What you got in them fries?
Say what you will about McDonald‘s burgers and chicken nuggets — their fries are undeniable. For years the masses have speculated on what McDonald’s food is made of, as well as the healthiness of its ingredients. While we can’t attest for the nutritional value of a Big Mac, we can now say positively that McDonald’s fries are actually made of real potatoes.
That’s not to say potatoes are the sole ingredient of the fries, so don’t go ordering a large yet. Grant Imahara, co-host of Mythbusters went on a journey to get to the bottom of the process behind, and ingredients that go into making McDonald’s famed fries in a series called “Our food. Your Questions”.
The process goes as follows:
The Simplot factory receives a truckload of potatoes and they are unloaded on a conveyer belt, in which they are skinned, washed, and shot through a high-pressure water tube. The tube sends the potatoes at speeds of between 60 to 70 mph through blades which slices them into the same shape. This is why you’ll find that McDonald’s worldwide share a similar long, skinny shape.
Next the fries are covered in dextrose/corn sugar for coloring, to “make sure we get a consistent color no matter what time of the year it is”, according to a Simplot factory production planner. The fries are then coated in yet another chemical, sodium acid pyrophosphate, which also regulates the color, particularly preventing discoloration after freezing.
The fries are then partially fried, frozen, and packaged and distributed to McDonalds’ across the country.
A companion video released by McDonald’s, which also features Imahara, breaks down the 19 ingredients that go into making the fries and the purpose they serve, which you can watch below. These ingredients culminate into the fries’ 337 calories and 17 grams of fat for a medium serving.
So, rest assured that McDonald’s fries are in fact made of real potatoes, and now you’ll have a bit more insight into what other ingredients they contain. Stay woke.
You can find Khari Clarke at your local pizza shop and on Twitter (@KINGCLARKEIII).
