the spice mixes those guys put on the fries makes them many times better than any (other) fast food fries.
As someone who is gluten-intolerant, many thanks for letting us know the fries have wheat ingredients. Never would've thought of that. 🤔
I loved the taste of the old school Mickey D's fries.🍟
"Sling Blade" Loved those french fried potato thingys at that diner😃 Karl Childers Yup, Uh humm.
With mustard umhmm
@@stephensulzer1384 Billy Bob Thornton was too cool playing that part. I reckon I like me some fried taters.
I sometimes like Burger King fries better, but they can be so inconsistent whether they're best or inedible that I've stopped trying. Having diabetes makes skipping fries altogether that much easier.
I remember eating at a McDonalds in Pattaya Beach, Thailand, and they still used beef tallow for their fries. I ate there several times, and loved every bite.
McD's fries are good, but I wouldn't say they're the best. To me, just about all major-chain fast food fries are good these days.
"Tallow is fat that comes from the hard tissue around a cow's organs, like the kidneys and loins."
Y'all want that, really? I don't remember but I bet they were greasy and nasty, and I love animals. McDonald's UK fries are still unreal, especially paired with a double McPlant
Did he say "the fries contain 10 up to 19 ingredients".These need to be put on the container so choice can be made to eat it or not.
I was born in '93 and the first McDonald's opened in my hometown around '96, so I've never tasted the tallow fries.
But I still feel like there's something special in the "McFries", and it's consistent throughout my almost-three-decades' memory with McDonald's, and across continents. I was born and raised in China and now live in the US. The fries I bought last week across the street can still summon the good old memories when I was a child, when McDonald's was not a "fast food" but considered a special treat for children.
I like how they always offer the large fries for a dollar on the McDonald’s app
$2 on my app
The answer, cuz theyre crap, so they taste like crap. Literally just taking standard ass walmart frozen fries and air frying or pan frying them is 1000 times better.
Dear God's, that voice for this channel could hold an audience talking about the wonders of eating poo.
Seriously is he an ex teacher? I could listen to him all damn day!
My car died, ending an insane streak of daily McDonalds consumption. "Yeah, I'll take double cheeseburger $3 bundle and 6 piece $3 bundle. Yeah, and let me get a medium Coke and a hot mustard with the nugs."
11:38 🎶TOO MANY COOKS!🎶
I remember watching the fries being sliced fresh at the original Golden Arches stand in my city. Those were delicious compared to today's pre-cooked and frozen version.
"Why nothing tastes like McDonalds Fries" -
The unique chemical combination to maximize profits?
No, they stopped using beef tallow because vegans and vegetarians complained they had no options to meet their dietary needs.
@@212caboose Why would you lie about something like that? 😂
They stopped using beef tallow in 1990 bcuz an executive wanted to cut corners so he’d get a bigger bonus. Who the fxck in 1990 had ever heard of a vegan? 🤣 such a weird thing to lie about lmfao
@@212caboose It would be very simple to fry them in a different oil if that were the case. Instead, they choose to make them with 19 ingredients?? When I make fries there are 3. Potatoes, oil and salt. Here some of the McDonald's fries highlights:
Dimethylpolysiloxane: Also used in silly putty
Dextrose: A sweetening agent.
Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate: Prevents discoloration
TBHQ: Toxic in large quanitites. Prevents oxidation
Dimethylpolysiloxane: A silicon like additive.
People are free to eat what they want but you couldn't pay me to eat that crap.
@@212caboose wrong
You could have, you know, watched the video instead of sharing your ignorance.
It's disgusting that they cannot even make simple fried potato as a vegetarian product, shame on them!
"Julia Childs" 😂
Funny why
@@ExploreMichigander Her name is "Julia Child"
@@marcbermoic your one of those people
*you’re
@@trumantheodorefruitty596 😂
Those 1998 BK fries were glorious
McDonald's fries are always soggy and flavourless.
Always soggy and salty !
Because they cook them in seed oil and not beef tallow.
Order them well done. They’re way better that way, and actually golden and crispy.
The location i go to taste great.
Not always. Go to a busy McDonald's around lunchtime, and they are usually fresh.
In Australia, the inhredience of McDonald's fries are potatoes, oil, and salt.
You're being poisoned if something like fries has "secret ingredients."
You're a moron if you think it's "poison". And you're an even bigger moron if you think they're using a homogenous oil to fry them which is where a lot of the "ingredients" come from.
the 20+ chemicals make it amazing
6:53 it's the year 2025 and now we have idiots saying “trans fat aren’t much healthier than beef fat”. This the same as saying cancer isn’t much healthier for you than exercising.
