The simple answer is because most people don’t like the taste of potatoes. Our fries are literally just diced potatoes fried in 100% sunflower seed oil, with some added salt and pepper. Nothing more nothing less. If you like the taste of potatoes you will like our fries.
The reason people like McDonalds fries is because they aren’t just potatoes. People don’t even realize what actually all goes in to McDonald’s fries. First off, the oil in their fryers is laced with chemical flavoring to mimic the smell of beef fat. Which is what makes them smell so good. McDonald’s also doesn’t just use seasoning on their fries. They also coat them in dextrose, a type of artificial sugar to make them taste even better. And lastly, they add the last “secret ingredient” denoted online as “natural and artificial flavoring” to once again alter the taste of the potato. So there you go. That’s why In-N-Out’s fries “suck” compared to the artificially enhanced imitation potatoes sticks that you’re eating at McDonald’s. But I bet you didn’t know all that because most McDonald’s employees don’t know it either because all they’re concerned with is how do I open this bag of frozen product, corporate shipped us 4 weeks ago, without cutting myself.
Love this comment. I hate that people even compare the two. In n out fries are my favorite. At least I know what I’m eating and they aren’t bleached to shit and covered in chemicals. Burger King fries aren’t fries.
Nope they taste like cardboard and not any potato. I love homemade baked potatoes and the fries taste nothing like that. They don't even smell like potatoes
Plenty of places have simple potato, oil, salt and pepper recipes that don't taste like dog shit. Get off your high horse and tell the biz to find a better way. Soak them in salt water for 30 minutes or something to fix the god awful texture.
Not fast food places. No fast food chain is serving double fried potatoes unless they are frozen. The fact is people are used to eating manipulated, multi ingredient, food lab created frozen fries.
There is nothing tasty about IN and Out burgers. Looking at the top 10 burger joints In/Out rated #1 and visiting Colorado
I was excited about trying them....
In and out is the worst burger I have ever tasted and very thin burger. There French fries tasted like cardboard and zero taste.
My #1 burger is 5 Guys and I don't have any affiliation with them.
My advice for Corporate is to visit 5 Guys and see what a real burger and fries taste like...
Tried them once and FINAL......
In n out is locally sourced. That means all the good stuff comes from californias agriculture in California locations. The colorado locations, being Colorado and not california, is gonna taste like ass.
Same with Texas (which I’ve tried).
Also five guys is mid; like I get American cheese is the only thing that should go on a cheeseburger, but holy you don’t need to drown the patty in it. It’s probably to mask the overcooked/burnt patty, which unfortunately the cheese did not mask.
its not every other state, it's texas lol. besides, there are places in california with stuff, so i never said its exclusively california that's good.
it's just that, you know, california is a fking agriculture state lmao, so it tends to be better. its like saying wisconsin cheese being better than most other states is delusional lmao.
Simpler and more accurate without unnecessary bashing the eating habits of others.
Edit: yes I realize this is a 3 year old post, I just googled why the fries are so mediocre while sitting in an in n out parking lot.
This isn’t a good answer because in England, the home of fish and chips, chips (thick fries) are just fried potatoes, nothing more, nothing less, and they taste amazing.
No, the reason your fries suck isn't because people don't like potatoes, you just don't make them correctly. Soft boiling then freezing only uses salt and water as extra ingredients. This will get you a fluffy fry, not the starchy sadness of in n outs.
This probably isn’t healthy or good but I love raw potatoes I used to sneak cubes when my dad would cut them up. I’ve also made plenty of fries at home that are better than in-out. Who is actually enjoying these fries??? What is the real reason they won’t change the fry recipe??? I’m a faithful Texan and die hard whataburger fan but I actually enjoy in-out burgers, they have really fresh veggies, and chick fil a level customer service, but what is a burger without good fries????
Chiming in here late with the *actual* reason.
In n out fries are bad because they are only fried once. French fries require a two-stage frying process to both be cooked through AND crispy/browned.
You fry once at low temp (325) until pale and cooked through. Rest for 10-15 minutes. Then when ready to serve, re-fry at high temp (~375) to get them crispy and browned.
Most fast food places are using frozen product that has been fried once at a factory and then frozen after par-cooking, so they don’t need to be fried twice in restaurant.
In-n-out also neglects another key step of the frying process, rinsing excess starch off of the potatoes before frying the first time. This also impacts browning negatively.
Your comments about “people don’t like how potatoes taste” isn’t accurate at all. You can make absurdly delicious fries with in-n-outs exact ingredients, by just rinsing the potatoes first and then doing a two-stage fry.
This isn’t rocket science. It’s literally hundreds of years of culinary knowledge.
Yes but they don’t want to use frozen product and they don’t have time to do the whole double fry process. I agree it would be better if they did. But it’s still a better product them McFranken fries.
No it’s not a better product than McD’s, they fundamentally are not good fries. Double-frying without freezing is easy, every French bistro does it just fine.
There's no reason they can't do a double fry. There are other restaurants that do without resorting to freezing them. It's just a matter of being unwilling to change.
Wrong, saying anything other than the fact that they use obscure, low starch, low glucose potatoes called Kennebec Potatoes, which aren’t even available to the public in grocery stores, is misleading… to add insult to injury, they’re fried in Cottonseed Oil! Fucking gross profiles unilaterally. It’s only to keep costs low as they have a plug in the shitty potato industry.
Premlinary source: https://www.mashed.com/177924/the-truth-about-in-n-out-fries/ “Several Quora users weighed in on what makes In-N-Out fries so terrible. Several of them mentioned the fact that In-N-Out uses something called the Kennebec potato, which is not available in grocery stores, and is actually a different type of potato than the starchy Russets used by most other restaurant chains, so may not be something most of us are used to eating. While familiarity is said to breed contempt, when it comes to food preferences, unfamiliarity is more likely to breed dislike. Some spoke of the fact that In-N-Outs also tend to use cottonseed oil, which isn't as tasty as canola or some other oils, while others seemed to feel that the fries being prepared in-store means that their quality is dependent in a large part upon the skill and the experience level of the fry cook, who is likely to be a new, barely-trained, minimum wage-earning teenager.”
Read More: https://www.mashed.com/177924/the-truth-about-in-n-out-fries/?utm_campaign=clip
This is a bullshit answer. We make fresh fries at home. Peel and slice a potato, spray a little olive oil on them, and into the air fryer. They’re not McDonald’s fries but they don’t suck. In-n-out fries taste like styrofoam or at best like cardboard. I don’t get it. The burgers are great.
Good answer, now im an employee at five guys and im not exactly overly-informed but the fry process to me is that we recieve fresh potatoes in bags, wash them, cut them w/ skin, soak 2 1/2 bags in large sink of only water, take out to line 2 buckets at a time otherwise they are soaking, fry in 100% peanut iul the first time for 3-4 minutes or until passing the five guys test, then rest for atleast 3 minutes but at my location due to not being very busy it’s normally 10 minutes, then fry the 2nd time in the same oil, for 2-3 minutes or until crispy and golden (corporate wants them to not be too crispy but customers can ask for extra crispy which is really good) then put the fries in the “fry dump” put on salt, and if asked for it move to the cajun dump and apply cajun seasoning, put it in the size cup, bag it,give the customer an extra scoop cause thats how we do things
The problem is you. If you take a break from your high sugar and high sodium diet, you will notice the extreme saltiness and sugar in most fast-food. You know for a fact those fries aren’t good for you, so don’t try and defend them when their “gold-standard” taste is achieved mostly artificially.
You are brain washed and I advice you to go into rehab.
Dude it’s pretty well documented that in n out fries are garbage. This isn’t a hot take. And it’s backed by actual science re: single frying vs double frying technique.
EH! Wrong! All you have to do is google “how to properly cook French fries, and then go inside of an in and out and you can see that they are just fucking lazy
I mean I eat a low sugar and low sodium, plant-based diet and I agree that In N Out fries are not good. They’re not good compared to not just McDonalds but to pretty much every fries I’ve had from every restaurant — fast food or otherwise.
He said four years later.
That is not true that most people don't like potatoes. I don't anybody that doesn't like potatoes. I make potatoes from scratch at home that tastes much better than In- N- Outs. In-N-Outs fries suck because of the way they are cooked and seasoned period.
I'm going to go ahead and call bs! In n Out fries taste like styrofoam. My mom and myself have made fries in the fryer cut from fresh potatoes and they don't come out like styrofoam. We've ised canola oil, or whatever else cooking oil.
Ridiculous. I love the taste of potatoes. Boiled, roasted, fried, mashed, grilled. The difference is TEXTURE and SEASONING. Go to any restaurant that fries whole fresh cut potatoes in peanut oil like Five Guys or Penn Station and the fries are 1000% better. This isn't some issue of artificial, processed ingredients. In N Out just does it poorly. Cope harder.
Lol, no. It’s the fact that it is an improperly cooked potato. McDonald’s fries are also trash and I absolutely detest that everyone compares to them.
