McDonald's French Fries

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

McDonalds fries
French fries

McDonald's French Fries are one of the most popular items on the McDonald's menu, known for their unique taste and crispy texture. They have been a staple of the fast food giant's menu since the 1950s and are served in various sizes, from small to super-size portions.

History[edit | edit source]

The French Fries were added to the McDonald's menu in 1949, after Richard and Maurice McDonald realized that potatoes were an inexpensive product that could be cooked quickly. Over the years, the process of making the fries has evolved, with changes in the oil used for frying and the addition of various flavoring agents to enhance their taste.

Preparation[edit | edit source]

McDonald's French Fries are made from high-quality potatoes, such as the Russet Burbank and the Shepody. The potatoes are washed, peeled, cut, and then pre-fried at the factory. Once at the restaurant, they are cooked in a high-temperature fryer and salted before serving. The cooking oil used is a blend of canola oil, soybean oil, and hydrogenated soybean oil, with natural beef flavor, citric acid, and dimethylpolysiloxane added.

Controversies and Health Concerns[edit | edit source]

There have been some controversies surrounding the nutritional value of McDonald's French Fries, particularly in terms of the fat content and the presence of trans fats. McDonald's has made efforts to improve the health profile of their fries by switching to cooking oils with less trans fat and including dextrose, a type of sugar, to maintain the golden color.

Cultural Impact[edit | edit source]

McDonald's French Fries have become an icon of American fast food culture. They are frequently referenced in media, have appeared in countless movies and television shows, and are a part of meals for millions of people around the world every day.

Nutritional value of McDonald's French Fries[edit | edit source]

Nutrient Unit Value per 100gm 1.0 small serving 71.0"g 1.0 medium serving 117.0"g 1.0 large serving 154.0"g 1.0 kids serving 31.0"g
Nutrients
Water g 36.63 26.01 42.86 56.41 11.36
Energy kcal 323 229 378 497 100
Protein g 3.41 2.42 3.99 5.25 1.06
Total lipid (fat) g 15.47 10.98 18.1 23.82 4.8
Carbohydrate, by difference g 42.58 30.23 49.82 65.57 13.2
Fiber, total dietary g 3.9 2.8 4.6 6 1.2
Sugars, total g 0.21 0.15 0.25 0.32 0.07
Minerals
Calcium, Ca mg 19 13 22 29 6
Iron, Fe mg 0.8 0.57 0.94 1.23 0.25
Magnesium, Mg mg 37 26 43 57 11
Phosphorus, P mg 127 90 149 196 39
Potassium, K mg 596 423 697 918 185
Sodium, Na mg 189 134 221 291 59
Zinc, Zn mg 0.51 0.36 0.6 0.79 0.16
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid mg 5.6 4 6.6 8.6 1.7
Thiamin mg 0.18 0.128 0.211 0.277 0.056
Riboflavin mg 0.037 0.026 0.043 0.057 0.011
Niacin mg 3.22 2.286 3.767 4.959 0.998
Vitamin B-6 mg 0.38 0.27 0.445 0.585 0.118
Vitamin A, RAE µg 0 0 0 0 0
Vitamin A, IU IU 0 0 0 0 0
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) mg 1.38 0.98 1.61 2.13 0.43
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) µg 16 11.4 18.7 24.6 5
Lipids
Fatty acids, total saturated g 2.271 1.612 2.657 3.497 0.704
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated g 7.379 5.239 8.633 11.364 2.287
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated g 4.727 3.356 5.531 7.28 1.465
Fatty acids, total trans g 0.064 0.045 0.075 0.099 0.02


List of McDonald's food items[edit source]

All McDonald's beef patties are seasoned, consisting primarily of salt and black pepper.

Side Orders[edit source]

Breakfast[edit source]

Chicken, fish & pork[edit source]

Desserts[edit source]

Drinks and Beverages[edit source]

Also see[edit source]

Chrisdesign Photorealistic Green Apple.svg

External links[edit source]

Nutrition lookup (USDA)

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD