McDonald’s French fries are the beloved iconic items on McDonald’s menu. These French fries have a massive global following and are consistently ranked among McDonald’s best-selling items.

Making authentic McDonald’s French fries requires a secret ingredient: brine. It would help if you also had potatoes, vegetable oil, and some salt for taste. Peel the potatoes and rinse them in brine. Slice them and place them under cold brine.

Finally, pat-dry the fries and double-fry using vegetable shortening and oil. The copycat McDonald’s French fries will be ready. Achieve the perfect, crispy, crunchy texture like McDonald’s in your kitchen.

Let any leftover fries cool completely, then store them in a freezer bag in the fridge, removing as much air as possible.

Be with me till the end of the post; the guide will help you make the perfect brine so your fries are better than McDonald’s. But before getting the instructions, check out our other copycat recipes below.

Equipment Required

Frying Pan: I use it for preparing the fries.
Perforated Ladle: A perfect way to take out fries while frying.
Bowl: I use it for soaking fries in brine water.
Wire Rack: The best way to dry fries so that they are not soggy.

McDonald’s French Fries Ingredients & Substitutions

Note: This recipe serves 3 people. You can increase or decrease the quantity of ingredients based on the serving size.

For Fries

3 Large Russet Potatoes
½ Cup Vegetable Shortening: Substitute it with butter or ghee, which also works well.
1 Quart Vegetable Oil: Add canola oil as an alternative to vegetable oil.
1 Teaspoon Salt: Kosher salt is also an alternative that you can add to the recipe.
For Brine

For Brine

5 Cups of Cold Water
1 Teaspoon White Vinegar: You can substitute with apple cider vinegar.
3 Tablespoons Salt: Kosher salt is also an alternative that you can add to the recipe.
1 Teaspoon Sugar: Substitute it with brown sugar in the recipe.

Preparation And Cooking Time

Preparation Time	Resting Time	Cooking Time	Total Time
5 minutes	5 Minutes	15 Minutes	25 Minutes

How To Make McDonald’s French Fries At Home

Step 1

Soak the washed and sliced potatoes in brine made of sugar, cold water, salt, and vinegar to achieve the desired texture and flavours.

Step 2

Pat the fries dry with a paper towel or a wire rack until they are dry.

Step 3

Moving forward, heat your choice of vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat.

Step 4

Put the fries into the pan and shallow-fry until tender.

Step 5

Remove one batch of fries from the pan.

Step 6

Deep-fry again to achieve the desired crispy texture.

Step 7

Finally, strain the excess oil and remove the fries when they turn golden brown.

McDonald’s French Fries Recipe Video

Expert Tips That I Recommend

Slice all the fries to the same size so they cook evenly.
Cook fries in small batches to ensure even cooking.
I make sure to add seasoning to fries while they are hot, so it sticks well.
You can add paprika or peri peri seasoning for extra flavour.
Choose firm potatoes for the recipe, as they tend to yield a better texture in fries.

FAQ About McDonald’s French Fries

Why do my fries turn dark brown too quickly?

Whenever you are frying fries, make sure the oil isn’t too hot, or they will burn and turn dark brown. Keep the heat medium-low so that fries can be turned golden and remain crispy.

Why are my fries soggy?

The fries are probably soggy because there is too much moisture or oil in them. Make sure you fry your fries in small batches, and not all at once; this way, they will be perfectly crispy.

How can I make my fries crispy?

To enjoy crispy fries, soak them in brine, then dry them thoroughly. Then fry them twice as mentioned in the preparation steps.

Why are my fries pale?

The most common reason for pale fries is that you fried them for too short a time. To get the rich golden color of the fries, cook them for a longer duration, but be careful that they do not burn.

Why are my fries chewy?

The fries are usually chewy and raw, and the texture is affected when they are not cooked properly. Make sure the oil is warm when they are being fried.

How often do they change the oil at McDonald’s?

McDonald’s changes its oil twice a day after frying the batches of fries.

Nutritional information Per Serving

French Fries are surely among the most delicious snacks you all enjoy. The recipe is not ideal for daily consumption, as it contains a high amount of oil due to frying. It is better to enjoy it occasionally.

Calories	490 kcal
Carbohydrates	66 g
Iron	2 mg
Protein	7 g
Fat	23 g
Sodium	400 mg
Dietary Fiber	6 g
Calcium	20 mg

But do not let the preparation hamper your cravings. You can customize this recipe as per your dietary preferences and enjoy it.

Recipe Variation For Different Diets

Keto Version: If you are following a keto diet, replace potatoes with rutabaga in the recipe. Prefer frying it in extra-virgin olive oil as it is perfect for the keto diet.

Storing And Reheating This Recipe

Storing

Check out the two best ways to store homemade McDonald’s French fries without making them soggy below.

Refrigerate – Let the fries cool to room temperature, then refrigerate them to reheat later.
Airtight Container – Transfer the fries to an airtight container or sealed plastic bag. Ensure you don’t squish the fries in a container or plastic bag.

Reheating

Reheat On Stovetop: Heat a splash of oil in the frying pan or non-stick skillet over medium flame. Reheat the fries in the pan, stirring occasionally, until they’re heated through.
Reheat In The Air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F and spread the fries in a single layer in the basket. Make sure you don’t overcrowd the pan with fries. Heat the fries for almost 4-5 minutes in the air fryer.
Reheat In The Oven: Spread the fries on the baking tray and place them in the oven. Heat the fries in the oven for 5 minutes, until they are warm.

What To Serve With This Recipe

Several complementary dishes and sauces are served with McDonald’s French fries. Check out the best options below.

McChicken: French fries are a classic accompaniment. You can serve your favorite fries with homemade or restaurant-bought McChicken burgers.
Chicken Wrap: If you are looking for healthy options, pair the French fries with a protein-packed chicken wrap. The chicken wrap can complement the fries to the next level.
McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish: Another option that pairs well with French fries. A Juicy McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish with crispy French fries is a classic, must-try combination.

Printable Version

More McDonald’s Recipes That You Can Try

Chicken-Nuggets-With-Sauce — McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets

McDonald-s Banana Strawberry Smoothie Copycat Recipe — McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets

Conclusion

So, what are you waiting for? Go and make these McDonald’s French fries right away! Don’t forget to share your experience in the comment section below. Till then, stay tuned to our site for more such recipes.

Perfect McDonald’s French Fries Copycat Recipe

Equipment Required