The Healthy Journal - Gluten, Dairy, Sugar Free Recipes, Interviews and Health Articles (2023)

McDonald's wanted to keep its signature beefy flavor but without the beef fat itself, so it came up with a solution. Now the fast-food chain adds “natural beef flavor” to its vegetable oil to give its fries their irresistibly meaty taste.

Which ingredient makes the McDonald's fries taste so good?

The taste of a french fry is largely determined by the cook- ing oil. For decades McDonald's cooked its french fries in a mixture of about 7 percent cottonseed oil and 93 percent beef tallow. The mixture gave the fries their unique flavor-and more saturated beef fat per ounce than a McDonald's hamburger.

What does McDonald's add to their french fries?

McDonald's uses salt to simply enhance the flavors of their french fries. According to their site, they add a small amount of salt after the fries are cooked.

Why does mcdonalds soak their fries in sugar?

At the beginning of the potato season, when we're using newer potatoes, the naturally-occurring sugar content is very low and we do need to add a small amount of sugar dextrose to our fries to ensure they maintain that golden colour.

Why does mcdonalds soak their fries in milk?

According to McDonald's, blanching also eliminates enzymatic activity which prevents spoilage and develops a fluffy interior, similar to a baked potato, for better texture. French fries are seen in an ingredient bath in this video released by McDonald's showing how their food is made.

10 McDonald's Secrets They Wish You Never Knew About

Is it true that McDonald's will refill your fries for free?

That's because, first and foremost, McDonald's does not offer free refills on french fries.

Why do McDonald's fries taste different?

Over the decades, the fast-food giant has changed the oil used to cook those signature fries, often in response to public pressure for a "healthier" French fry, resulting in a product that many swear doesn't taste quite as good as it once did (not that we've stopped eating them, mind you).

Why don't McDonald's fries mold?

Without moisture, mold can't grow, and McDonald's french fries are soaked in hydrogenated oil — saturated fat which increases shelf life and maintains flavor. As the french fries cool, they're essentially sealed by the hardening saturated fat, which in turn seals off moisture.

What does McDonald's spray on their fries?

It states, “Our fried menu items are cooked in a vegetable oil blend with citric acid added as a processing aid and dimethylpolysiloxane to reduce oil splatter when cooking.” In other words, dimethylpolysiloxane is a chemical added to McDonald's oil before they cook their famous fries.

Why are McDonald's fries so addictive?

It turns out that their ingredient list holds the answer. While wheat and milk aren't bad ingredients (unless you have an intolerance), hydrolyzing them—in a process where heat and chemicals break down the foods and produce MSG, which achieves extra appetizing flavors—poses a threat to your tummy.

What does McDonald's season their fries with?

When our suppliers partially fry our cut potatoes, they use an oil blend that contains beef flavoring. This ensures the great-tasting and recognizable flavor we all love from our World Famous Fries®. The fries are cooked in our kitchens, seasoned with salt, and served hot to you.

Why do McDonald's fries smell so good?

To mimic the chain's original oil blend, the oil is laced with natural flavoring to replicate that mouthwatering smell. In other words, the delicious scent we know and love is actually the smell of potatoes cooked in beef fat, an aroma so powerful it makes the fries seem even tastier!

Do ants eat McDonald's?

Researchers found pavement ants have a diet similar to humans, which allows them to clean up food left behind on city streets and sidewalks. Some ants have a craving for hamburgers with a side of fries, according to a recent study.

Do McDonald's fries have chemicals?

There are really 19 ingredients. In addition to different oils, the list includes several chemicals that perform various functions, including ones that adds flavor, an anti-foaming agent that keeps oil from splattering, another aimed at keeping “the potatoes from going gray” and preservatives, Imahara explains.

How do you make McDonald's fries taste fresh?

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spread your McDonald's fries on a baking sheet. Then, bake for about 10 minutes or until the fries are heated. If you want to give the fries a little extra flavor, you can sprinkle on some salt or vinegar before reheating.

What is the beef flavoring in McDonald's fries?

The most famous example of hidden beef flavoring is McDonald's french fries. For decades, McDonald's french fries were cooked in a combination of cottonseed oil and beef tallow. This made them delicious, but also laden with saturated fat.

Does Mcdonalds use real potatoes for their fries?

Yep. The most common potatoes we use for McDonald's fries include the Russet Burbank, Russet Ranger, Umatilla Russet and the Shepody—varieties known for producing a flavorful fry that's crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

What does FF mean at mcdonalds?

McDonald's Free Fries Friday | McDonald's. Skip To Main Content.

What is in an adult Happy Meal at McDonald's?

The limited-edition meal box is a “grownup” version of the Happy Meals McDonald's target audience enjoyed as kids, complete with prizes and an illustrated box with the golden arches as handles. Meals include a Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, fries and a drink.

Can you ask McDonald's to make your fries fresh?

Here's the Secret…

Fortunately, the solution is pretty simple. Just ask for fries without salt! “If you order a burger or fries always ask them without salt or the seasoning on the burger,” a former McDonald's employee wrote on Reddit. “They will have to make them fresh since they always put each on them.”

What happens if you don't soak fries?

Soaking peeled, washed, and cut fries in cold water overnight removes excess potato starch, which prevents fries from sticking together and helps achieve maximum crispness.

What to soak fries in before frying?

Place them in a large bowl and cover with cold water, then allow them to soak for two or three hours. (You can also stick them in the fridge and let them soak for several hours or overnight.) When you're ready to make the fries, drain off the water and lay them on two baking sheet lined with paper towels.

Why don t McDonald's fries taste like potatoes?

Malcolm Gladwell explored why McDonald's fries don't taste the same as when he was a kid. McDonald's changed the way it cooked its fries in 1992. It swapped beef tallow for vegetable oil when frying french fries.

Does McDonald's use MSG in their fries?

McDonald's doesn't use MSG in its food that is on the national menu, and there are no updates from the company yet on whether the Crispy Chicken Sandwiches will be added to the menu permanently. McDonald's has been making strides to use purer ingredients in its food.