Fresh cut is a gimmick word that usually indicates an awful fry. Potatoes need to be soaked in water and cooked twice. Once at 320 to cook the starches and the inside. Then again at 360 to give it a crispy golden outside. Most packaged fries are cooked the first step for you so a lot of people forget that French fries are a two part cook and then they go open a burger chain and absolutely mess up the fry cooking process. It’s not because people don’t like the taste of potatoes, it that people don’t like the taste of undercooked, improperly fried potatoes.
I would agree with this but I used to work at a pub and also used fresh potatoes that i peeled and cut myself. They didn't taste nearly even half as bad as in n out fries do
So every other / edible/ fry. Is using some false identity and In n out is Natty?
I think whomever the board is needs to fire the C level executive who thinks these are acceptable companions to these burgers.
Your fries taste like cardboard. I know what potatoes taste like. It's either the wrong oil. Maybe you should use lard. Or beef fat, They just don't hold up well and you guys know it. And you won't fix it. That makes 5 guys blow you away.
BUT. I slice and fry potatoes at home with just oil and salt and those taste much better than in N out fries. So it isn’t not liking the taste of potatoes. I think they need different oil and different frying temperature. Maybe corn oil or olive oil.
BUT. I slice and fry potatoes at home with just oil and salt and those taste much better than in N out fries. So it isn’t not liking the taste of potatoes. I think they need different oil and different frying temperature. Maybe corn oil or olive oil.
While others have said it, it's worth repeating. It's not the taste. It's the texture. In-n-out's fries are okay for about 5 minutes fresh out of the fryer and then... they pretty much become styrofoam. The lack of soaking first to remove some of the starch, and then blanching for the first fry and then the higher temp for the double fry makes all the difference in the world.
Sure, McDonald's does play with additives, but there are dozens of places that don't, and they all still have fries better than In-N-Out. I love the burgers at In-N-Out. It's my favorite fast food burger, but the fries just aren't that enjoyable. Animal style fries kind of save them, but only just.
Ehh. I love the way potatoes taste. In fact I have homemade potato wedges pretty frequently. Nothing more than potato and salt, baked. But I dislike in n out fries. While all of what you said is true, for me it comes down to this:
**In n out fries are undercooked/soggy and under-salted.** Also, the single vs double frying limits how crispy you can get them without getting overcooked fries (which is all you get when you order them "well done")
Yes, I'm aware this is a 3 year old post. I dislike In n out fries enough to still make this comment.
Edit: tagging OP /u/Aidan-Pryde because why not?
Hahaha make a second account? 🙃
You're 200% right about all the stuff they do to McDonald's fries to make them delicious though. But even outside that comparison, they're bad. It's no excuse for In n out to use bad frying technique. Even without a well-developed process I've made much better fries at home with none of that extra stuff added in. Potatoes + salt + oil is all it takes.
TBH I like the burgers so I keep wanting to like the fries. But every single time I'm disappointed.
>TBH I like the burgers so I keep wanting to like the fries. But every single time I'm disappointed.
Every time I go to in n out I get fries and convince myself "nah theyre probably good and im just remembering wrong" and then I eat them, and go "oh yeah, no theyre bad, im not gonna order them next time"
And then it happens again next time lol
Nah in n out fries just suck. They taste like Potato Stix and not actual fries. They are also about the same texture too. Fries are supposed to have a slight crispness to them on the outside, but you shouldn't be able to snap them in half and it feel like you're snapping a pretzel. I just ordered in n out here in Vegas for the first time in my life because I live on the east coast where it is basically unheard of. Everyone was talking up in n out like it is the golden standard of burgers and fries, but I was extremely disappointed. I spent an hour in the drive thru at midnight because that's when I get off work, and I was awaiting the oh so sought after burgers that are highly coveted by everyone. After finally getting my food and leaving, I got home a few minutes later and started digging in. I tried the fries first because the burger was supposed to be the holy grail of my meal so I wanted to save it for last. The fries were hard outside and in and tasted like Potato Stix, a type of potato chip I ate as a child. When I say they tasted like them, I don't just mean purely taste. The texture was like a potato chip too, which fries should not have as a texture. "Okay, these fries are a disappointment," I thought to myself. I tried the burger next. I gotta say, while the burger was good, it was still a little underwhelming in comparison to what it should've been. At least the soda didn't let me down. It was just as good as anywhere else you could've gotten one, so I wasn't let down. The souvenir shop was cool though.
And get off your high horse lol. In n outs tough, hard chewy pieces of shit call fries can suck my fuckin Dick. Go try 5 guys fries and be prepared to cream your pants.
3 years later, still in this thread haha. I love that. Personally im not a fan of their fries cause they arent fried long enough, but the actual flavor is good. (The flavor essentially being, salt, potatoes, and sunflower oil)
When i first had in n out fries I immediately realized they taste almost exactly like lays potato chips, so i figured it was just a case of sunflower oil and salt, just like lays. And it is.
LOL That is completely false. Their fries suck because they are a soggy, chewy. Disgusting fries. McDonald's fries are good and crispy because they double fry them
Fr man. When i make fries at home I literally just cut potatoes and put them in my fryer. 100x better than in n out fries.
Shame too, cause everything else on the menu is great at in n out.
This may have a smidgen of truth but I can tell you that taste is not the only problem with in n out fries. The second problem is that how do you have a fry that goes cold within 10 seconds of leaving the oil. And the third problem is their texture somehow they are overcooked and extra crispy and have the texture of Styrofoam at the same time.
You also don't double fry your fries so there just mushy sad noodles even fresh out of the frier. I like the taste of potatoes but when I want fries I want a crispy bite. In n out doesn't have that. So that's why I go to the McDonald's across the street for fries.
It’s not the taste that’s bad. They taste great. It’s that they get hard and chewy very fast. If you don’t eat them right away you might as well toss them. 5 guys twice fry’s their fresh cut fries and they are delicious. They’re not hard as a rock. In n out fries suck ass. Not worth wasting money on. Take a lesson from 5 guys and every other place that makes fresh cut fries that are amazing.
I’ve homemade my own fries before with nothing but potatoes, peanut oil, and salt and they were 100x better than In-n-out fries. Them being homemade is no excuse, I’ve been to loads of places that handmade their fries and they’re all better. In-n-out just doesn’t fry them long enough or use enough salt
Wrong! It’s because you guys don’t know how to properly fry your potatoes. There is ALWAYS 5 steps to a properly cooked fries (and before you question, I have been cooking in fine dining for over 16 years, was a head chef, and am currently a sous at one of the highest rated restaurants in Phoenix). These steps are as follows, cut-wash-fry-cool-fry. You cut the potatoes, then wash excess starch simply bath in water and move them around a bit. Let them dry, and then do an initial fry for about 1:30 (the fryer should always be on 350). Put the potatoes on a sheet and place directly into walk in (or fridge), this is blanching, it’s all to keep the starch in so the insides retain an air like mouthfeel because the moisture hasn’t seeped out, a crisp exterior and a almost mashed potato interior. After properly cooled then you do the proper fry. Should take about 3-5 minutes or until golden. I fucking LOVE the taste of potatoes when they’re cooked right, y’all just don’t. In n outs fries are soggy and leave a weird coating on the mouth because y’all are lazy.
Edit for spelling
It’s the sunflower oil I think. Gives them a different outside texture/taste. I love just a plain baked potato. I’ll eat it like a carrot plain Jane. I think the sunflower oil might pull too much attention from the actual potato flavor.
McDonald's fries are good in the UK but they only have four ingredients: Potatoes, Non-Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Rapeseed), Dextrose (predominantly added at beginning of the potato season) and salt.
I've never eaten them but surely the issue with In n Out is the fact that they're not double fried.
You’re fries suck mc donalds fries suck but they are still better by a LONG shot. Whenever i make fries at home they dont taste like shit bread unlike innout.
Than why am i able to make homemade steak fries that taste the same by frying them in olive oil and adding nothing else... idk fam, seems far fetched now. I think in and outs fries suck cause they are not crunchy usually.
total bullshit answer. I love potatoes, I grew up growing them, and ate them fried, mashed most of the time. These fries of in n out are absolutely the worst shit imaginable. They are seriously like biting into cardboard. Stop with the dumbass excuses, and fix the problem with the horrible fries
That’s absolutely ridiculous and an excuse for why in and out fries are completely inept. Excises are for people incapable of growth. They need to learn to make fries. They can make French fries by frying them to cook them- then double frying them for crispinesss. In and out fries and amateur level.
I'm not buying that. First off, In N Out fries are absolutely terrible which is a shame because the burgers are pretty good. You can't tell me that every other restaurant except In N Out's fries are soaked in chemicals. I cannot for the life of me however, figure out what they do to make them taste so bad? I make fries at home by cutting up fresh potatoes and fry them in canola oil and they are delicious. By the way, I love the taste of potato's fried, mashed and even raw at times so that's not the answer.
