When is Burger King going to realize that their fries SUCK?

[joe777cool]

I just dont understand it, 9/10 people I talk to cant stand them! That coating on the outside is SO unappealing!!! I can think of only 1 coated french fry that I enjoy....I believe they are the seasoned fries by McCain? Even then I only buy 2-3 bags of them a year. As a french fry lover, its is sad that I will pass em up and just get a sandwich or tenders and a soda.....am I the only one?

Seriously though, if I was on a deserted island with 25 pounds of Burger King french fries and a stray dog, I would feed the fries to Fido and then eat the dog.

[MonMauler]

I thought of this thread when I was walking out to grab lunch this afternoon and overheard two ladies talking. Basically, the one woman was telling the other that she, her husband and mother went to McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King last night and did kind of a "fast food taste testing."

Anyway, all I heard as they walked by was, "We thought the Burger King fries were the best, and we preferred the McDonald's chicken nuggets."

Personally, I got turned off Burger King fries years ago when they decided to put that strange, crispy coating on the fries, and I haven't had fast food fries in at least a year, probably a few years. So I haven't tried Burger King's new fries and do not have an opinion...

[observor]

I had the new ones yesterday...not really sure what is that different about them...they were still kind of heavy...no one will be able to overcome McDonald's reign

[KaimukiMan]

i had the fries today for the first time in several months. yes, they are thicker than they used to be and have the same stupid coating on them. but then maybe the coating isn't stupid. it allows them to fry the potato haphazardly and still have a crispy exterior. of course the end result is kinda like their ersatz onion rings, phony. i want a potato with a crispy shell and a soft exterior, not a soft potato with crispy coating, and no it is not the same. why is it you can only get fries 'extra crispy' from in and out, but not from any of the major chains? humbug, bah humbug!

[MsDiPesto]

They changed the fries again. I ended up needing a snack several hours before Thanksgiving dinner, so I got a cheeseburger and fries off the value menu. Cheeseburger was what it always is. The fries though? Longest ones were 2 inches long, and there were not many of those. They had an empty fry basket and gave me the nubs!! Jerks. It had been a year since I went to a BK, I think it will be a long time before I go back.

[Tripeler]

After seeing this headline for so many times, I have come to the conclusion that Burger King doesn't really care about the fries because their selling point is how the hamburger is grilled. So as long as they have some kind of "fries" product, they are satisfied.

[MarkKS]

This is a "secret". McD's got fries down a long time ago.

At home, have two oil fryers. Set one at 300-325. It will lose temp as water in the potatoes absorbs heat. Cook the fries to create a softened interior. Then transfer them to 350-375 oil pot to brown/crisp them.

Don't be afraid to experiment, and try to figure out what "works".

[janatmsn]

I like Burger King fries its better than some of their competitors that are just plain tough-not crispy

[HateCoatedFries1947]

I HATE the taste of coated french fries, they taste like grease, what happened to just plain potato FRENCH FRIES? The best fries I have found when eating out are at the Mexican Restaurant's, They DO NOT have flour coating

[cajundave]

I heard somewhere that they spray sugar water on the fries before they freeze them. It's supposed to make them brown better. I have not confirmed this.

I can't eat there anymore the burger meat is just too nasty and yes the fries suck.

[NellyNel]

I hate coated fries as well....never had one that tasted good - bleh!

[joe777cool]

My fiancee ate at BK recently and she said the fries were different. Are they the same crap or are they more like the old fries?

[Jelly71]

i am OBVIOUSLY in the minority here, but i like the fries and the coating on them. but i am a ho for fries in general and the only thing you can do to them to make me not like them is to burn them.

[observor]

The problem is the fries have a thick and gunky coating that covers up the potato inside.

[joe777cool]

Ok so I called BK customer relations today.....after 15 minutes on hold I finally got somebody on the phone. He informed me that BK does not give out email addresses for any of their employees and they dont have a general email inbox either. Way to be with the times BK!!!!!

Your fries sucks and so does your company apparently. Get with it

[joe777cool]

I have been searching for an email address for Burger King corporate offices, without success, to forward them this chain. Anyone know how to contact Burger King???

[rockandroller1]

You could fax it to them, or call consumer relations them to ask for a customer service email address, but I doubt it would do much good.

http://www.bk.com/en/us/company-info/...

