The Easiest Hack For Getting The Absolute Freshest Fries At McDonald's

Whoever invented the French fry was a sheer genius. Seriously, life without those sticks of deep-fried potato yumminess would not be nearly as enjoyable. And, while French fries, in general, remain a favorite fast food staple, one outlet's fries have been deemed the gold standard by which all others are measured. This purveyor of masterful fries is McDonald's, the home of the golden arches (and the esteemed golden fry). 

The New York Times, for example, once called the McDonald's thin potato specimen a fry "with enough crispness to stand up to a cheeseburger ... and the right stuff to stand proud on its own." Insider described them as "pretty dang crispy, with a time-tested texture and mouthfeel that blends a chewable crunch with a soft and smooth core." And Thrillist said McDonald's fries were "in a class of their own" and "righter than just about any fry out there." This would likely explain why the fast food outlet sells roughly 3.3 billion pounds of their French fried potatoes per annum (via Motley Fool).  

Yes, McDonald's customers are as familiar with these potato gems as they are with the embrace of their comfiest chair. Only one thing can dampen their enthusiasm for these sticks of starchy heaven: the temperature. McDonald's fries taste much better when they're hot. 

When The Takeout conducted a study of how the passage of time affected the McDonald's French fry, it was determined that the sweet spot was approximately the five-minute mark. They pointed out that this is the time at which they slipped from being "quite good" to just "good," and no longer lived up to their French fry "lore." 

When the eatery is busy, you are unlikely to get chilly fries, but what if you're craving Mickey D's during an off hour? Apparently, there is a way to ensure that your fries are fresh and piping hot. Finance Buzz offers a McDonald's French fry hack that you'll wish you'd known sooner – ask for your fries to be "unsalted." The premade fries that are growing cold as they wait to be scooped up are all salted, while your "sans salt" version will have to be made fresh. And if you really want salt, just add your own. Surely, you have a leftover salt packet kicking around somewhere in your glove compartment. Genius, right? 

Now you can ensure that your McDonald's fries never hit that undesirable five-minute mark. And, if all else fails, you can always try this copycat McDonald's fry recipe in the comfort of your own home.