McDonald’s Fries is famous for its crispness, but how to reheat McDonald’s fries properly so that it still keeps the crispness? If you fry the fries again with inappropriate heat and uncalculated time, you may probably end up with burnt fries!
Reheating fries is easy when you are carefully guided. And I’m writing this post to share with you some of my best methods to deal with the iconic McDonald’s fries. Stick around to learn how to wake your soggy fries up and avoid wasting foods for the environment! (1)
Let’s answer your question first:
How To Reheat McDonald’s Fries?
There are various ways to reheat your McDonald’s fries, but I believe these utensils are the most common in any kitchen and can help you quickly warm the fries:
- Using the frying pan
- Using the oven/toaster oven
- Using the air fryer
- Using the microwave
- Using the broiler
- Using the deep fryer
But of course, it’s still not enough for you, right? Do you want to know how to use these equipment to heat your fries so that they can still be delicious like day one? I will reveal all of the secrets in the next sections! Stay tuned for more!
Surprising Facts About The Iconic McDonald’s Fries
How many times have you eaten McDonald’s fries? Countless times, right? But do you know the following facts about the worldwide famous fries? Get through these facts and I’m sure you’ll be stunned!
They Are Not Safe For Vegetarians!
Although French fries are made of potatoes, McDonald’s fries are a new world! It consists of up to 19 different ingredients! Can you believe it? And one of them is “natural beef flavor,” which includes hydrolyzed milk and wheat.
Therefore, unfortunately, McDonald’s fries cannot be consumed by vegetarians. And the vegans should also be aware of fast foods that seem organic to them. They may contain a lot of additives and spices that are not vegan-friendly.
You Can Ask For Fresh Fries Right In Mcdonald’s Stores.
Want to know a secret? Guess what, you can order fresh fries at McDonald’s by telling the cashier to exclude salt from your fries. However, if the store is too crowded, it’s a bit inconvenient for the employees to do as you wish.
So, you should only ask this demand if the McDonald’s store is not filled with customers, so that you don’t disturb the employees.
They’re Actually Real Potatoes Cut With A Knife!
You may think that where’s the surprising part of this fact? But the fact is that many fast-food brands are using mashed potatoes and form into the shapes of fried French fries. But McDonald’s uses real potatoes, which are slides into beautiful, straight shapes of fries.
After being rinsed, the potatoes really move at 60 to 70 miles per hour through a blade machine. They will get frozen before being delivered to McDonald’s stores and restaurants. (2)
McDonald’s has revealed their process of making the worldwide famous french fries! Watch this video to know more:
Most Impactful Ways To Reheat Your McDonald’s Fries!
Here are the methods that are commonly used to warm up McDonald’s French fries. They are super easy to follow, so if you have any of these culinary utensils, then you should use them to reheat your leftover fries!
1. Using The Frying Pan – The Simplest Method To Do!
If you want to have good reheated fries, use your available pan in the kitchen to refry the fries to quickly revive them.
What to Prepare:
- A frying pan
- Cooking oil (canola oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, etc.)
- A spatula
- Paper towel
Instructions
Step 1: Put the frying pan onto the stove, heat it at medium heat while pouring the cooking oil in. Two tablespoons of oil will do.
Step 2: Spread the fries into the heated frying pan in one even layer. Make sure they are not overlapping, this will allow the fries to be evenly cooked.
Step 3: Put a lid to cover the frying pan. This may ensure that the fries will be softer and more moist inside. If you only care about the crispness on the outside, just skip this step.
Step 4: Flip the fries every 30 seconds until they gain a crisp exterior and golden brown color on both sides. Watch them carefully because they may be burnt really quickly.
Note: Be careful while working with hot oil on your stove. It is very flammable so you should focus on what you are doing.
2. Oven/Toaster Oven – Best Way To Reheat Something
Using the oven or toaster oven is one of the most impactful ways to reheat foods. And it’s not an exception for McDonald’s fries.
What to Prepare:
- An oven or a toaster oven
- A baking pan
- Aluminum foil
- A spatula
- Your favorite herbs or spices (garlic powder, etc.)
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat your oven/toaster oven to 425-450oF.
Step 2: Aluminum foil should be used to line a baking sheet.
Step 3: Arrange your fries on the pan evenly in a single layer, try not to overlap or crowd them. Leave some spaces between the fries.
Step 4: Pour some oil on top of the fries. Any oil will do. You can also add some of your favorite herbs and spices to your fries for extra flavors.
Step 5: Place the pan inside and bake for 2 to 3 minutes, keeping an eye on them to ensure that they’re not burning.
Step 6: After 2-3 minutes, check on the fries and touch the sheet with a spatula to move them around.
Step 7: When the fries look crispy and have a beautiful golden glow, take them out of the oven or toaster oven. Bon appetit!
3. Air Fryer – A Reliable Cookware
The air fryer turns out to be one of the finest culinary equipment available in your kitchen. And, if you’re wondering how to warm up McDonald’s fries in an air fryer, it’s a piece of cake! Check out the following steps.
What to Prepare
- An air fryer
Instructions
Step 1: Place the fries into the tray of the air fryer, try to spread them out evenly. If you want more crunchy fries, pour some oil on top of the fries; or you can just let the fries as they are.
Step 2: Set your air fryer at about 350°F.
Step 3: Let the air fryer do its duty. Leave your fries for 3 to 6 minutes, depending on how crispy you want them to turn out.
Learn how they warm up already soggy french fries with an air fryer!