[BiscuitBoy]

I wonder if it'll do any good. I completely agree bk fries are subpar, but it's a big company...They must have done consumer surveys, etc, to refine their fry recipe, prep, no? Somebody out there must like'em. Just not us!

[joe777cool]

I agree to a certain extent.....they must have tested these abominations on somebody. I just still cant figure out how a french fry can be ruined like this. I LOVE all things potato yet I CANNOT bring myself to eat these things. I just dont understand how such a large company can serve a product, which is a staple on the menu, and it be disliked by so many! Its crazy.

[RetiredChef]

I am offering no opinion on the fries, just merely a messenger here. I have not, nor have I ever worked for BK but I do know someone who does in their corporate offices. The fries you detest were tested for over 14 months in different market regions, in those tests they were preferred over the original fires they served by large majorities.

BK receives many complaints about the fires but actual French fry sales have gone up since they were introduced.

In blind taste tests BK fries routinely outperform all others in the taste category.

These fries per ounce cost are more than the older version BK went with them due to the overwhelming positive customer response.

These fries hold their crunch longer and therefore BK can hold the fries in warming bins longer than the regular fries, thereby reducing their waste.

The bottom line is that BK sees that customer complaints about the new fries a issue, however, fries sales are up, total cost of fries is down, and blind taste tests say this is a better product. While complaints are high so are customer compliments about the fries are also very high. BK is stuck in a those who love em vs those who hate them dilemma and unless one of the other three categories change (sales, cost, taste tests) BK will continue to stick with this FF.

[sbp]

Just goes to show you the average person has horrible taste.

[joe777cool]

very interesting, thanks for adding to the conversation

[rockandroller1]

This is just very hard to believe. I've never run in to anyone who likes the fries.

[BiscuitBoy]

Good point...There's always the coke vs pepsi, helmans vs miracle whip or or heinz vs hunts issue...but everyone I know, hates bk fries. I'm sure they were picked over the original fries, but that's like saying the new fries suck less than the old. My fry dollars will continue to go to mcd

[NellyNel]

I agree.
I detest BK fries now, and have yet to meet anyone who Doesnt.
BLEHHH

[Tripeler]

Retired Chef,
Thank you very much for your insight, and also for whatever risk you are taking for relating this conversation with your friend who actually worked for BK. Everyone should remember that business decisions are based mostly on business, and not a lot on flavor when other considerations are taken into account. The fact that all of us can get friend potatoes as cheaply and conveniently is often not appreciated by most people. I certainly wouldn't want to deep fry at home for fast food prices.

Your post was certainly clear and enlightening. Thank you.

[FrankD]

Malcolm Gladwell covered the "coke vs. pepsi" taste test in the "New Yorker". He pointed out that for the tiny sips of beverage offered, most people liked Pepsi at first taste because it was slightly sweeter. However, later tests where people had to try larger drinks of both beverage favoured Coke by a large margin. The sweetness of Pepsi proved to be cloying in the "long run", while the sharper taste of Coke was more palatable.

I wonder if the same things were at play in the BK fry tests? Maybe the new BK fries do taste really good, if you get them right out the fryer, which I would assume they are in the tests. However, that's not the way they're served in most BK outlets - they've been sitting for minutes at a time, particularly since the counter staff ALWAYS serve the fries first, so they can sit cooling on my tray while I wait for my Whopper. I don't care if they're "crunchier"; if I want crunch, I'll get potato chips. I want fries that taste good.

And, while I'm not sure of the timing, fry sales might have gone up because baked potatoes were discontinued, and in many cases, I've been told they're "out of salads right now". Attributing increased fry sales to better taste may be a case of "post hoc, ergo propter hoc".

[joe777cool]

has anyone ever noticed that the ketchup they serve at mcdonalds is not a name brand? it has a flavor that is different but seems to enhance the flavor of the fries. Conversely, I dont think any dipping sauce could help BK fries.

[FrankD]

Weird as it might seem, I actually like the McD's BBQ sauce for the nuggets with my fries. It's just a little more sharp in flavour than ketchup.

[observor]

Not only do they have a bagged chip of their french fries, they now have a bagged chip of their French toast, and a bagged chip that indicates flame-broiled taste.

