311721 Mon Jul 24 01:36:55 -0700 2006 7 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1762461 Back when we were kids you could get the best french fries at McDonald's. Simply sliced, fried in tallow and salted, what could be better? Well in the last 20 years or so they have gotten away from that, first they tried to make them healthier by not frying them in animal fat, then by coating them so they stay crisper and hotter for the people going throug the drive thru. Now it is almost impossible to find as good a fry as the old Mickey D's use to be. If we put aside the health aspect of french fries (and lets face it even fried in canola oil, these aren't exactly health food), does anybody out there really prefer coated fries to a potato simply sliced and fried naked? Mon Jul 24 01:36:55 -0700 2006 21203 jackrugby 1 1762982 Go to Canada; unless things changed in the past 3 years, McD's fries are still made the old way there. Mon Jul 24 13:36:16 -0700 2006 1762461 13819 Karl S 2 1763393 Just got back from Canada. Had the fries near Mt. Tremblant. Didn't notice substantive difference from the fries here in the US. Then again, there must be something wrong with me because I prefer the US version of Heinz ketchup! With THAT I noticed the difference. Mon Jul 24 16:47:39 -0700 2006 1762982 10156 Steve 1 1762992 That's what I've heard too, going there in October so I'll try them. Mon Jul 24 13:39:49 -0700 2006 1762461 21203 jackrugby 1 1763601 Well, McDonald's Canada indicates the following ingredients for their fries, which I have found much superior to the US version. Maybe they've lowered the use of tallow? If so, sigh... "Potatoes, a blend of partially hydrogenated fat and oil (beef fat and cottonseed oil), may contain dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate and cooked in A/V shortening (beef fat and cottonseed oil, monoglyceride citrate, propyl gallate, propylene glycol)." Mon Jul 24 17:53:58 -0700 2006 1762461 13819 Karl S 1 1764199 I rarely get fries when we are out and prefer to make my own using the 2 fryings method. I really like little match stick fries but will make the regualr sized ones once in awhile. I do not like the so called steak fries or planks. Mon Jul 24 20:48:26 -0700 2006 1762461 10285 Candy 1 1764396 Coated fries are noxious! Mon Jul 24 21:50:39 -0700 2006 1762461 10773 stephen 2 1765599 Thank you Stephen, yes they are noxious. Regarding Canadian Heniz ketchup, I've heard that it is made with pure cane sugar as opposed to corn syrup that is used in the U.S. - anybody else heard that, does anybody else think this makes a difference? Tue Jul 25 13:48:18 -0700 2006 1764396 21203 jackrugby