Are burger nights a regular occurrence in your home? Perhaps you’ve switched to black bean burgers. No matter the burger choice, one essential side dish remains: French fries. If you’re not up for slicing and frying potatoes from scratch, opting for a bag of frozen fries is the way to go – whether in the oven or, better yet, an air fryer. But with so many brands available, which one reigns supreme? To find out, I conducted a taste test comparing eight types of frozen fries. Read on for the ultimate ranking of frozen French fries, from top to bottom. Please note that prices and availability may vary.
**1. Arby’s Seasoned Curly Fries**
Grab a bag for $4.96 at Walmart
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of Arby’s frozen curly fries. Crispy, golden brown, and perfectly seasoned, they outshined even the fries served at Arby’s restaurants.
**2. Checker’s/Rally’s Famous Seasoned Fries**
Available for $4.98 at Walmart
Known for their excellent fast food fries, Checker’s/Rally’s frozen version does not disappoint. Perfectly seasoned and with a satisfying crunch, these fries are a top contender.
**3. Steak ‘n Shake Thin ‘n Crispy Seasoned Potato Fries**
Find them on Instacart
While Steak ‘n Shake’s frozen fries offer a unique jagged shape and delightful crunch, Checker’s/Rally’s takes the lead with its seasoned perfection.
**4. Trader Joe’s Handsome Cut Potato Fries**
Locate them in-store
These straight-cut fries from Trader Joe’s exude character, resembling hand-cut, authentic fries. With a hint of skin on them, they make for a delightful snack when paired with TJ’s Magnifisauce.
**5. Ore-Ida Crinkle-Cut French Fried Potatoes**
Purchase for $4.68 at Walmart
Ore-Ida’s crinkle-cut fries, a common choice for frozen fries, deliver an average experience with a pleasant crunch when cooked in an air fryer. While they come with nice ridges, they lack standout flavor.
**6. McCain Waffle Cut French Fried Potatoes**
Get them for $4.99 at Albertson’s
Waffle fries from McCain offer a distinctive shape but blend in with other frozen fry options. While they may pose a challenge for dipping, their taste remains on par with typical frozen fries.
Feel free to explore these frozen French fry options based on your preferences and elevate your burger night with a delightful side dish.
When it comes to fast food restaurants, it’s best to steer clear of the fries, but if you’re the master of your own sauce destiny, consider giving McCain a try. While some may find them a tad on the bland side, the playful shape of these fries propels them to the 7th spot on the list according to Wilder Shaw from Cheapism. Grown in Idaho Hand-Cut Fries, available for $6.99 at Kroger, offer a decent enough fry experience. They deliver that classic french fry taste, which is a win in itself. The slight presence of skin on the ends adds a nice touch, but ultimately, these fries lack that wow factor, leaving Shaw feeling unenthused. Trader Joe’s hand-cut style fries easily outshine these contenders in Shaw’s opinion.
Red Robin Seasoned Steak Fries, priced at $4.98 at Walmart, present a different story. Shaw approached this purchase with caution, recalling a previous experience at Bojangles where the fries were drowning in an overwhelming amount of seasoning. In stark contrast, Red Robin’s offering leans towards being under-seasoned. While Shaw acknowledges that this may not be a deal-breaker since fries are often meant to be paired with dipping sauces, the overall lack of seasoning left him feeling let down. The disappointment culminates in a playful nod to the concept of ‘dipapointing’.
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