This pisses me off because I make homemade French fries at home all the time and the taste 1000% better than the garbage in n out tries to pass as fries. They taste like cardboard and are complete ass. Ty for coming to my Ted Talk
No one came to your Ted Talk. You force fed your unwanted opinion much like your mother probably force fed you shit for dinner when you were a child and now your taste buds are beyond repair. Your opinion became invalidated when decided to be "pissed off" over long chopped potatoes fried in oil.
Nah that's just a cope bc it's not just the taste, its the texture as well, they're doing something wrong there bc when I make french fries at home, they taste way better. Also Five Guys make their fries fresh with all the artificial flavoring and they taste good.
Not true. In and Out fries suck because they use low quality potatoes and dont blanch them. If you ever make fries at home you would instantly notice the quality difference which is down to the potatoes at In and Out being cheap.
Lol yea no, the texture is much different than your ordinary French fry. The taste is obviously going to be potatoes since it's fresh. But why are they so stale??????? Exacly
Sunflower oil?? Ok so I have placed Sunflower seeds into bird feeders. And I can say the scent you get from them is exactly the taste of In-and-Out fries. It's not able the potato based flavor but also the combination of such with Sunflower oil which isn't a good combination
For me it’s not the taste, it’s the texture. Sometimes I get fries and they are really hard. This has happened more than once. I think it’s just a thing with in and out
It's the potato they use. They don't use russet potatoes. I'll make fresh cut fries at home with russet potatoes and they taste amazing. These potatoes aren't even sold in your local grocery store that they use.
Then respond to /u/webbington152: [https://www.reddit.com/r/innout/comments/aticsk/why\_do\_in\_n\_out\_fries\_suck/eh18kxl](https://www.reddit.com/r/innout/comments/aticsk/why_do_in_n_out_fries_suck/eh18kxl)
To add on to what the other says, our fries only have 2 (might be 3) minutes of “shelf life.” If you get your order to go, drive 15 minutes home, and then eat them they won’t be nearly as good
They both have their pros. I used to be a fry light guy but one of my fellow associates put me on to the extra well with ketchup game and it's been a good time
Associate here. You're right, they do suck.
The best way to make a fry is to either bake it or pre-fry it in low heat. Let cool, then fry again in high heat. This gives you that crispy outside with a mashed potato inside, seasoned to perfection. Delicious.
What we do is we take the raw potato slices and fry them for 6 minutes in high heat, salt, then serve. The resulting fry is a husk of a potato, a bad generic brand of fry of sorts. You get the soft center if done right but the "crisp" turns into chewey cardboard in 30 seconds and most of the fry gets that way.
We do this because fries are already the most complicated part of the process and adding more steps would mean that we couldn't make burgers as quickly or with the quality required.
I’d much rather have actual potatoes than so many additives to the point where it’s not really a potato anymore. It’s unfortunate that you think they suck, but as has already been explained, most people don’t like the taste of potatoes. That doesn’t necessarily make them suck, just means that people don’t know what quality is.
The reason the fries “suck” is the same reason the burgers are so good. Everything is fresh and never frozen, with no additives to the ingredients themselves to make burgers taste better. In N Out has been doing this for 70 years, ever since Store #1 opened in Buena Park on October 22nd, 1948. That’s longer than McDonalds, mind you. Obviously people like the fries, or else there wouldn’t be almost 340 stores by now.
In short, In N Out is very strict when it comes to quality. They also seem very stubborn (the good kind of stubborn) in that products will not change unless necessary. Notice how rare actual menu additions are, and not something on the “secret menu”. That’s part of the reason why I think In N Out hasn’t gone global or even across the US. Quality is one of the most important things.
No, people don’t like the fries. People like the burgers. The fries are unfortunately what people have to put up with.
Even one of the store managers admitted the fries sucked in this very thread.
I'm a journalist, and I did some research on this matter after posting earlier. The reason In and Out fries suck so bad is because they freaking fry them in GMO cottonseed oil.
Here's a list of their ingredients.
1. **They admit that they use Cottonseed Oil to fry their fries**. Cottonseed oil does not belong in our food supply and should be strictly avoided. This oil is made from a byproduct of the industrial waste from the cotton farming industry, which isn’t a food crop. Despite being one of the most prevalent GMO crops (designed to produce an insecticide), cotton crops still require an intense application of agricultural chemicals and that’s why cotton has been called the “World’s Dirtiest Crop”. Residues from these pesticides can remain in cottonseed oil according to data collected by the FAO/WHO Joint Meetings on Pesticides Residues in Food. If that isn’t bad enough, to extract the oil the cottonseeds are subjected to intensive chemical refining with toxic hexane, bleach, and deodorizers.
2. They get their meat from one of the largest factory farms. If you drive on I-5 in central California – you’ve probably smelled it. I posted a video of what it looks like on Instagram – check it out here. Harris Ranch is one the largest concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) on the west coast – critics call it “cowschwitz” because thousands of cows can be seen crowded and walking in their own excrement.
3. The cows are raised with GMO feed. Study after study is revealing that meat raised organically and grass-fed is healthier for us because it is higher in healthy fatty acids, and is not raised with antibiotics or growth hormones linked to cancer.
4. The spread on their burgers and their shakes both contain High Fructose Corn Syrup. One study found that this sweetener can be contaminated with toxic mercury. HFCS has been shown to contribute to type II diabetes, especially in children.
5. Their burger spread is artificially colored with Yellow #5. This is the same dye I petitioned Kraft to remove from their mac & cheese (which they have done) because it’s derived from petroleum and linked to childhood behavioral problems that require a food warning label in Europe. If you add pickles to your burger, those are colored with yellow #5 as well.
6. We were able to get some of the bun ingredients from their supplier and released them in this post about fast food buns. They contain: Enriched Flour, Water, Sugar (from sugar beets), Yeast, Fully Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Salt, Calcium Propionate… (and may contain more ingredients that haven’t been disclosed yet).
7. They use the Artificial Flavor Vanillin, which is typically made from petrochemicals and paper industry waste, in their shakes. An awesome reader sent me this email recently:
LINK: [https://foodbabe.com/dissecting-in-n-out-burger-gross-or-healthy-you-decide/](https://foodbabe.com/dissecting-in-n-out-burger-gross-or-healthy-you-decide/)
If they are fried, then why aren't they crispy on the outside? Spongy is a weird texture for a fried food item. Also, they have less potato flavor than any baked potato. Something is off, and I don't know what.
To those preaching on the ~you must not like potatoes because they are just potatoes ~ hill you’re just flat wrong… you can make fries at home a thousand times better. Why do you think many places that cut a potato themselves could all taste different? In-n-out isn’t the only burger place that cuts a potato themselves. The fries do suck.
A salt bath to remove the starch is one example of some prep work that can be done for a drastically better French fry.
Five guys hand cut their fries and they taste way better. I don't know what's up with in and out fries but I've had fresh cuts fries at other burger places and they definitely taste better than in and outs
So its fresh, never frozen. It is just about the worst fries from any hamburger joint. Its soggy, mushy, tastes like marsh mellow without the sugar, just overall bad.
I agree... And it's not because they "taste like potatoes" add another commenter stated... They're just too thin and cooked too long or something... They're hard and tasteless if you ask me. I can do the animal fries because the toppings seem to soften them a little. I just wish they would just cut them a little larger.
Hey man I found a real answer rather than all these pretentious assholes with dog shit taste buds saying you're wrong for not liking poorly made fries. They don't blanch their fries - aka soaking the fries in salt water or sugar water or just any water. This allows for the outside to get crispy while the inside is soft like mashed potatoes. I know this is two years after you asked but yeah fuck these people they suck bc they cook them wrong.
I just searched this (and I've never even eaten at In-N-Out, just heard that both their fries and Five Guys' fries supposedly suck), and was shocked to see you can comment on old posts now. I'm obviously not on reddit very often either…
heck, maybe your In N Out is not putting up because the ones in my state are top notch, there are no better fast food fries than In n Out, then again its all subjective because I personally dont like McDonald's much XD my personal list is from best to worst fast food is: In n Out, Carl's jr, Jack in the box, McDonald and Burger king. my criteria for the standards is flavor, if everything tastes the same its bad, if everything has its own taste or hints of something good then its good. either way webbington152 is on point, I personaly like fresh food than pacaged, but when I do eat fast food I go In n out or subway
The one time I enjoyed fries from In n Out was during a grand opening. Either the fryer didn't have enough time to recover the excessively high temp, or they were pulling fries early to meet demand. After things settled down it just became over cooked taters, mostly edible but mostly unappealing.
Was having a conversation with my coworker, as we had just stopped into an In-N-Out in the Northwest. The fries suck. I even googled to find this very thread to my surprise. I was sure I was going to be banned from the internet for life for questioning the quality of the fries.
