What's a burger without a side of fries, after all? FoodBeast suggests that In-N-Out fries can be somewhat improved by making creative use of In-N-Out's condiments or other offerings to create your own "secret menu." Step 1: Preheat oven to 350˚F. I've seen this question come up quite a bit (I just noticed it's been merged with 3 others) and I appreciate that you've considered some of the reasons already. And also, one presumes, chains that actually have locations in Los Angeles, so no Culver's, White Castle, or Whataburger. Several Quora users weighed in on what makes In-N-Out fries so terrible. When the onions are done, mix up the In-N-Out-style special sauce or "spread," using mayo, ketchup, and sweet pickle relish plus a sprinkle of sugar and a splash of distilled vinegar. IN-N-OUT Burger's regular prices and the entire menu, including burgers, French fries, milkshakes, and meats. Perhaps the biggest goof that In-N-Out makes with its fry preparation, however, is in failing to double-fry them, which is a technique most other fast-food chains employ to ensure the crispiest fries. In-N-Out regulars know all about this combination that includes a couple slices of cheese, a gererous amount of their special sauce and delicious grilled onions overtop. There are 370 calories in 1 order (125 g) of In-N-Out French Fries. Because In-N-Out French fries are only fried once before serving you don’t get the ultra crispy fries … Chef Steve Samson, owner of Los Angeles eateries Rossoblu, Sotto, and Superfine Pizza, told LAist that by slicing the potatoes and then tossing them immediately in the fryer, In-N-Out is making a big mistake — potatoes should be soaked in water prior to being fried, as this helps ensure that the fries are properly cooked and can achieve a slightly crunchy exterior while remaining soft inside. It's been around for 72 years and counting, and even though it hasn't ever expanded out of a six-state western area, being limited to California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, and Oregon, still, just about everybody in the other 44 states has heard of the chain and somehow feels they're missing out if they've never had the In-N-Out experience. For better or worse, In-N-Out keeps its fry-making process pretty simple. However, In and Out animal style fries have cheese on them, and … You essentially just order Animal Style fries and top it with a Flying Dutchman, which is on their secret menu and is pretty much a breadless cheeseburger. French Fries. Layered on top of hot french fries, ordering "Animal Style Fries" adds cheese, In-N-Out's secret spread, and … One thing he won't touch, however, is In-N-Out's fries. He agrees with the rest of the world that these fries are "total garbage," and what's more, he revealed to Vulture his theory as to why this is so. As Chang puts it, "I think it's amazing that they can take a loss right off the bat because they're priming you for the whole experience.". The restaurant’s main competitors include Five Guys and Whataburger. You're gonna need a little elbow grease for this one, as you can't order it up front, but it's so easy to put together on your own. There's a sort-of workaround for this — if you ask for your fries "well done," In-N-Out will not cook them twice, but will keep them in the fryer for a bit longer. In-N-Out is a staple on the west coast and although their menu might look basic, there's a whole lot of upgrades you can make, even with something as simple as their fries. (Entire Web sites are devoted to that subject, and … In-N-Out makes their fries fresh to order, so you have the option of having them custom cooked. Still worth it. Unfortunately, In-N-Out seems to be one of those chains that does one thing really, really well, but drops the ball — HARD — on something almost equally important. At the time of this writing, In-N-Out has 349 locations in the United States with 4 additional locations opening soon. What it is: In-N-Out does "light-well" and "well-done" fries. This thread is archived. California Resident Privacy Tools: Do Not Sell My Personal Information Privacy Contacts. As Samson explains, "The only way to make a really good french fry is to cook it at least twice, if not three times," but In-N-Out fries are only cooked once. Chopped chiles are a burger topping that can also be ordered for your fries — be forewarned, though, that while chiles are free if you get them on a burger, asking for them as a fry topping will incur an additional fee. If you're brave enough to do as many bloggers suggest and take charge of your own deep frying (don't laugh, grease fires are a serious kitchen hazard), then you can double or even triple-cook your fries to crispy perfection — not forgetting the chef-recommended trick of soaking them in cold water first. — knows a thing or two about food. Step 2: