If you're a fan of McDonald's highly acclaimed French fries, you're in for a treat. An insider with McDonald's experience has just shared a secret on how to find and prepare a supermarket version of these fries that closely resembles the fast-food giant's offering.
Mike Haracz, an ex-corporate chef at McDonald's and popular TikTok user (@chefmikeharacz), gained widespread attention with a TikTok video in which he discloses tips for replicating McDonald's French fries at home. Haracz advises buying Walmart's frozen Great Value Thin Cut French Fried Potatoes, noting that their ingredients are strikingly similar to those used in McDonald's fries. However, to achieve the exact taste of McDonald's fries, there's a specific cooking method that must be followed.
Haracz advised viewers to deep fry the Great Value potatoes for optimal results, despite the absence of deep-frying instructions on the packaging. He emphasized that the type of oil used in the deep fryer is crucial for achieving that distinctive McDonald's flavor.
McDonald's incorporates beef flavoring into the oil it uses for cooking its fries. To replicate this, Haracz suggests adding approximately two tablespoons of beef tallow for every cup of oil. However, vegetarians can omit this step and will still enjoy "really good French fries" without the beef tallow.
He advised heating the oil to between 360 and 370 degrees Fahrenheit and frying the fries for about two minutes. However, he noted that the precise cooking time might vary depending on the fryer used.
"McDonald's fryers are extremely efficient and fry only a limited quantity at a time. So, it's best to fry in small batches until the fries reach the desired color," he added.
Immediately after removing them from the oil, the fries should be seasoned with Morton Salt, which Haracz identifies as the same salt used by McDonald's for its fries. Once seasoned, they're ready to enjoy.
This approach does take more time and effort compared to just buying fries from McDonald's. However, it's an excellent option for those who desire constant access to this popular side dish.
Haracz has also shared other insights into finding supermarket equivalents for McDonald's favorites. Recently, he discovered that Aldi's frozen Season's Choice Hash Brown Patties closely resemble McDonald's Hash Browns in terms of nutritional content and ingredients. Furthermore, he suggests that Walmart's Great Value Fully Cooked Original Pork Sausage Patties and Great Value Secret Sauce bear a strong resemblance to McDonald's breakfast sausage and Big Mac sauce, respectively.