As a Belgian I can say nothing tastes better than Belgian fries ❤️
What have you done!!? Don't you know the words "McDonalds Fries" are, like, a summoning spell for disgruntled Gen-Xers?
"They're supposed to be cooked in beef tallow!"
"I know, Aunt Angie."
"And the pies are supposed to be FRIED!"
"Yes. You've mentioned that, Aunt Angie."
(pregnant pause)
"WE USED TO DRINK WATER RIGHT FROM THE HOSE!!!"
"Yep -- there it is."
Everything these days is cold, dry and dead inside. Grouching is all we have left. 😅
Good for you to trade higher quality food for a few lame jokes. Now eat your vegetable oil shreddings.
P.S.: I know you're an ashkenas shet stirrer like 99% of your kind, and not anyone from "gen z" or whatever.
@@carnekermit Haha. Fair enough.
I had a really good experience working for McDonald’s. I was going through a really awful terribly painful divorce and had developed an anxiety called “Agoraphobia” the fear of or anxiety when leaving the house and being around people. I got the job at McD’s and that fear dies right off! I had moved (again) and I remember I worked at Burger King when they unveiled their brand new “Stealth Fries” and had what was known as Free French Fry Day. You could come in and not have to order anything, and still get a small size Stealth Fry. I don’t know why I remember it was the 2nd of January 1999. And I had “fry duty”. When I arrived for work there were lines around the block, and I thought, “omg I’m going to die in a Burger King....” But they put me on fry duty and it was actually not that bad! When you’re on Whopper Boards, or Specialty Boards you have to remember all kinds of orders, with everyone’s specific requests, like no onions, extra pickles etc. But on Fries 🍟, you just make sure they’re fresh! It was actually one of the funnest days I had working there! But I still remember the original recipe for McDonald’s fries, and omg they were the absolute BEST!!! 🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟
I don't know a single person who prefers McDonald's fries over their competitors. Leave them for 3 minutes and they taste like paper.
1:13 Inflation is a B!tch! 😭😭😭
I love them so much that i don't even need salt to enjoy them. If you ask for fries without salt then they have to fry a fresh batch so you'll always have a fresh thing of fries. Perfect when hot, mediocre when cold
Wendy's has better fries now
too dry and bland
On those occasions when they salt them, yes.
Weird History Food and Evil Food Supply. I'm subscribed to both channels and constantly get them confused, lol.
Their ORIGINAL fries were good. The fries they have now aren't perfect and aren't much better then what you can make at home.
I actually think Burger King fries are the best right now.
Making fries at home didn't truly come into its own as an option until Alton Brown taught everyone how to double-fry them.
@@SimuLord lolno sounds like a skill issue
home fries are always better than fastfood
Burger King’s fries have improved over the past few years, but still nowhere as good as McDonald fries.
But you are right, as long as you double fry them, making them at home is better than any fast food fry.
ah yes, soggy and soggy fries. It only depends on the store's location
*Julia Child come on people
Embarrassing for a channel that claims to care about food history.
“But before we get to the content you came here to watch here’s 10 seconds of us felating ourselves. Enjoy!”
BF stands for bitch fit?
This video starts at 8:45
For the future be aware this comment doesn’t help anyone. It shows this comment at 8:45 because of how UA-cam works. The comment needs to be “ 0:10 this video starts at 8:45 “ That defeats the algorithm.
OMG! I'm gluten intolerant and this explains so much of why I occasionally have issues!!!
I gotta say, love those McDonald's fries.
And your cancer cells also are McLoving those fries.
Last time I had McDonald’s fries, they smelled and stank of rancid fishy soybean oil. No thanks never again Mickey Dee’s.
Thats true nearest would be cardboard , I guess that's why sales are plummeting nothing like the taste of deep fried cardboard
In the EU, McDonald's fries only contain oil and potatoes. No additives
As soon as I found out that the U.K's McDonald's french fries are only 3 ingredients, and we in America have 17 ingredients in the same fries, it's kind of ruined it for me. 🍟😒
Blame the American consumer for wanting fries to look a certain way. The ingredient soup is because people complained about french fries not looking good. Like acid pyrophosphate is to keep them from turning brown/grey because freezing potatoes tends to do that.
Yes. Our political system allows corporations to push addictive and harmful food ingredients on the population. Meanwhile, the politicians and corporations get filthy rich. Reject consumerism. Reject the food pyramid.
@@rainzerdesu
That is the worst part. McD’s fries in the UK look exactly like American ones.
I studied abroad in the UK, and their fries were delicious.
The biggest difference was in the ketchup. They use real sugar in their ketchup instead of HFCS, and the ketchup in the UK was a bit sweeter as a result.
@@uspockdad6429 It's really cause people are counting ingredients wrongly. Blame US labeling laws. For example, in the US, Mcdonalds fries are listed as using "Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil) and counting that as 5 different ingredients. In the UK that is listed as "Blend of Non-Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Sunflower, Rapeseed)". Canola oil is rapeseed oil so they're the same in that. The only two ingredients that differ are beef flavor and sodium acid pyrophosphate (the one to prevent frozen potatoes from turning grey).
@@rainzerdesu but how do you explain that in the rest of Europe the fries also only contain: potato, oil and salt
3 ingredients, and in most places the oil used is 100% sunflower oil. so no blend of different things, just sunflower oil.
and no preservatives used, but still the same golden/yellow sticks of potato.
5:59 Julia CHILD
NOT CHILDS
RESPECT THE LEGEND
If you actually want to know what's in McDonalds fries.. -
1. Potatoes (base vegetable.. Keep scrolling)
2. Vegetable oil blend for frying (Part of "Proprietary Formula" that may contain any combination of):
- Canola oil (processed vegetable oil)
Health note: When heated to high temperatures, can produce harmful compounds
- Corn oil (processed corn oil)
Health note: High in omega-6 fatty acids; excessive amounts may promote inflammation
- Soybean oil (processed soybean oil)
Health note: Like corn oil, high in omega-6; may contribute to inflammation
- Hydrogenated soybean oil (chemically processed to be more solid)
Health note: Contains trans fats, which can:
• Increase bad cholesterol (LDL)
• Decrease good cholesterol (HDL)
• Increase heart disease risk
• Promote inflammation
Combined oil risks:
- When these oils are mixed and heated at high temperatures, they create acrylamide, which has serious health implications:
• Classified as a probable human carcinogen by International Agency for Research on Cancer
• Linked to increased risk of:
- Kidney cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Ovarian cancer
• Neurotoxic effects on brain and nervous system
• DNA damage potential
• Reproductive problems (shown in animal studies)
• Higher cooking temperatures increase acrylamide production
- The specific combination used may vary by batch/location
- Combined effects of multiple harmful compounds may be worse than individual effects
3. Dextrose (pure glucose/sugar)
Health note:
- Causes rapid blood sugar spikes
- Can contribute to diabetes/insulin resistance
- Promotes tooth decay
- Contributes to weight gain
4. Sodium acid pyrophosphate (chemical preservative/color retention)
Health note:
- Can interfere with calcium absorption
- May cause mineral imbalances in high amounts
- Some people report digestive discomfort
5. Salt (sodium chloride)
Health note: Excessive sodium intake linked to:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Water retention
- Kidney strain
6. TBHQ (tert-Butylhydroquinone - synthetic preservative)
Health note: Studies show potential risks:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tinnitus (ear ringing)
- Vision disturbances
- Delirium in high doses
- Some studies suggest possible carcinogenic properties
- May affect DNA structure
- Neurological effects reported in some studies
7. Hydrolyzed wheat (chemically broken down wheat protein)
Health note:
- Contains gluten (dangerous for celiac disease)
- May contain MSG-like compounds
- Can trigger wheat allergies
- Often highly processed
8. Hydrolyzed milk (chemically broken down milk protein)
Health note:
- Dairy allergen
- May contain MSG-like compounds
- Can cause digestive issues in lactose intolerant people
- Often highly processed
9. Natural beef flavor (combination of ingredients to mimic beef taste)
Health note:
- Despite "natural" label, often contains processed ingredients
- Contains hydrolyzed wheat and milk as starting ingredients
- May contain MSG-like compounds
- Exact composition not fully disclosed
10. Citric Acid (used in oil mixture)
Health note:
- Can erode tooth enamel in high concentrations
- May cause acid reflux in sensitive individuals
- Some people report digestive discomfort
11. Dimethylpolysiloxane (anti-foaming agent)
Health note:
- Synthetic silicone-based chemical
- While FDA approved, studies raise concerns about:
• Potential organ system toxicity
• Bioaccumulation in body
• Environmental concerns (non-biodegradable)
• Possible endocrine disruption at high exposures
Lol
Nope... This is from their website. If it were a published lie...Any lawyer worth a sh*t would SUE the FUK outta McDonalds, make a huge name for themselves and be rich forever.
French Fries
Ingredients: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Natural Beef Flavor [wheat And Milk Derivatives]*), Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate (maintain Color), Salt. *natural Beef Flavor Contains Hydrolyzed Wheat And Hydrolyzed Milk As Starting Ingredients.
Contains: Wheat, Milk.
If you wanna hate the place...fine but don't be a G.D. liar.
