While the question of who has the best fast-food French fries will always be up for debate, you don’t have to look far to see which chains consistently receive the most praise. Whether it’s shoestring, curly, crinkle or waffle, chances are you’ve heard plenty of opinions on the subject and even have a few of your own.
In a recent survey conducted by High Risk Pay, over 2,500 people across all 50 U.S. states were asked to rate French fries from 20 different fast-food chains. Respondents only rated fries they had personally tried, with each chain being ranked by its average score. The chain that consistently wound up on top? A familiar face that true connoisseurs probably saw coming from a mile away.
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McDonald’s French Fries Can’t Be Beat
High Risk Pay
Among the 20 chains included in the survey, McDonald’s easily finished first overall with an average fry rating of 7.3 out of 10. The Golden Arches also happens to be the most widely tried chain by a massive margin, with 99.7 percent of respondents saying they had tried McDonald’s fries at least once before.
Rated #1 in 36 of the 50 states, McDonald’s beat out Five Guys and Chick-fil-A, which ended up nearly tied for second with a rating of 6.7 out of 10, with Five Guys squeezing into the lead by just 0.01 points. Looking at the map, it’s clear that McDonald’s has an edge on every other fast-food chain in the nation, suggesting that a shoestring fry just might be America’s preferred French fry type.
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So What’s the Secret to a Perfect French Fry?
Looking at the numbers, thin/shoestring fries were the obvious favorite amongst 35 percent of respondents, with curly fries coming in second at 16 percent and thick-cut/steak fries and waffle fries tied at just 13 percent each. With more than twice the popularity as the next highest-ranking style, thin/shoestring fries are the clear favored choice when it comes to the fry shape Americans love most.
As for what Americans like to dip their fries in, yet another classic found itself on top: ketchup. Chosen by a whopping 42 percent of respondents, ketchup was more than three times as popular as ranch, which came in second at 12 percent, followed by the somewhat shocking “No Sauce Needed” at 9 percent and the mysterious “Fry Sauce” at 8 percent, tied with honey mustard.
In any case, if you’re looking for the quintessential American French fry experience, the trifecta of McDonald’s, shoestring fries and ketchup is unlikely to let you down. No matter your preferences, millions of fry lovers seem to agree, though we’ll need more data to determine just how long McDonald’s reign at the top has really lasted.
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