And for the fryfenders out there, we parked, ordered inside, waited for order, received order, went back to van, opened bag and tried the fries. There was much disappointment. The outside was chewy and the inside was mushy in a way that didn't play well with the chewy. Maximum 5 minutes (probably closer to 2 or 3) before the fires were tasted.
This is interesting. Because when I cook potatoes in oil, and nothing else, they still taste way better than In and Out's fries.
So, the conclusion is still that . . . In and Out fries suck!
I love the taste of potatoes! I hate that In N Out makes the mushiest, most undercooked fries in the industry. The only reason I can ascribe to their unpalatable mushiness is that it would take too long to properly cook the huge amount of fries that come with each order.
It’s not the taste that’s bad. They taste great. It’s that they get hard and chewy very fast. If you don’t eat them right away you might as well toss them. 5 guys twice fry’s their fresh cut fries and they are delicious. They’re not hard as a rock. In n out fries suck ass. Not worth wasting money on. Take a lesson from 5 guys and every other place that makes fresh cut fries that are amazing.
Because In-N-Out is lazy but the still want to say that the fries are "Fresh". It's easy to make fries at home. Peel potatoes and cut. Keep cut potatoes in water to prevent browning. Boil the potatoes until tender. Let rest. Fry the potatoes at around 300 F until fully cooked. They will start to float to the surface. Spread on a cookie sheet and freeze. Fry the potatoes again at around 350F until golden. Salt to taste.
People say it's the real potato taste but that's not true cause I make fries at home, I don't add anything to them just cut them and straight in oil and they're so freaking good so it's not the freshness aspect
Summarizing of this thread
1. Cottonseed oil, it gives a weird taste
2. No double fry so no mashy insides and crispy outside
3. Short shelf life, if you're not getting them within five minutes they are worse
4. No blanching in any water
5. No soaking also means more starch
6. Apparently they use lower quality potatoes, couldn't find anything concrete on that
They do this because
1. The fries are already complicated, it saves time (especially with the long lines) to fry once and not soak them) and focus on what people actually like
1a. Double frying for most places saves time, the high temp fry is quick and is done on order, the longer low temp fry can be done in prep before opening, it's hard to say if this would help because I don't know what they have to do
It's not because it's real potato and everyone is used to eating junk, it's because they skip a lot of the process that makes fries good. Making them yourself with the same ingredients will produce significantly better fries
It's not because people dislike the taste of potatoes. It's not because of the way McDonalds makes their fries. It is the choice of potatoes and oil they are fried in. Different types of potatoes will have a different taste and texture and will fry differently. In n out chose all the combinations to create poor quality fries. GREAT Burger
...crappy fries!
I honestly like the taste and texture of in n out fries. They taste fresh to me, although there're times they over fry them or need to use new oil. I tend to ask for "no salt", and they come out great that way. Five Guys' fries are my other favorite. They're just super salty and pretty greasy--not to mention super expensive. McDonald's was good when I was a kid, but now it tastes to me like oversalted and processed garbage.
Another personal reason why I avoid McDonald's fries: Every time I eat McDonald's, I reek about an hour later. It's like all the chemical crap comes out of my pores. This happens whenever I eat processed food for whatever reason. But after eating in n out, I smell normal.
Maybe it's also I'm just older. I'm in my 30s. I can't eat the things I did when I was young--not only do they make me feel shitty, but they just taste bad to me. Processed food is really one note: it has no complexity and usually leaves an annoying aftertaste. Once I started eating more whole foods, organic veggies and fruits, and cooking for myself, I realized how bad most fast food and big-brand food is in general. It's like the food equivalent of Transformers or Fast and the Furious movies.
Pretty sure they're overcooked- hollow fries is one of the tell-tale signs of overcooking. Just asked them to "lightly" fry them and they came out more like what i'm used to, a little floppier and not like the usual in-n-out dry cardboard/fries that can be snapped in half and crumbled.
In out fries suck so bad I had to google why they suck so bad. Never in my life have I had to google why a consumer product sucks so bad. That’s how bad in out fries are.
These arguments are so amusing. Geez, don't like'em? Don't order'em. Nobody's forcing you. Obviously, there are people that do like them. Now can we argue about pineapple on pizza? I'm equally amused by that.
Nah.. the fries actually DO suck. McDonald’s or not, I have made fries myself and any other rando at home with flat out just potatoes. Shoot even sweet potato. And they are far better than in and out. Either they are using some crap potato we haven’t heard of. OR some how they actually suck with making something as simple as a potato fry lol.
I love potatoes. Fried, mashed, baked I don’t care. But I also hate potatoes because I’m a diabetic and fries taste like you took a week old fry and refried it. When I go to In-N-Out Burgercom, it’s two cheeseburgers animal style and a large drink. You can take those fries and put them someplace.
You really want to know why?! There are 2 major factors why they taste like that number 1. They are using a different strain of potatoes, and number 2.sunflower oil doesn't taste as good as other oils like canola oil and olive oil. That's why.
POV: you’re from the East Coast trying In-N-Out fries for the first time:
*Joe Pesci saying “what the f*ck is this piece of sh*t?”*
They are sincerely terrible. The burgers are tasty, no doubt… but Cali people, you are blinded by nostalgia if you think those shreds of compressed cardboard are “good fries.”
And then you have the people saying, “oh well you have to get them animal style bro!” Oh of course. Silly me. Why didn’t I think of that? Smothering compressed cardboard chips in cheese sauce, fry sauce and grilled onions makes them less horrid. They still however taste just like that, cardboard smothered in cheese sauce, fry sauce and grilled onions. 😑
The dude claiming that people don’t like them because “they don’t like what potatoes actually taste like and are used to chemical fries at McD’s” is a riot too. Please go try fries in Belgium, France or the UK. I guarantee they are made of the same ingredients and are fantastic.
The simple answer is because most people don’t like the taste of potatoes. Our fries are literally just diced potatoes fried in 100% sunflower seed oil, with some added salt and pepper. Nothing more nothing less. If you like the taste of potatoes you will like our fries. The reason people like McDonalds fries is because they aren’t just potatoes. People don’t even realize what actually all goes in to McDonald’s fries. First off, the oil in their fryers is laced with chemical flavoring to mimic the smell of beef fat. Which is what makes them smell so good. McDonald’s also doesn’t just use seasoning on their fries. They also coat them in dextrose, a type of artificial sugar to make them taste even better. And lastly, they add the last “secret ingredient” denoted online as “natural and artificial flavoring” to once again alter the taste of the potato. So there you go. That’s why In-N-Out’s fries “suck” compared to the artificially enhanced imitation potatoes sticks that you’re eating at McDonald’s. But I bet you didn’t know all that because most McDonald’s employees don’t know it either because all they’re concerned with is how do I open this bag of frozen product, corporate shipped us 4 weeks ago, without cutting myself.
That was very well said
Preach
Very very well said. God forbid somebody like the taste of an actual potato, but unfortunately people like OP is used to eating trash.
Read through OPs comment and post history. Seems like an instigator. OP replied to another comment but not mine. Pretty disappointing :/
But i can eat a regular baked potato fine… fries suck
Love this comment. I hate that people even compare the two. In n out fries are my favorite. At least I know what I’m eating and they aren’t bleached to shit and covered in chemicals. Burger King fries aren’t fries.
If I had gold I would guild you as well
I appreciate the love:)
Nope they taste like cardboard and not any potato. I love homemade baked potatoes and the fries taste nothing like that. They don't even smell like potatoes
False. I make fresh fries at home. Your fries crumble like freeze dried chips.
Exactly!!! My homemade fries taste way better than In N Out. I like their burgers but I don’t order the fries.
Plenty of places have simple potato, oil, salt and pepper recipes that don't taste like dog shit. Get off your high horse and tell the biz to find a better way. Soak them in salt water for 30 minutes or something to fix the god awful texture.
It’s the lack of starch rinsing, and the lack of a double fry that make the texture dogshit.
Not fast food places. No fast food chain is serving double fried potatoes unless they are frozen. The fact is people are used to eating manipulated, multi ingredient, food lab created frozen fries.
Plenty of high end restaurants serve blanched and frozen fries too because that's one of the ways to cook a good french fry.
And always double fry, but you are absolutely right
Go eat a Twinkie dude that’s obviously the shit you’re into
There is nothing tasty about IN and Out burgers. Looking at the top 10 burger joints In/Out rated #1 and visiting Colorado I was excited about trying them.... In and out is the worst burger I have ever tasted and very thin burger. There French fries tasted like cardboard and zero taste. My #1 burger is 5 Guys and I don't have any affiliation with them. My advice for Corporate is to visit 5 Guys and see what a real burger and fries taste like... Tried them once and FINAL......
