McDonald's Fries Review: The Everyday Benchmark

The fries from McDonald's, the timeless classic, needs no introduction. This crispy stick of potato sets the bar for all other fries. With the original combination of saltiness and crunchiness that strikes the balance of flavor in your mouth, the "everyday benchmark" shall be tested to find its true place in the ranks. Here's our McDonald's fries review.

Texture (6/10)

Crispy and crunchy on the exterior while soft and warm on the inside. They are always well heated and have a genuine crunch to them. You can feel the texture of the potato as it slides through your mouth.

Texture is one of the great strengths of McDonald's fries.

Flavor (6/10)

McDonald's has always set the benchmark for fries but the real familiarity with these fries lies in the classic flavor of these golden sticks. They are warm and well salted all around. They jolt your senses with a short flavor which begs you to eat more. This is the standard, that is vernacular yet difficult to surpass.

Shape (7/10)

The shape of the fries are a standard stick-like shape. They are quite sturdy so your fries won't be flopping about. They are easy to hold, long, and accessible too for grabbing with your fingers from the container. It's designed for easy consumption on the go.

Presentation (3/10)

The classic red carton that fries are served in, with the big yellow M on the front, has been synonymous to the benchmark enjoyed by millions. However, it has been some time since they have replaced this with a paltry paper bag, without shape and character. This was truly a disgrace for the Large sized fries. For this, we deducted points but it does seem like in April of 2025, with the advent of A Minecraft Movie, the red Cadillac of fries container seems to be making a comeback. Until we see this more consistently, the score will remain at 3.

The paper container Large Fries really was a downsizing in volume. We hope the classic red cartons are back permanently.

Experience (8/10)

The fries pair well with the burgers or the nuggets that come alongside providing a salty and crunchy balance to whet your palate. A McDonald's meal is never complete without the fries and for this, it's place in the overall experience is crucial.

Texture	6
Flavor	6
Shape	7
Presentation	3
Experience	8
Overall	6.0 / 10

Conclusion

The McDonald's French Fries is truly a classic all over the world. It is impressive how they are able to maintain such consistency and a high bar in so many locations, making everyone on this planet happy. However, it does not mean that it is the pinnacle of potato perfection. The flavors can be a bit too mundane and have a tough time competing with fresh cut fries as they are factory produced on a mass scale. Also, McDonald's had a huge gamble with the Large Fries packaging. Still, as an everyday benchmark, it is a high bar to pass and is worthy of an aspirational target, for all other makers of fries.