[podunkboy]

I actually tried their BK potato snacks (w/ketchup flavor) out of the snack machine here at work, and I think that given the choice, I'd rather have a bag of those potato snack chips than BK french fries.
I really don't eat BK much anymore because between the lousy fries and the awful things their soybean-based oils do to my digestive system, it's not a pleasing nor pleasant experience.

[observor]

Heard they are remaking the brand (at least the stores) because of falling sales...half million dollar renovation of each0 store...hope they update the food also.

[joe777cool]

who cares about the renovations! I know I dont, what a waste of money. Spend a fraction on that on improving the quality of the food, specifically the fries, chicken nuggest, and put the damn italian chix sandwich on the menu permanantly. Also add some fun stuff to the dollar menu. The old mozz sticks were ok, maybe a ffajta rollup like Mcd's used to have.....their menu has become tired. Its not all about the burgers (see Sonic)!!! IMHO

[irishnyc]

Each store? Half million dollars? That sounds... ridiculous. Source?

[observor]

I saw it on cnn, you can find it, just google burger king renovations, 300,000 to 600,000 dollars per store.

[irishnyc]

http://www.thestate.com/business/stor...

It's up to the franchisees to pay for it, and they expect it to take YEARS. Research and development is corporate's responsibility, so regardless of years of renovations, it has no effect on the food.

[joe777cool]

These chains, especially Dunkin Donuts, BK, McDOnalds etc. spend a TON of money on remodeling every few years. You see these chains tear down a building and put a brand new one in the same exact location. WHY???? Such a waste. I mean you can never stand still in business but this seems excessive and wasteful.

Maybe its me but the decour and ambiance means NOTHING to me when it comes to fast food, diners, dives, etc. Its all about the food first, the food second, the price third, the convenience/location fourth, and of course the food. All I care about is the place is CLEAN both in the dining area and kitchen

Now if Im going out for a full service meal and expect to be there for an hour to two that is one thing, but when I am going to be in a place for 10-20 minutes max or even eating via the drive thru I dont have the time to notice the new "improvements"

BK - do us all a favor and spend the money improving the quality of your food!

[observor]

They can make it into Disneyworld and I wouldn't eat there.

[NewDude]

I can't stand skinny fries of any kind any way.

btw, I've gotten cheapo frozen fries at chain grocery stores, baked them and absolutely had a blast. Without all the fat, you can eat more of them guilt free, and surprise surprise they taste great. Especially the crinkly cut kind.

TJ's has kick a## frozen fries, man. Even Safeway or any other chain grocery store will do the trick. Bake. And learn.

[Lindseyup67]

Now they are going to be coming out with a frozen version of their fries......are you KIDDING me?????? http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/03/b...

[sbp]

This is a "huh" on so many levels. First, their in-store fries taste like mashed/extruded/coated greasy styrofoam, so who would want them frozen. Second, these frozen fries don't remotely resemble the in-store fries -- they are thick crinkle-cuts. Third, they're for microwaving! Why not just sell ipecac?

[joe777cool]

maybe this is the next evolution for their own in store french fires???? Im being sarcastic but BK and many other chains seem to be more preoccupied with increasing hold times, reducing costs, making their processes more efficient etc. at the "expense" of freshness, food quality, and customer satisfaction.

If they can make it cheaper and quicker, thats all that matters today. Damn the quality!

[sbp]

Yep - with the apparent exception of 5 Guys, whose fries are double-fried and as "real" as you can get.

[observor]

I saw in the store they also have a chip-type "fries and ketchup" bagged snack. LOL.

[observor]

I just had a fresh batch of BK fries and they are bad...heavy, cakey, nastiness with nothing of interest. The brand has been ruined.

[observor]

Their fries have always sucked, but their burgers used to be pretty OK...now their burgers suck also, along with their marketing campaign...it's still, I think, one of the more expensive chains out there. It's too bad...I really liked their burgers, but now they taste terrible.

[steakman55]

If they have not realized it by now, they won't

[lost squirrel]

Poor guys, here in Japan the BurgerKings use a different fry that is much more similar to the US McDonalds Fry.

Seriously, they are pretty darn good.