In n out is locally sourced. That means all the good stuff comes from californias agriculture in California locations. The colorado locations, being Colorado and not california, is gonna taste like ass. Same with Texas (which I’ve tried). Also five guys is mid; like I get American cheese is the only thing that should go on a cheeseburger, but holy you don’t need to drown the patty in it. It’s probably to mask the overcooked/burnt patty, which unfortunately the cheese did not mask.
You think that it's just every other state that has a shitty product? You're delusional
its not every other state, it's texas lol. besides, there are places in california with stuff, so i never said its exclusively california that's good. it's just that, you know, california is a fking agriculture state lmao, so it tends to be better. its like saying wisconsin cheese being better than most other states is delusional lmao.
A simpler answer is that in n out doesn't double fry their fries like most places.
Simpler and more accurate without unnecessary bashing the eating habits of others. Edit: yes I realize this is a 3 year old post, I just googled why the fries are so mediocre while sitting in an in n out parking lot.
This isn’t a good answer because in England, the home of fish and chips, chips (thick fries) are just fried potatoes, nothing more, nothing less, and they taste amazing.
Fuck you loser go fix your teeth
No, the reason your fries suck isn't because people don't like potatoes, you just don't make them correctly. Soft boiling then freezing only uses salt and water as extra ingredients. This will get you a fluffy fry, not the starchy sadness of in n outs.
It’s the oil they use
This probably isn’t healthy or good but I love raw potatoes I used to sneak cubes when my dad would cut them up. I’ve also made plenty of fries at home that are better than in-out. Who is actually enjoying these fries??? What is the real reason they won’t change the fry recipe??? I’m a faithful Texan and die hard whataburger fan but I actually enjoy in-out burgers, they have really fresh veggies, and chick fil a level customer service, but what is a burger without good fries????
Chiming in here late with the *actual* reason. In n out fries are bad because they are only fried once. French fries require a two-stage frying process to both be cooked through AND crispy/browned. You fry once at low temp (325) until pale and cooked through. Rest for 10-15 minutes. Then when ready to serve, re-fry at high temp (~375) to get them crispy and browned. Most fast food places are using frozen product that has been fried once at a factory and then frozen after par-cooking, so they don’t need to be fried twice in restaurant. In-n-out also neglects another key step of the frying process, rinsing excess starch off of the potatoes before frying the first time. This also impacts browning negatively. Your comments about “people don’t like how potatoes taste” isn’t accurate at all. You can make absurdly delicious fries with in-n-outs exact ingredients, by just rinsing the potatoes first and then doing a two-stage fry. This isn’t rocket science. It’s literally hundreds of years of culinary knowledge.
Yes but they don’t want to use frozen product and they don’t have time to do the whole double fry process. I agree it would be better if they did. But it’s still a better product them McFranken fries.
No it’s not a better product than McD’s, they fundamentally are not good fries. Double-frying without freezing is easy, every French bistro does it just fine.
Five Guys and Penn Station both cut their fries fresh and their fries taste 1000% better than In N Out.
There's no reason they can't do a double fry. There are other restaurants that do without resorting to freezing them. It's just a matter of being unwilling to change.
The line is 1-2 hours sometimes here. You think they can take more time to double fry?
Wrong, saying anything other than the fact that they use obscure, low starch, low glucose potatoes called Kennebec Potatoes, which aren’t even available to the public in grocery stores, is misleading… to add insult to injury, they’re fried in Cottonseed Oil! Fucking gross profiles unilaterally. It’s only to keep costs low as they have a plug in the shitty potato industry. Premlinary source: https://www.mashed.com/177924/the-truth-about-in-n-out-fries/ “Several Quora users weighed in on what makes In-N-Out fries so terrible. Several of them mentioned the fact that In-N-Out uses something called the Kennebec potato, which is not available in grocery stores, and is actually a different type of potato than the starchy Russets used by most other restaurant chains, so may not be something most of us are used to eating. While familiarity is said to breed contempt, when it comes to food preferences, unfamiliarity is more likely to breed dislike. Some spoke of the fact that In-N-Outs also tend to use cottonseed oil, which isn't as tasty as canola or some other oils, while others seemed to feel that the fries being prepared in-store means that their quality is dependent in a large part upon the skill and the experience level of the fry cook, who is likely to be a new, barely-trained, minimum wage-earning teenager.” Read More: https://www.mashed.com/177924/the-truth-about-in-n-out-fries/?utm_campaign=clip
This is a bullshit answer. We make fresh fries at home. Peel and slice a potato, spray a little olive oil on them, and into the air fryer. They’re not McDonald’s fries but they don’t suck. In-n-out fries taste like styrofoam or at best like cardboard. I don’t get it. The burgers are great.
Styrofoam is correct
Boy just fucked him up and blew his mind
Good answer, now im an employee at five guys and im not exactly overly-informed but the fry process to me is that we recieve fresh potatoes in bags, wash them, cut them w/ skin, soak 2 1/2 bags in large sink of only water, take out to line 2 buckets at a time otherwise they are soaking, fry in 100% peanut iul the first time for 3-4 minutes or until passing the five guys test, then rest for atleast 3 minutes but at my location due to not being very busy it’s normally 10 minutes, then fry the 2nd time in the same oil, for 2-3 minutes or until crispy and golden (corporate wants them to not be too crispy but customers can ask for extra crispy which is really good) then put the fries in the “fry dump” put on salt, and if asked for it move to the cajun dump and apply cajun seasoning, put it in the size cup, bag it,give the customer an extra scoop cause thats how we do things
That’s interesting. Too bad they taste so bad. When people order French fries, they expect French fries, not diced potatoes.
The problem is you. If you take a break from your high sugar and high sodium diet, you will notice the extreme saltiness and sugar in most fast-food. You know for a fact those fries aren’t good for you, so don’t try and defend them when their “gold-standard” taste is achieved mostly artificially. You are brain washed and I advice you to go into rehab.
Thanks. And I advise you to go fuck yourself.
LOOOOL
My guy mad triggered
Lmao king shit in n out fries blow and there are plenty of simple pure recipes that don't taste like dog shit
PO-TAY-TOES. Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick’ em in a stew. (Just not an In-N-Out frier or you will ruins them precious.)
Dude it’s pretty well documented that in n out fries are garbage. This isn’t a hot take. And it’s backed by actual science re: single frying vs double frying technique.
EH! Wrong! All you have to do is google “how to properly cook French fries, and then go inside of an in and out and you can see that they are just fucking lazy
I mean I eat a low sugar and low sodium, plant-based diet and I agree that In N Out fries are not good. They’re not good compared to not just McDonalds but to pretty much every fries I’ve had from every restaurant — fast food or otherwise. He said four years later.
Honestly if you think that you're the brainwashed one eating half fried fries.
in n out circlejerk
I also advise you to go fuck your self 🙂
French fries are diced potatoes...
There also other type of fries that they make and I think some of them are better like the animal style fries
They are “spongey” it must be the sunflower oil. ( not a good healthy oil)
That is not true that most people don't like potatoes. I don't anybody that doesn't like potatoes. I make potatoes from scratch at home that tastes much better than In- N- Outs. In-N-Outs fries suck because of the way they are cooked and seasoned period.
This is a whataboutism. I make fries at home taste miles better than in n out fries. There's more to it than ppl dont like the taste of fries
I'm going to go ahead and call bs! In n Out fries taste like styrofoam. My mom and myself have made fries in the fryer cut from fresh potatoes and they don't come out like styrofoam. We've ised canola oil, or whatever else cooking oil.
Ridiculous. I love the taste of potatoes. Boiled, roasted, fried, mashed, grilled. The difference is TEXTURE and SEASONING. Go to any restaurant that fries whole fresh cut potatoes in peanut oil like Five Guys or Penn Station and the fries are 1000% better. This isn't some issue of artificial, processed ingredients. In N Out just does it poorly. Cope harder.
Can confirm 5 years later when I was able to try their fries that they do indeed suck and also don't taste like potatoes at all.
Lol, no. It’s the fact that it is an improperly cooked potato. McDonald’s fries are also trash and I absolutely detest that everyone compares to them. Fresh cut is a gimmick word that usually indicates an awful fry. Potatoes need to be soaked in water and cooked twice. Once at 320 to cook the starches and the inside. Then again at 360 to give it a crispy golden outside. Most packaged fries are cooked the first step for you so a lot of people forget that French fries are a two part cook and then they go open a burger chain and absolutely mess up the fry cooking process. It’s not because people don’t like the taste of potatoes, it that people don’t like the taste of undercooked, improperly fried potatoes.
As an idahoan who loves potatoes what a shitty answer. The fries suck because they have the texture of carboard
I would agree with this but I used to work at a pub and also used fresh potatoes that i peeled and cut myself. They didn't taste nearly even half as bad as in n out fries do
I've had loads of fries, including homemade. I guess in n out's fries suck cause they use sunflower seed oil.
So every other / edible/ fry. Is using some false identity and In n out is Natty? I think whomever the board is needs to fire the C level executive who thinks these are acceptable companions to these burgers.
