The Ridiculous Amount Of Fries McDonald's Sells Every Day

Since it was founded in 1955, McDonald's has sold well over 300 billion burgers (per Wall Street Journal). That comes as no surprise since it is, after all, a burger chain. However, while burgers are their staple menu item, and perhaps the food they are best known for, fans might be surprised to learn that there's another best selling item at McDonald's. It's their much-loved french fries. According to Reader's Digest, the fries are in fact the most popular item at McD's, and the chain sells a whopping 9 million pounds of them every single day, both individually and along with their burger value meals. If you're surprised by the number, consider the fact that the company serves 69 million people a day, says Reader's Digest, and most people place an order for the favorite side item.

It's also no secret that french fries and burgers are the perfect pair, so it makes perfect sense that it would be such a big seller at McDonald's. But while other fast food restaurants, like Burger King, also have this pairing down, their fries just don't seem to be quite as popular as a fresh batch of piping hot potatoes straight from the fryer at McDonald's. The chain has pretty much secured the top spot when it comes to fast food french fries, and it turns out there is a scientific reason for it.

According to FoodBeast, the key ingredient that sets McDonald's fries apart from the rest of the pack is some natural beef flavor. Although their fries are cooked in vegetable oil, McDonald's adds an additional special oil blend, made from hydrolyzed milk and hydrolyzed wheat, to give it an extra savory flavor that sets their fries above the rest. Add in salt and an extra coating of dextrose, aka sugar, and you have all the ingredients for a perfectly addictive and delicious french fry (via Taste of Home).

In order to keep up with the high demand that comes with being the best french fry producer on the market, McDonald's needs to purchase quite a lot of potatoes. NBC News has reported that the McDonald's corporation buys more than 3.4 billion pounds of U.S.-grown tubers each year, making them one of the most powerful potato purchasers in the world. Their business is so important that potato researchers and farmers even compete to develop new potato varieties to sway McDonald's to use in the creation of their famous fries, says NBC News, with farmers often adjusting the taste, texture, and even pesticide use in their crops to be more enticing to the major brand. 

So while McDonald's may be more famous for their beef patties, it is truly their salty spuds that are really one of the most important items on their menu.