Bake fries according package (usually 20 minutes). ", "They are wrong. Simple, yet satisfying. In-N-Out has one dirty little secret they'd rather not go public with: while everybody loves their burgers, their fries are quite a different matter. He thought the burgers were close to perfection, as they managed to achieve "maximum areas of meat surface to the papills of the tongue." Either way, you'll never have to eat your In-N-Out fries naked again, even though they're just as amazing on their own. It's one of the many standard "off-the-menu" options important to know about this chain. In-N-Out prices are significantly lower than both of those restaurants, especially Five Guys’. Chang may well be correct that In-N-Out doesn't mind putting out terrible fries as a kind of loss-leader proof of its commitment to freshness, and the LA Times critic may be right in thinking that In-N-Out simply doesn't want to bother, but these simply speak to the motivation, or rather, lack thereof, that has kept In-N-Out fries substandard for years. And if you've ever had them, you know why. If you want them a little crispier, you can order them "light-well." If you want your fries a little crispier, they'll keep them in the fryer for a few extra minutes. Enter your email address below and we'll deliver our top stories straight to your inbox. He does admit that they succeed in tasting fresh, that is, "fresh, in the sort of 'just out of the ground, slightly dirty taste' that fresh vegetables often have.". First of all, you should heat up the oil in a frying pan and set the heat to medium. A burger you're better off with, at least if you're eating at In-N-Out, since their fries — let's be honest — are actually kind of awful. Although the restaurant is only available in 5 states, there are over 280 locations. This one's easy. In-N-Out actually offers several different versions of the fry experience — none of them can really transform the fries into anything really memorable (at least not in a good way), but they do provide a certain variation on the overall fry mediocrity. Maybe it's the fault of the potatoes, the oil, or the fry cook, but there's one more reason why In-N-Out's fries may be as bad as they are. appear a little browner and taste a little more like potato chips. So why all this love and loyalty for a restaurant with such lousy fries? His theory differed from David Chang's in that he put it down to sheer laziness. They’re part of In ‘N’ Out… "In-N-Out fries are indeed terrible. Saute these in salted butter, adding a little water from time to time so they do not dry out. If you don't feel like going full animal, cheese fries are a more than satisfactory alternative. In addition to the basic (and basically uninspiring) fries, there are different ways you can special order them. You're 0 miles away from a Double-Double ®. If you want them even darker and crispy, you can order them "well-done." Burger restaurant being the operative words — note that all of the accolades In-N-Out receives are for their delicious burgers. This is something you probably did when you were a kid, but here at Foodbeast, we love putting Animal fries inside the burger, to make a Monkey Style Burger. Fries were judged, and placed on the chart, according to two criteria: texture and taste. Finally, if you want a lighter, less messy version of animal-style fries, you can simply ask for a few packets of "spread" (aka the special sauce). They just don't taste fried, IMO. Find your favorite there. In and Out burger secret menu is perhaps one of the most well known in the fast-food industry, being much longer than most, boasting a list with dozens of burger modifications, extras, drinks & treats you didn’t even know existed with menu prices that rival the big competitors.Check out the full list below: Already-popular Animal Fries aren’t on the menu, but known by the public. ", A Twitter thread on fast food fries included remarks regarding In-N-Out's contribution to the field such as "They may be fresh, but the texture is terrible," "In-N-Out fries are back ally cardboard bum condos put through a paper shredder and fried in dumpster juice," "I've always thought InNOut fries were total trash (I actually trash them whole)," and "In-N-Out Fries are fucking awful!" Throw on some chopped chilies if you'd like. With its reputation firmly cemented in everyone's consciousness, the chain simply doesn't feel it needs to work at making an edible french fry. There's something satisfying about mashing together both of In-N-Out's Animal Style items for this dirty piece of deliciousness. As to the actual reasons why these fries are so awful, compared to other fast-food chains, it seems to come down to ingredients and preparation. He readily admits to eating fast food, including having a surprising passion for, (bacon, onion, and