Go Back
–+ servings
Finised French fries scooped out of the oil.

McDonald’s Original French Fry Recipe

The original McDonald's French fry recipe using beef tallow.
3.40 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 2 people
Calories 2175 kcal

Equipment

  • Stovetop
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Stock pot
  • Mandoline or potato peeler
  • thermometer

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp corn syrup
  • 1 1/2 cup hot water
  • 2 Russet potatoes large
  • 6 cups Crisco shortening or 3 sticks
  • 2 cups vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup beef tallow

Instructions
 

Preparing the soaking solution

  • In a large bowl, add the sugar and corn syrup followed by the hot water. Use a whisk to make sure the sugar and syrup are dissolved. Set aside.
    Adding sugar to mixing bowl.

Cutting the French fries

  • Peel the potatoes, then rinse them in cold water.
  • Set your mandolin to ¼”x ¼” sticks.
  • Using the guard included with the mandolin, slice the potatoes into sticks.
    Uncooked French fries laying on cutting board beneath mandoline slicing potato.
  • Each fry should like this:
    Open hands holding up raw French fry.

Soaking the French Fries

  • Add the cut potatoes to the bowl of sugar-syrup water and soak for 30 minutes.
    Clear glass bowl with uncooked French fries resting in sugar-srup water.
  • Drain the potatoes in a colander and pat lightly with paper towels.

Cooking the French fries

  • In a 5-qt pot, add the shortening and the vegetable oil. The oil should only fill ⅓ of the pot. Heat the oil to 375˚F.
  • Add a handful of drained potatoes to the oil. The oil will bubble fiercely. Do not be tempted to add more potatoes. 
    Red stock pot on stove bubbling with thermometer attached to side.
  • After 1 minute, use a slotted spoon to remove the fries onto a pan lined with a rack or paper towels.
  • Refrigerate the fries for 8-10 minutes.

Cooking the French fries a second time

  • Add the beef tallow to the oil.
  • Heat to 375˚F.
  • Return the fries to the oil, frying in small batches for 1-5 minutes depending on the size of your fries.
  • Once golden, remove the fries and drain them onto a paper towel-lined plate.
    Finised French fries scooped out of the oil.
  • Place the warm fries into a large bowl, sprinkling them generously with salt, tossing to coat.

Notes

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 2175kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 5gFat: 218gSaturated Fat: 178gSodium: 18mgPotassium: 889mgFiber: 3gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 2mg
Keyword 15-hour potatoes, deep fried, French fries, McDonald's original, recipe
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!