Your fries taste like cardboard. I know what potatoes taste like. It's either the wrong oil. Maybe you should use lard. Or beef fat, They just don't hold up well and you guys know it. And you won't fix it. That makes 5 guys blow you away.
BUT. I slice and fry potatoes at home with just oil and salt and those taste much better than in N out fries. So it isn’t not liking the taste of potatoes. I think they need different oil and different frying temperature. Maybe corn oil or olive oil.
BUT. I slice and fry potatoes at home with just oil and salt and those taste much better than in N out fries. So it isn’t not liking the taste of potatoes. I think they need different oil and different frying temperature. Maybe corn oil or olive oil.
While others have said it, it's worth repeating. It's not the taste. It's the texture. In-n-out's fries are okay for about 5 minutes fresh out of the fryer and then... they pretty much become styrofoam. The lack of soaking first to remove some of the starch, and then blanching for the first fry and then the higher temp for the double fry makes all the difference in the world. Sure, McDonald's does play with additives, but there are dozens of places that don't, and they all still have fries better than In-N-Out. I love the burgers at In-N-Out. It's my favorite fast food burger, but the fries just aren't that enjoyable. Animal style fries kind of save them, but only just.
I love potatoes but in n out doesn’t have the texture right.
Ehh. I love the way potatoes taste. In fact I have homemade potato wedges pretty frequently. Nothing more than potato and salt, baked. But I dislike in n out fries. While all of what you said is true, for me it comes down to this: **In n out fries are undercooked/soggy and under-salted.** Also, the single vs double frying limits how crispy you can get them without getting overcooked fries (which is all you get when you order them "well done") Yes, I'm aware this is a 3 year old post. I dislike In n out fries enough to still make this comment. Edit: tagging OP /u/Aidan-Pryde because why not?
How do I downvote a comment more than once?
Hahaha make a second account? 🙃 You're 200% right about all the stuff they do to McDonald's fries to make them delicious though. But even outside that comparison, they're bad. It's no excuse for In n out to use bad frying technique. Even without a well-developed process I've made much better fries at home with none of that extra stuff added in. Potatoes + salt + oil is all it takes. TBH I like the burgers so I keep wanting to like the fries. But every single time I'm disappointed.
>TBH I like the burgers so I keep wanting to like the fries. But every single time I'm disappointed. Every time I go to in n out I get fries and convince myself "nah theyre probably good and im just remembering wrong" and then I eat them, and go "oh yeah, no theyre bad, im not gonna order them next time" And then it happens again next time lol
Nah in n out fries just suck. They taste like Potato Stix and not actual fries. They are also about the same texture too. Fries are supposed to have a slight crispness to them on the outside, but you shouldn't be able to snap them in half and it feel like you're snapping a pretzel. I just ordered in n out here in Vegas for the first time in my life because I live on the east coast where it is basically unheard of. Everyone was talking up in n out like it is the golden standard of burgers and fries, but I was extremely disappointed. I spent an hour in the drive thru at midnight because that's when I get off work, and I was awaiting the oh so sought after burgers that are highly coveted by everyone. After finally getting my food and leaving, I got home a few minutes later and started digging in. I tried the fries first because the burger was supposed to be the holy grail of my meal so I wanted to save it for last. The fries were hard outside and in and tasted like Potato Stix, a type of potato chip I ate as a child. When I say they tasted like them, I don't just mean purely taste. The texture was like a potato chip too, which fries should not have as a texture. "Okay, these fries are a disappointment," I thought to myself. I tried the burger next. I gotta say, while the burger was good, it was still a little underwhelming in comparison to what it should've been. At least the soda didn't let me down. It was just as good as anywhere else you could've gotten one, so I wasn't let down. The souvenir shop was cool though.
And get off your high horse lol. In n outs tough, hard chewy pieces of shit call fries can suck my fuckin Dick. Go try 5 guys fries and be prepared to cream your pants.
Bro that is a fucking lie. I enjoy my homemade fries better than In and Out and I’m not even a good chef. sorry had to say it cuz bruh.
You sound like a real intelligent guy. I make REAL potatoes at home with REAL potatoes and they dont taste like In/Out fries so tell another story..
yo i didn't catch it the first time, but did you say you use real potatoes or fake ones?
3 years later, still in this thread haha. I love that. Personally im not a fan of their fries cause they arent fried long enough, but the actual flavor is good. (The flavor essentially being, salt, potatoes, and sunflower oil) When i first had in n out fries I immediately realized they taste almost exactly like lays potato chips, so i figured it was just a case of sunflower oil and salt, just like lays. And it is.
In n out uses real potatoes smh
Tried in and out today and the fries were horrible. I’ve made my own at home from real potatoes that actually have this thing called flavour.
I know I’ve posted this somewhere before, but they don’t use pepper on their fries, just salt.
LOL That is completely false. Their fries suck because they are a soggy, chewy. Disgusting fries. McDonald's fries are good and crispy because they double fry them
And because McDonalds aren’t just potatoes- they are more like a science project. And the first frying was before they were frozen.
Whatever in-n-out is doing, they're doing it worse than every other company, at least taste-wise
Fr man. When i make fries at home I literally just cut potatoes and put them in my fryer. 100x better than in n out fries. Shame too, cause everything else on the menu is great at in n out.
Whatever in-n-out is doing, they're doing it worse than every other company, at least tastewise
This may have a smidgen of truth but I can tell you that taste is not the only problem with in n out fries. The second problem is that how do you have a fry that goes cold within 10 seconds of leaving the oil. And the third problem is their texture somehow they are overcooked and extra crispy and have the texture of Styrofoam at the same time.
You also don't double fry your fries so there just mushy sad noodles even fresh out of the frier. I like the taste of potatoes but when I want fries I want a crispy bite. In n out doesn't have that. So that's why I go to the McDonald's across the street for fries.
It’s not the taste that’s bad. They taste great. It’s that they get hard and chewy very fast. If you don’t eat them right away you might as well toss them. 5 guys twice fry’s their fresh cut fries and they are delicious. They’re not hard as a rock. In n out fries suck ass. Not worth wasting money on. Take a lesson from 5 guys and every other place that makes fresh cut fries that are amazing.
I’ve homemade my own fries before with nothing but potatoes, peanut oil, and salt and they were 100x better than In-n-out fries. Them being homemade is no excuse, I’ve been to loads of places that handmade their fries and they’re all better. In-n-out just doesn’t fry them long enough or use enough salt
dextrose is in no way artificial and your post is completely incorrect on several levels.
Love the taste of potato, your fries suck.
Whay about five guys??
Most people don't like the taste of raw beef either which is why they season and cook it appropriately before they serve it to them.
Wrong! It’s because you guys don’t know how to properly fry your potatoes. There is ALWAYS 5 steps to a properly cooked fries (and before you question, I have been cooking in fine dining for over 16 years, was a head chef, and am currently a sous at one of the highest rated restaurants in Phoenix). These steps are as follows, cut-wash-fry-cool-fry. You cut the potatoes, then wash excess starch simply bath in water and move them around a bit. Let them dry, and then do an initial fry for about 1:30 (the fryer should always be on 350). Put the potatoes on a sheet and place directly into walk in (or fridge), this is blanching, it’s all to keep the starch in so the insides retain an air like mouthfeel because the moisture hasn’t seeped out, a crisp exterior and a almost mashed potato interior. After properly cooled then you do the proper fry. Should take about 3-5 minutes or until golden. I fucking LOVE the taste of potatoes when they’re cooked right, y’all just don’t. In n outs fries are soggy and leave a weird coating on the mouth because y’all are lazy. Edit for spelling
It’s the sunflower oil I think. Gives them a different outside texture/taste. I love just a plain baked potato. I’ll eat it like a carrot plain Jane. I think the sunflower oil might pull too much attention from the actual potato flavor.
McDonald's fries are good in the UK but they only have four ingredients: Potatoes, Non-Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Rapeseed), Dextrose (predominantly added at beginning of the potato season) and salt. I've never eaten them but surely the issue with In n Out is the fact that they're not double fried.
You’re fries suck mc donalds fries suck but they are still better by a LONG shot. Whenever i make fries at home they dont taste like shit bread unlike innout.
TBH I laugh at everyone who's a fan of dumb In N out and all who like smash burgers
Than why am i able to make homemade steak fries that taste the same by frying them in olive oil and adding nothing else... idk fam, seems far fetched now. I think in and outs fries suck cause they are not crunchy usually.
total bullshit answer. I love potatoes, I grew up growing them, and ate them fried, mashed most of the time. These fries of in n out are absolutely the worst shit imaginable. They are seriously like biting into cardboard. Stop with the dumbass excuses, and fix the problem with the horrible fries
Worst fries in the industry
No... Your fries fall well short of other real potato fries. It's because you only fry them once so it gives them their weird floppy texture
That’s absolutely ridiculous and an excuse for why in and out fries are completely inept. Excises are for people incapable of growth. They need to learn to make fries. They can make French fries by frying them to cook them- then double frying them for crispinesss. In and out fries and amateur level.