4. Microwave – Not The Best But The Quickest One
If you use a microwave incorrectly for reheating, the McDonald’s fries may finish up as soggy and soft fries with no initial crunch that you want. Here’s how you warm your French fries with a microwave properly! It can be the most time-efficient method for you.
What to Prepare
- A microwave
- Microwave-safe container
- Paper towels
- Your favorite cooking oil (canola oil, olive oil, peanut oil, coconut oil, etc)
- Herbs and spices (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Put a piece of paper towel on the microwave dish and spread your fries evenly on it. Make sure that your fries are fully exposed.
Step 2: Pour some cooking oil onto the surface of the fries. A small spoon of oil is fine.
Step 3: Place all of them in the microwave, set the “reheat” mode and warm them at 20-second intervals. Check regularly whether the fries are done after each interval.
Step 4: Allow them to cool down a little bit, then season with your favorite herbs and spices and it’s ready to serve!
Optional steps:
- Before putting the fries in the microwave, you can wrap them with a little wet paper towel, so that it can make your fries crunchier.
- After taking your fries out of the microwave, it’s recommended to place them in the air fryer or under the broiler for 30 seconds to 1 minute for crisper fries!
5. Broiler – The Simple But Helpful Tool
You can also use the broiler in the oven to warm up your leftover McDonald’s fries. However, this method may take a bit longer with 10 minutes minimum. But it still works! So try it if you have any broiler in your kitchen.
What to Prepare:
- A broiler
- An aluminum foil sheet
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat the broiler to medium heat for about 5 minutes.
Step 2: Distribute your fries evenly on the aluminum foil sheet.
Step 3: Place all of them in the broiler and wait for another 5 minutes.
Step 4: After 5 minutes, flip the fries to the other side, then wait for a few more minutes. Observe them carefully until they turn golden brown and look crisp.
Step 4: Take them out from the broiler. Let them rest a bit before serving.
6. Deep-Frying Your Fries May Work!
Let’s recreate how the McDonald’s fries are made by deep-frying them! It may not be the best method to use because it is hard to control the oil temperature in a deep fryer. But if possible, you can use a cooking thermometer to support this method.
With a detailed guide to use this method, I believe that you can give out an excellent final dish of reheated McDonald’s fries! Let’s start!
What to Prepare:
- A deep fryer
- Cooking oil
- A cooking thermometer (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Pour the cooking oil into a deep fat fryer. Make sure the cookware is full of oil.
Step 2: Heat the oil to 350oF.
Step 3: Put your fries into the boiling oil. Leave them for 10 to 20 seconds.
Step 4: When you see the beautiful golden brown color, it’s time to take the fries out.
Step 5: Place them in a dish or container covered with a paper towel and let them rest for a few minutes before consuming.
Super easy, right? Choose your best method and try to reheat your McDonald’s famous fries, and you will be surprised by the crunchy outcome!
What Homemade Dipping Sauces Are Best Served With Mcdonald’s Fries?
When we keep the leftover McDonald’s fries, we tend to eliminate the dip served with them. The best way to replace McDonald’s original dipping sauces is to duplicate sauces. Here I introduce you to some basic sauces from McDonald’s that you can easily make at home.
Sweet Chili Sauce
To describe the tastes, McDonald’s sweet chili sauce was influenced by Asian cuisine. The sauce is sweet and spicy, with a sticky texture. This might easily pass for a hot sauce, thanks to the heat and spice it has to provide.
You can observe a few pepper flakes floating about in the sauce. If you’re not a spicy lover, don’t worry; the sweetness will balance it out. It is the best to enjoy with McDonald’s fries!
It’s even better than making this sauce dip at home. It’s very simple. Check out this recipe to make yourself homemade sweet chili dipping sauce!
Mayo Ketchup
When you combine ketchup with mayonnaise, you are making the mayo ketchup, or also called fry sauce. Whether you’re serving it with fries, or as a topping on sandwiches and hamburgers, this garlicky mayo ketchup sauce is a hit.
Mayo ketchup can stand on its own as a distinct condiment. There’s no substitute for the flavor of mayo and ketchup together. But you can always recreate them at home with the most basic ingredients!
Honey Mustard
This awesome combo has the potential to blow your mind away! That additional sweetness comes from the honey in mustard sauce dip; it includes more honey than mustard.
But the mustard taste is still there. A bit of sharpness and pepperiness from the mustard in the sauce dip balances out the sweetness. Other unidentified tastes and tiny pineapple pieces contribute to the delicious flavor of the sauce.
Salt, spices, tanginess, and vinegar combine to create a flavorful dip that pairs really well with McDonald’s French fries.
FAQs
Here are some more questions and answers to get more tips and tricks to deal with McDonald’s fries! Any more concerns? Comment right below this post!
Enjoy Your Crispy Reheated McDonald’s Fries!
With all those methods being said, I’m pretty sure you will find the most suitable way to warm your fries up! Make yourself and family members surprised by reviving leftover fries, and it is surprisingly crispy and delicious just like the original!
Try my recommendations! And if it works, please let me know in the comment section. Also, by any chance you have some more tips on this, would you like to share with us? I love to hear your stories!
References
- US EPA. 2021. Reducing Wasted Food At Home | US EPA. [online] Available at: <https://www.epa.gov/recycle/reducing-wasted-food-home>.
- Business Insider. 2021. REVEALED: Here’s How McDonald’s Fries Are Made. [online] Available at: <https://www.businessinsider.com/how-mcdonalds-fries-are-made-2015-1>.
- USDA. 2011. Food Safety Information. [online] Available at: <https://foodforlanecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Danger_Zone-usda.pdf>
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2021. Food Poisoning Symptoms. [online] Available at: <https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/symptoms.html>.