Alfredo sauce on thin crust is his go-to pizza). If you want them even darker and crispy, you can order them "well-done." I agree that their fries are not the strong point. In-N-Out and Five Guys, two smaller chains that are usually pitted head-to-head in comparisons, make their fries with potatoes, salt, and frying oil. Let's just get this one out of the way. Unlike McDonald's fries, In-N-Out fries aren't seasoned with chemical flavorings and they aren't pre-fried, frozen, and then fried again. While he can't get enough of their justifiably famous burgers, when asked if he'd like fries with that, he always declines the offer. His reason? FoodBeast suggests something they call a "Monkey Style" burger, one which may remind many East Coasters of a Primanti Bros. sandwich as it involves sticking your fries inside your burger's bun. They are even better when they are piping hot. Well, that is an improvement of sorts, at least if you like Potato Stix. Yet another menu mashup is the "shake fries" — yep, you just dip your fries into a milkshake for a sweet'n'salty taste sensation in which the fries' substandard texture won't really matter so much. Fortune, writing about a 2018 poll naming In-N-Out America's best-beloved quick service restaurant, noted its 76 percent customer loyalty rating — higher than that earned by any other restaurant in any category, despite In-N-Out's small six-state footprint. We suggest giving them a go and washing them down with a cold milkshake, maybe even an In-N-Out Neapolitan Milkshake. Delicious, but simple. Enter your email address below to get Food News delivered straight to your inbox. Wait for the oil … Top the cheese with the onions, finish off with the sauce, and scarf the whole mess down before it's cold. Get full nutrition facts for other In-N-Out products and all your other favorite brands. Peppered ketchup is a quick and easy upgrade that just involves mixing pepper with your ketchup. They're soggy, sickly beige, under-salted, wilted, and unworthy of being called a fry at all. You either love them, or hate them. Even the scriptwriter for The Vampire Diaries and The Witcher tweeted: "In n Out fries are trash and I'm glad people are finally talking about that very true fact.". His go-to order? He readily admits to eating fast food, including having a surprising passion for Domino's (bacon, onion, and Alfredo sauce on thin crust is his go-to pizza). If you want them to be soft and terrible, you can order them "light." This chain has numerous fans, even famous foodies like Gordon Ramsay and the late Anthony Bourdain (via QSR), and has captured a bunch of accolades as well. SELECT NEW LOCATION. In-N-Out fry hate spans social media. In-N-Out Burger is a huge success story. Chef David Chang and art critic Jerry Saltz discuss the burgers and French fries at In-N-Out during Vulture Festival 2019. If you're intrigued by the sound of animal-style fries, but don't want to deal with In-N-Out's disappointing fries, one way to get around this is to DIY your own animal-style fries at home. Ok, yeah, so it's too bad about those fries, but you know what's the best side dish to accompany an In-N-Out burger? While familiarity is said to breed contempt, when it comes to food preferences, unfamiliarity is more likely to breed dislike. Once your fries are good to go, the next step is to caramelize the sliced onions. Lemon pepper fries can be made by sprinkling on a generous amount of black pepper from the condiment station and then squeezing on a few of the fresh lemon wedges meant for iced tea. You can even get them saltless. At this point check your fries, reheating if necessary, since they'll need to be warm for the next step — covering them with a few slices of American cheese. The fries at In-N-Out are pale, limp, undersalted potato tubes that begin congealing into a soggy, oily mass the moment they emerge from the fryer. In-N-Out is an old fast-food restaurant founded in 1948 in Baldwin Park, California. If you don't want to commit all the way to the Animal Style experience, you can just ask for some special spread packets on the side and use them like you would ketchup. In-N-Out’s fries are made almost exactly like Five Guys. Some of these you can order as soon as you walk up to that register, while others will require a little creativity on your part. Other fast food places do better. Chang blames In-N-Out's bad fries on the fact that the chain makes such a big deal out of using fresh ingredients. T he In-N-Out Animal Style Fries are one of the most popular items on In-N-Out Burger's "secret menu." Driving Directions. Even though In-N-Out may well be offering some of the worst fries on the planet, they're still one of the nation's most popular fast food chains. Fresh, hand-cut potatoes prepared in 100% sunflower oil Despite the fact that some of his own