[joe777cool]

so Burger King saves the good stuff for their restaurants out of the country?

probably because everyone else in the world wont buy their disgusting, rolled around on the floor, heavily coated, "we can keep these things around longer and not throw them out" CRAP!

Maybe Burger Kings business plan is to become the underdog by making Mcdonalds and Wendys food look 10x better!

[Clams047]

BK fries are totally disgusting. Do they roll them around the floor to cover them in dirt? I ate there once this year - first time in perhaps 4-5 years. Most likely - never again, especially since Five Guys serve such excellent fries.

[Lindseyup67]

Just had them last nite....hoping they would be better than I remembered.........and..........they did indeed SUCK!!!!!!! Awful stuff! Also got the BK double stacker, and could NOT believe how small the thing was! It will be a LONG time before I eat there!

[ArrowSmith]

What's new? BK fries have always sucked compared to Mickey Ds. Of course either one will give you a heart attack.

[Melanie]

I have NO idea what y'all are talking about. Burger King's french fries are the only thing good about Burger King. Plus, french fries fit into the category of pizza and sex - even when it's bad, it's pretty good.

[puddin head]

Melanie - I'm afraid I have to disagree with you...on all three counts! :)

[joe777cool]

sorry melanie, I think you are in the vast minority here......on every comment you made too. You have never had Dominos or Little Caesars pizza?

[Melanie]

you know, I haven't had Little Caesars before. I have had Domino's and, while it's most certainly not the best pizza I've ever had, I stand by my statement! :)

[sbp]

I guess it's a matter of defining your terms.

I'll allow quite a bit of leeway as to what constitutes sex, But a slice of white bread with ketchup and melted American cheese is not a slice of pizza. And as far as I'm concerned, the Frankenfries that BK is serving are not french fries. One of the ingredients is potatoes, they are long, thin, and vaguely rectangular, and they are deep fried. Similarity ends there.

[retromodernafoodie82]

I agree with you on BK's french fries.

[Timmy McTimmerson]

I like them too..

[mojoeater]

McDonalds french fries (from http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutritionexchange/nutrition_ingredients.html#1): Potatoes, vegetable oil (canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor [wheat and milk derivatives]*, citric acid [preservative]), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain color), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil ((may contain one of the following: Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness), dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent). CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK *(Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients).

Burger King fries (from http://www.bk.com/cms/en/us/cms_out/d... Potatoes, Soybean Oil or Canola and Palm Oil, Modified Potato Starch, Rice Flour, Potato Dextrin, Salt, Leavening (Disodium Dihydrogen Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Dextrose, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate added to preserve

[sbp]

What's your point?

[Fibber McGee]

Very distinct differences in what you would think would be very simple and basic. I remember when the fires from both places were nearly indistinguishable. The BK modified potato starch is what stood out for me, as well as the leavening. I'm no dietician or chemist, but I wonder if those are really why their fries are like they are.

As joe777cool said, McDonald's has fries you would order by themselves. Does anyone do that for BK's fries?

[sbp]

Oh sure, the modfied food starch/rice flour are almost certainly the crud that constitute the sprayed on coating. I couldn't tell if the list by mojoeater was for the purpose of pointing out all the additives in McD's fries. What it boils down to, however, is that McD's are potatoes dipped int vegetable oil and sugar. Both of which promote browning and crispness, without changing the texture.

[sbp]

By the way, I hadn't considered it before, but I'm willing to bet BK is thrilled with their new fries and will never change them because it SAVES THEM $$$$.

That starchy awful coating is designed to keep the fries crispy for a long time. Which means they don't have to dump an unsold batch as quickly. Less waste, more profit. As Dick Jones said in Robocop: Who cares if it worked or not?

[KaimukiMan]

sometimes i pick burger king cause i dont want to be tempted to eat french fries.

[alliebear]

If I'm going to eat fast food and I have an option between Burger King and something else, I will choose something else. And that is mainly because of the fries. If I'm eating a fast food burger, I want French fries. But I cannot stand the ones at B.K.

[irishnyc]

Me too. I've had such a craving for a BK burger but the fries keep me away.

[rockandroller1]

Ditto

[FrankD]

Make your mother happy.. have a salad!