There's nothing that you can consume that doesn't have some adverse effect on your health. Nothing, right down to the air you're breathing. Life's too damn short to be a hypochondriac about your fries.
Man you really took time to type all this thats wild
Health Note:
-"May"
-"Possible"
-"Potential"
-"Despite"
-"Some"
Thanks for including what ingredients go in a McDonald's fry and what those ingredients purposes are. It's fascinating to hear
Oh yes fry daddy
Maybe in the USA, but in Europe we have frozen fries which are exactly the same in supermarkets
Recent research suggests that animal fats are actually healthier than vegetable oils. Animal fats are also less calorie-dense. You're better off using butter than margarine.
rfk is asking for mcdonalds to use beef tallow again in its oil. what about all the indians that want to enjoy mcdonalds fries?
They can go to McD's in India.
For the record, we don't call McDonald's fries 'chips' in the UK. Chips are completely different. Much thicker
Do you call them crisps?
@@quincee3376no, those are packaged thin wafers like lay's. They call McDonald's fries "fries"
@@quincee3376 I believe those are what potato chips are referred to in the UK
for the record, I call any potato cleaving of sufficient oblongity a chip
@@DomWood are you from the UK? If so is the naming of fries that picky?
you do know they use the same chemical found in formeldahyde right? that's what they use to preserve bodies for funerals.
Their fries used to be great but I just can't eat them anymore. They just don't taste good anymore
Never heard of potatoes being "cured" before.
Without Beef Tallow, McDonald's fries are nothing
Blame the Jews for that
That's not the question. The questions are "Why do they taste like NOTHING after 15min?" and "Why do they look and taste after 5yrs exactly as they did after 15min?".
All I'm seeing is that they were too scared to add Taco Bell's Nacho Fries to that poll, they'd have beat out Wendy's for sure.
Order them "no salt" so you're guaranteed made-to-order fries that are practically still sizzling. There's still some salt anyways because they can't avoid it
They were the best when fried in beef tallow.
Just so so now.
Vegetarians used to froth over the fries at my old job. The menu labeled them as vegetarian because of course potatoes aren't meat. Turns out they were fried in beef tallow...
They're so good that people cannot eat them without drowning them in ketchup first.
I've always found mcdonalds fries taste kind of rotten and burnt, that is assuming you can even taste them beyond the flavour of pure salt.
This was true, but after they changed the oil...
We used to drive miles for McDonald's fries because there were so few McDonald's back in the day. We would enjoy an appetite enhancer on the way. Good times.
Toxic waste is one hell of a FOOD ADDITIVE.
Is that Michael Keaton? 3:37
if so, where is this from?
Yes. That's him. The movie "The Founder" about Ray Kroc, 2016
Bring back beef tallow!!!!!!❤❤❤❤
Only Arby's curly fries truly surpass mcdonald's fries
There is a lot of misinformation in this video specifically concerning health.
Cut three yellow potatoes into sticks. Some salt and a little oil, put them in the air fryer until golden brown. None better.
The Big Mac is my Go-To-Meal alongside their Chicken Nuggets & their Fries
McDonald's had health organizations against them even back in the 60s? That makes sense but I was growing up in the Super Size Me days so that was my frame of reference when it comes to McDonald's opposition.
I do enjoy McDonald's fries, but out of all the drive-thru burger chains I prefer Wendy's fries. If we're talking burger chains as a whole, the winner by a WIIIIIIDE margin is Five Guys. The taste and texture is vastly superior, and the cajun fries are simply out of this world.
Their taste more natural ...you can literally taste the chemicals in McDonald's fries 😂.....sometimes have an aftertaste also but that could be from bad used oil
They copied their fries from a small place in Ocean City, MD (summer beach town).
You have terrible taste my man. Five guys is shit.
Arby’s curly fries are amazing!
same as jack in the box!
Too bad the McDonalds fries today are made from the worst potatoes you can find, in overused oil, and stored in the fridge for 5 days before you get them
What potato did they use? What potato do they use now? Don't tell me to look it up, you're pretending to be an expert.
@@GeorgeWashingtonLaserMusket
never said I was an expert, just a random youtube comment with an opinion on terrible McDonalds fries
Used to love McDonald's french fries years ago, but they don't taste the same. I still go there a lot, but it seems like a lot of restaurants taste and quality has gone slightly downhill.
And then we have In-N-Out, who make their fries from dry cardboard.
Their whole menu (in n out) is cardboard flavored. The only flavor you get is from the thousand Island dressing lol
I know it’s controversial, but I actually prefer in n out fries the most. When they’re hot, they’re perfect. It’s literally fresh peeled and cut potatoes at the store, then cooked in pure sunflower oil and then lightly salted. And animal style fries? Forget it. Those are awesome.