culinary creations — including his amazing ramen and legendary pork buns — are seen as the pinnacle of their respective food niches, Chang is no food snob. Another In-N-Out burger! At In ‘N’ Out Burger, it’s their Animal Style Fries. They are wonderful, but with a fault. What makes these fries so notorious? In-N-Out Animal Style Fries. McDonalds fries are the gold standard, and In N Out fries are somehow near the bottom of the list. As a result, they are vegetarian and completely meat free. 76% Upvoted. For a small fee, you can ask for chopped chilies on top of your fries, or Animal Style fries. According to the restaurant, their french fries and onions are cooked in sunflower oil. To paraphrase the old real estate maxim: 'There are three things that matter in fast food: burgers, burgers, burgers.' Technically, these aren’t even on the menu. The animal style French fries however are another story. In-N-Out's standard fries, after all, are way too limp to hold up under anything much heavier than ketchup. Several of them mentioned the fact that In-N-Out uses something called the Kennebec potato, which is not available in grocery stores, and is actually a different type of potato than the starchy Russets used by most other restaurant chains, so may not be something most of us are used to eating. Just mix the two together and you'll have some spice in your delicious In-N-Out fries. save hide report. You could however, peel and slice your own, but I don’t have a lot of time on my hands, so I am all about a quick short cut. Recreate the magic of Animal Fries at home. I can't be the only one who enjoys the combination of something warm and salty, with something sweet and cold. A simple tip that is 1/3 as satisfying as Animal Style fries. One food critic with SFGate is an admitted In-N-Out fanboy, having taken his prom date to In-N-Out and even dined on their burgers with his bride on their wedding day. FoodBeast characterizes In-N-Out's custom-cooked fry terminology as follows: "light" or soft and terrible, "light well" is a little crispier than the basic version, "well done" is darker and crispier (or, as previously mentioned, Potato Stix-esque), and "extra well done" is almost burnt and inedible. There's no denying that David Chang — celebrity chef, restaurateur, TV star — knows a thing or two about food. There's no in between. And when it comes to this particular criterion, In-N-Out's offering is indisputably epic. So why, the LA Times critic asked, is In-N-Out unable to make a better fry? Lemon pepper fries can be made by sprinkling on a generous amount of black pepper from the condiment station and then squeezing on a few of the fresh lemon wedges meant for iced tea. One thing he won't touch, however, is In-N-Out's fries. You've got your standard burgers and fries and shakes. PORTLAND, Ore. — At first glance, the menu at In-N-Out is simple. 9. Still, he says, he kind of admires the chain for their commitment to quality, despite the fact that it results in their having this one substandard product. Chances are you'll love them, though, and you'll love them more with some of the modifications below. The overall best of the best, tops for taste and a respectable #4 for texture, were Five Guys fries, with McDonald's famous fries coming in at #2. According to their Power Ranking of fries, here’s how the SoCal classic stacked up: “And bringing up the rear is In-N-Out. A Double-Double, animal-style. The internet has numerous In-N-Out copycat recipes such as the one provided by the Dinner Then Dessert food blog. In every way possible," "HATE THEM HATE THEM HATE THEM," and a succinct, yet heartfelt "YUK. In 2019 a Los Angeles Times food columnist put together what he called the official French fry power rankings, compiling a chart which ranked the fries from 19 different fast food chains. He says that potatoes have their peak season of freshness, but that at other times of the year, they're not going to be as good. All the way at the opposite end, however, was In-N-Out, whose fries ranked dead last in taste and second-to-last for texture (only Sonic's were judged to be worse). While this won't make In-N-Out's offering the platonic ideal of what french fries should be — or even something in the marginal/middling range like, say, Wendy's fries — it will, according to LAist, make them taste like Potato Stix. I just got frozen and packaged fries from the store. If you'd rather skip this step, though, you can always heat up a bag of frozen fries (still better than In-N-Out's) or even substitute fries from McDonald's (we'll never tell). If you want them to be soft and terrible, you can order them "light." Forgetting to order them cooked well done before asking for extra toppings pretty much guarantees you'll get a nasty, gloppy mess. 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