[ilikefood]

"When is Burger King going to realize that their fries SUCK? "
Sometime after they realize their mascot is just too disturbingly creepy along w/ the commercials he stars in. Don't hold your breath.

http://www.fanpop.com/spots/legendary...

[FrankD]

I order the rings or the salad with my combo instead of the fries. I was disappointed when they discontinued the baked potato - that was my favourite by far.

It's not a big deal to me, as I should actually be eating the salads instead of fries, but have you considered actually writing them and telling them how you feel?

[joe777cool]

I think I did write an email to them a few years ago actually. Im planning on sending them another email with a link to this thread (a petition of sorts) once we get a few more replies.

[Cachetes]

Has anyone noticed that all of their food tastes like their fries? I hadn't eaten there in years, and recently went and ordered one of their breaded sandwiches. I immediately noticed a funky flavor, which I soon realized was essence of french fries.

So, I guess that means that those sandwiches suck as much as the fries.

[puddin head]

no..they used to be my favorite fries (they were "mushier" than McDonald's, which I like) then they reformulated them with that odd coating. Can't stand them. I usually get the tater tot thingies they have.

[NewDude]

They were definitely less crispy back in the day. Yeah, back when I didn't care about my weight, I used to really enjoy BK fries.

[tastyjon]

It seems they are now molded out of the same substance as Pringles, dipped in a foul smelling oil. And I am one of those who now drive past BK when I want the occasional fast lunch.

[jgg13]

I used to prefer BK over the other fast food spots, but I can't stand it anymore. The very few things that I actually like there seem to always lead to really bad gas anyways, so that was the last straw :)

[Clarkafella]

Oddly enough, I think it is the lettuce that causes the gas. If you get them to leave it off you shouldn't have the problem. I don't have a clue as to why this is...

[MarkKS]

Not sure, In-

Not sure. I-n-Out same problem 'Harold McGee advises double cooking. It works. Ore-Ida frees-dried cooked in bot oil ro oven-brwned, they awork

[NewDude]

When people stop buying them?

[sbp]

That won't do it, because even if people prefer real fries, they'll still order the crappy ones if they happen to be there. I can't stand them at all; I won't go to BK anymore because of the fries. But clearly I'm in the minority.

[joe777cool]

I think thats part of the problem - when faced with crappy fries or no fries, most will go with the crappy fries.

I am in the minority as well, I say "NO FRIES!"

[NewDude]

The fries couldn't be that crappy if people still keep buying and eating them. It's not like BK is the only restaurant chain on the planet.

[sbp]

see above.

[Fibber McGee]

Fries are part of the standard combo. The real way to know would be to see how many people order fries when not ordering a combo.

There is so much hyperbole on this site when it comes to how bad something is. Their fries are not as good as at other fast food places. I'm glad they offer the option of onion rings instead of fries. I don't think I've eaten there in the last few years, though.

[sbp]

Yes, there is a lot of hyperbole about "bad" on this site. But I've got a pretty high tolerance for bad food. I happen to think BK makes the worst Burger among the fast food chains - but it's still not horrible. Strange, in the same way a Big Mac doesn't taste like a hamburger but I still like it.

But the BK fries stand out -- no hyperbole, they are wretched. As others have noted, I actually avoid BK simply because of the fries.

[joe777cool]

I have to toally agree - Its hard to believe that a french fry could be screwed up, but Burger King does that. I eat there once a week on average, I stop there 4-5 times a week just to get a fountain drink on my way to work and yet I havent eaten a fry there in I would estimate over a year.

MD's on the other hand, I will often stop just to get a small order of fries and nothing else... cant beat em in S&S sauce!

[gordeaux]

They ruined their onion rings a few years ago, too. They were never real onion rings as far as I remember, but they were a guilty pleasure of mine. Now, not only are they not real onions on the inside, but it's some pasty mush on the inside. They used to have minced onions inside. They are just strange now.

[sbp]

Do you ever get the feeling BK is just testing out the newest version of Soylent Green?

[Soup]

Perhaps people buy them because the don't think they are crappy or because it not so bad the wouldn't eat them. They are pretty mediocre.

I honestly don't understand the fast food business. I'm assuming they know how to make this stuff better (less greasy, less salt, taste better, better bread). I'm assuming they don't for a reason. They are smart people. Why?

[joe777cool]

$$$$$$