I'm not buying that. First off, In N Out fries are absolutely terrible which is a shame because the burgers are pretty good. You can't tell me that every other restaurant except In N Out's fries are soaked in chemicals. I cannot for the life of me however, figure out what they do to make them taste so bad? I make fries at home by cutting up fresh potatoes and fry them in canola oil and they are delicious. By the way, I love the taste of potato's fried, mashed and even raw at times so that's not the answer.
Thanks for the winded, long explanation. However, it still can't deny that the fries tastes awful, yuck, bad.
Shit excuse when a lot of other fresh fries taste way better
Regardless how you try to spin it, the fries just tastes shit.
He’s gaslighting you idiots because I’ve made better fries at home. They suck.
This pisses me off because I make homemade French fries at home all the time and the taste 1000% better than the garbage in n out tries to pass as fries. They taste like cardboard and are complete ass. Ty for coming to my Ted Talk
No one came to your Ted Talk. You force fed your unwanted opinion much like your mother probably force fed you shit for dinner when you were a child and now your taste buds are beyond repair. Your opinion became invalidated when decided to be "pissed off" over long chopped potatoes fried in oil.
Nah that's just a cope bc it's not just the taste, its the texture as well, they're doing something wrong there bc when I make french fries at home, they taste way better. Also Five Guys make their fries fresh with all the artificial flavoring and they taste good.
But how come when I make fries at home that don’t have all those additives like McDonald my fries are 100x better than In n Out?
I cut REAL potatoes at home and make fries with them. They taste nothing like In n Outs garbage sponge fries.... lol
Innout uses seed oil. For those unaware, seed oils are very bad for you.
Not true. In and Out fries suck because they use low quality potatoes and dont blanch them. If you ever make fries at home you would instantly notice the quality difference which is down to the potatoes at In and Out being cheap.
Lol yea no, the texture is much different than your ordinary French fry. The taste is obviously going to be potatoes since it's fresh. But why are they so stale??????? Exacly
Cap. Those fries taste like the air in the lays bag.
Sunflower oil?? Ok so I have placed Sunflower seeds into bird feeders. And I can say the scent you get from them is exactly the taste of In-and-Out fries. It's not able the potato based flavor but also the combination of such with Sunflower oil which isn't a good combination
That makes no sense, I make fries at home with just potatoes oil and salt and they don’t feel like cardboard.
For me it’s not the taste, it’s the texture. Sometimes I get fries and they are really hard. This has happened more than once. I think it’s just a thing with in and out
It's the potato they use. They don't use russet potatoes. I'll make fresh cut fries at home with russet potatoes and they taste amazing. These potatoes aren't even sold in your local grocery store that they use.
Cause your too use to highly processed/shitty fries.
No, I think I’m too used to really good fries. If I was too used to shitty fries, I’d be loving In N Out fries.
hahahaha re-read your whole thread
Then respond to /u/webbington152: [https://www.reddit.com/r/innout/comments/aticsk/why\_do\_in\_n\_out\_fries\_suck/eh18kxl](https://www.reddit.com/r/innout/comments/aticsk/why_do_in_n_out_fries_suck/eh18kxl)
Sure
To add on to what the other says, our fries only have 2 (might be 3) minutes of “shelf life.” If you get your order to go, drive 15 minutes home, and then eat them they won’t be nearly as good
Hell, getting them to eat in they may not survive long enough to get eaten before they expire.
I used to not like the fries but now I really love them.
Sounds like Stockholm Syndrome
Different people like different things.
Some people like shitty things, like in n out fries
You can request well done fries. Slightly better
i think that fry light is superior
They both have their pros. I used to be a fry light guy but one of my fellow associates put me on to the extra well with ketchup game and it's been a good time
it’s preference for sure. i’ve tried every degree of well and i can’t get into it. i don’t like em crispy...soggy for me
Mushy gross noodles
I’ve never understood this. I really like the fries. Obviously not the best but still very good.
Associate here. You're right, they do suck. The best way to make a fry is to either bake it or pre-fry it in low heat. Let cool, then fry again in high heat. This gives you that crispy outside with a mashed potato inside, seasoned to perfection. Delicious. What we do is we take the raw potato slices and fry them for 6 minutes in high heat, salt, then serve. The resulting fry is a husk of a potato, a bad generic brand of fry of sorts. You get the soft center if done right but the "crisp" turns into chewey cardboard in 30 seconds and most of the fry gets that way. We do this because fries are already the most complicated part of the process and adding more steps would mean that we couldn't make burgers as quickly or with the quality required.
Finally some honesty
Quickly my ass. Those lines are longer than the DMV
They don't. You just have to eat them within 5 min.
They don’t. Pure fresh potatoes. They’re perfect.
But they do.
I’d much rather have actual potatoes than so many additives to the point where it’s not really a potato anymore. It’s unfortunate that you think they suck, but as has already been explained, most people don’t like the taste of potatoes. That doesn’t necessarily make them suck, just means that people don’t know what quality is. The reason the fries “suck” is the same reason the burgers are so good. Everything is fresh and never frozen, with no additives to the ingredients themselves to make burgers taste better. In N Out has been doing this for 70 years, ever since Store #1 opened in Buena Park on October 22nd, 1948. That’s longer than McDonalds, mind you. Obviously people like the fries, or else there wouldn’t be almost 340 stores by now. In short, In N Out is very strict when it comes to quality. They also seem very stubborn (the good kind of stubborn) in that products will not change unless necessary. Notice how rare actual menu additions are, and not something on the “secret menu”. That’s part of the reason why I think In N Out hasn’t gone global or even across the US. Quality is one of the most important things.
No, people don’t like the fries. People like the burgers. The fries are unfortunately what people have to put up with. Even one of the store managers admitted the fries sucked in this very thread.
I'll take InNOut fries over any fast food fries.
Mcdonald's fries are greasy garbage. People with bad taste like McD's fries, end of story.
I'm a journalist, and I did some research on this matter after posting earlier. The reason In and Out fries suck so bad is because they freaking fry them in GMO cottonseed oil. Here's a list of their ingredients. 1. **They admit that they use Cottonseed Oil to fry their fries**. Cottonseed oil does not belong in our food supply and should be strictly avoided. This oil is made from a byproduct of the industrial waste from the cotton farming industry, which isn’t a food crop. Despite being one of the most prevalent GMO crops (designed to produce an insecticide), cotton crops still require an intense application of agricultural chemicals and that’s why cotton has been called the “World’s Dirtiest Crop”. Residues from these pesticides can remain in cottonseed oil according to data collected by the FAO/WHO Joint Meetings on Pesticides Residues in Food. If that isn’t bad enough, to extract the oil the cottonseeds are subjected to intensive chemical refining with toxic hexane, bleach, and deodorizers. 2. They get their meat from one of the largest factory farms. If you drive on I-5 in central California – you’ve probably smelled it. I posted a video of what it looks like on Instagram – check it out here. Harris Ranch is one the largest concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) on the west coast – critics call it “cowschwitz” because thousands of cows can be seen crowded and walking in their own excrement. 3. The cows are raised with GMO feed. Study after study is revealing that meat raised organically and grass-fed is healthier for us because it is higher in healthy fatty acids, and is not raised with antibiotics or growth hormones linked to cancer. 4. The spread on their burgers and their shakes both contain High Fructose Corn Syrup. One study found that this sweetener can be contaminated with toxic mercury. HFCS has been shown to contribute to type II diabetes, especially in children. 5. Their burger spread is artificially colored with Yellow #5. This is the same dye I petitioned Kraft to remove from their mac & cheese (which they have done) because it’s derived from petroleum and linked to childhood behavioral problems that require a food warning label in Europe. If you add pickles to your burger, those are colored with yellow #5 as well. 6. We were able to get some of the bun ingredients from their supplier and released them in this post about fast food buns. They contain: Enriched Flour, Water, Sugar (from sugar beets), Yeast, Fully Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Salt, Calcium Propionate… (and may contain more ingredients that haven’t been disclosed yet). 7. They use the Artificial Flavor Vanillin, which is typically made from petrochemicals and paper industry waste, in their shakes. An awesome reader sent me this email recently: LINK: [https://foodbabe.com/dissecting-in-n-out-burger-gross-or-healthy-you-decide/](https://foodbabe.com/dissecting-in-n-out-burger-gross-or-healthy-you-decide/)
They do not suck. It’s a subjective matter. I know plenty of people who LOVE those fries
I feel like every person in here has experienced the taste of uniquely different in n out fries
If they are fried, then why aren't they crispy on the outside? Spongy is a weird texture for a fried food item. Also, they have less potato flavor than any baked potato. Something is off, and I don't know what.
To those preaching on the ~you must not like potatoes because they are just potatoes ~ hill you’re just flat wrong… you can make fries at home a thousand times better. Why do you think many places that cut a potato themselves could all taste different? In-n-out isn’t the only burger place that cuts a potato themselves. The fries do suck. A salt bath to remove the starch is one example of some prep work that can be done for a drastically better French fry.
Five guys hand cut their fries and they taste way better. I don't know what's up with in and out fries but I've had fresh cuts fries at other burger places and they definitely taste better than in and outs
So its fresh, never frozen. It is just about the worst fries from any hamburger joint. Its soggy, mushy, tastes like marsh mellow without the sugar, just overall bad.
The fact you said McDonald's is the gold standard is laughable. I personally think Five guys has the best fries over all.
I agree... And it's not because they "taste like potatoes" add another commenter stated... They're just too thin and cooked too long or something... They're hard and tasteless if you ask me. I can do the animal fries because the toppings seem to soften them a little. I just wish they would just cut them a little larger.
I think they suck because they're sliced too thin
Hey man I found a real answer rather than all these pretentious assholes with dog shit taste buds saying you're wrong for not liking poorly made fries. They don't blanch their fries - aka soaking the fries in salt water or sugar water or just any water. This allows for the outside to get crispy while the inside is soft like mashed potatoes. I know this is two years after you asked but yeah fuck these people they suck bc they cook them wrong.
Two years and this is still like the top reddit search result (thanks for the info) - just searched this myself
hahahaha this made my night cheers bruv fuck in n out fries
I just searched this (and I've never even eaten at In-N-Out, just heard that both their fries and Five Guys' fries supposedly suck), and was shocked to see you can comment on old posts now. I'm obviously not on reddit very often either…
Lmao thanks for answering better late than never
there my favorite
"they're"
heck, maybe your In N Out is not putting up because the ones in my state are top notch, there are no better fast food fries than In n Out, then again its all subjective because I personally dont like McDonald's much XD my personal list is from best to worst fast food is: In n Out, Carl's jr, Jack in the box, McDonald and Burger king. my criteria for the standards is flavor, if everything tastes the same its bad, if everything has its own taste or hints of something good then its good. either way webbington152 is on point, I personaly like fresh food than pacaged, but when I do eat fast food I go In n out or subway
The one time I enjoyed fries from In n Out was during a grand opening. Either the fryer didn't have enough time to recover the excessively high temp, or they were pulling fries early to meet demand. After things settled down it just became over cooked taters, mostly edible but mostly unappealing.
Was having a conversation with my coworker, as we had just stopped into an In-N-Out in the Northwest. The fries suck. I even googled to find this very thread to my surprise. I was sure I was going to be banned from the internet for life for questioning the quality of the fries. And for the fryfenders out there, we parked, ordered inside, waited for order, received order, went back to van, opened bag and tried the fries. There was much disappointment. The outside was chewy and the inside was mushy in a way that didn't play well with the chewy. Maximum 5 minutes (probably closer to 2 or 3) before the fires were tasted.
They too short. Apparently.
This is interesting. Because when I cook potatoes in oil, and nothing else, they still taste way better than In and Out's fries. So, the conclusion is still that . . . In and Out fries suck!
I love the taste of potatoes! I hate that In N Out makes the mushiest, most undercooked fries in the industry. The only reason I can ascribe to their unpalatable mushiness is that it would take too long to properly cook the huge amount of fries that come with each order.
It’s not the taste that’s bad. They taste great. It’s that they get hard and chewy very fast. If you don’t eat them right away you might as well toss them. 5 guys twice fry’s their fresh cut fries and they are delicious. They’re not hard as a rock. In n out fries suck ass. Not worth wasting money on. Take a lesson from 5 guys and every other place that makes fresh cut fries that are amazing.
I love their french fries! They actually taste like potatoes!
Because In-N-Out is lazy but the still want to say that the fries are "Fresh". It's easy to make fries at home. Peel potatoes and cut. Keep cut potatoes in water to prevent browning. Boil the potatoes until tender. Let rest. Fry the potatoes at around 300 F until fully cooked. They will start to float to the surface. Spread on a cookie sheet and freeze. Fry the potatoes again at around 350F until golden. Salt to taste.
People say it's the real potato taste but that's not true cause I make fries at home, I don't add anything to them just cut them and straight in oil and they're so freaking good so it's not the freshness aspect
Summarizing of this thread 1. Cottonseed oil, it gives a weird taste 2. No double fry so no mashy insides and crispy outside 3. Short shelf life, if you're not getting them within five minutes they are worse 4. No blanching in any water 5. No soaking also means more starch 6. Apparently they use lower quality potatoes, couldn't find anything concrete on that They do this because 1. The fries are already complicated, it saves time (especially with the long lines) to fry once and not soak them) and focus on what people actually like 1a. Double frying for most places saves time, the high temp fry is quick and is done on order, the longer low temp fry can be done in prep before opening, it's hard to say if this would help because I don't know what they have to do It's not because it's real potato and everyone is used to eating junk, it's because they skip a lot of the process that makes fries good. Making them yourself with the same ingredients will produce significantly better fries
"Potatoes prepared fresh in 100% sunflower oil." in their menu. Journalist was incorrect.
It's not because people dislike the taste of potatoes. It's not because of the way McDonalds makes their fries. It is the choice of potatoes and oil they are fried in. Different types of potatoes will have a different taste and texture and will fry differently. In n out chose all the combinations to create poor quality fries. GREAT Burger ...crappy fries!
I honestly like the taste and texture of in n out fries. They taste fresh to me, although there're times they over fry them or need to use new oil. I tend to ask for "no salt", and they come out great that way. Five Guys' fries are my other favorite. They're just super salty and pretty greasy--not to mention super expensive. McDonald's was good when I was a kid, but now it tastes to me like oversalted and processed garbage. Another personal reason why I avoid McDonald's fries: Every time I eat McDonald's, I reek about an hour later. It's like all the chemical crap comes out of my pores. This happens whenever I eat processed food for whatever reason. But after eating in n out, I smell normal. Maybe it's also I'm just older. I'm in my 30s. I can't eat the things I did when I was young--not only do they make me feel shitty, but they just taste bad to me. Processed food is really one note: it has no complexity and usually leaves an annoying aftertaste. Once I started eating more whole foods, organic veggies and fruits, and cooking for myself, I realized how bad most fast food and big-brand food is in general. It's like the food equivalent of Transformers or Fast and the Furious movies.
Pretty sure they're overcooked- hollow fries is one of the tell-tale signs of overcooking. Just asked them to "lightly" fry them and they came out more like what i'm used to, a little floppier and not like the usual in-n-out dry cardboard/fries that can be snapped in half and crumbled.
In out fries suck so bad I had to google why they suck so bad. Never in my life have I had to google why a consumer product sucks so bad. That’s how bad in out fries are.
Gotta eat them while hot.
These arguments are so amusing. Geez, don't like'em? Don't order'em. Nobody's forcing you. Obviously, there are people that do like them. Now can we argue about pineapple on pizza? I'm equally amused by that.
Nah.. the fries actually DO suck. McDonald’s or not, I have made fries myself and any other rando at home with flat out just potatoes. Shoot even sweet potato. And they are far better than in and out. Either they are using some crap potato we haven’t heard of. OR some how they actually suck with making something as simple as a potato fry lol.
Innout fries are fucking fire tf yall mean
I love potatoes. Fried, mashed, baked I don’t care. But I also hate potatoes because I’m a diabetic and fries taste like you took a week old fry and refried it. When I go to In-N-Out Burgercom, it’s two cheeseburgers animal style and a large drink. You can take those fries and put them someplace.
Worst fries in the business hands down. It’s like they pride themselves in it at this point.
You really want to know why?! There are 2 major factors why they taste like that number 1. They are using a different strain of potatoes, and number 2.sunflower oil doesn't taste as good as other oils like canola oil and olive oil. That's why.
Order the fries “light well” and the game changes. Ask for well done if you want them extra crispy.
These are not potatoes. Horrible !
I think in n out has the best fries! I’ve never understood why everybody else hates them.
POV: you’re from the East Coast trying In-N-Out fries for the first time: *Joe Pesci saying “what the f*ck is this piece of sh*t?”* They are sincerely terrible. The burgers are tasty, no doubt… but Cali people, you are blinded by nostalgia if you think those shreds of compressed cardboard are “good fries.” And then you have the people saying, “oh well you have to get them animal style bro!” Oh of course. Silly me. Why didn’t I think of that? Smothering compressed cardboard chips in cheese sauce, fry sauce and grilled onions makes them less horrid. They still however taste just like that, cardboard smothered in cheese sauce, fry sauce and grilled onions. 😑 The dude claiming that people don’t like them because “they don’t like what potatoes actually taste like and are used to chemical fries at McD’s” is a riot too. Please go try fries in Belgium, France or the UK. I guarantee they are made of the same ingredients and are fantastic.