How to Get Fresh Fries From McDonald’s with Every Order

You know the drill—you swing by McD’s after a long day, order up a meal and open the bag, only to find a limp mess where your crispy fries should be.

We went looking for a way to get reliably crispy goodness with our Big Macs. Fortunately, we found the secret and can tell you how to get fresh fries from McDonald’s! Also, don’t forget to get your receipt at McDonald’s, here’s why.

(Psst… there’s a lot more the staff at the Golden Arches hasn’t told you.)

Why Are My Fries Mushy, Though?

Fast food relies on speed and efficiency. The best way to achieve this is to cook the food in advance, then leave it under a heat lamp until an order comes in. While the food is perfectly safe to eat, it’s not likely to taste as good—and french fries often suffer the most from being left out.

With their high starch content, fries absorb plenty of moisture when cooked at high temperatures, which leads to their signature puffiness and crispy exterior. When left out, the fries continue to absorb moisture from the air, which eventually leads to them turning soggy. If you want to get more fries, then make sure you know about this McDonald’s French fry hack.

Here’s the Secret…

Fortunately, the solution is pretty simple. Just ask for fries without salt!

“If you order a burger or fries always ask them without salt or the seasoning on the burger,” a former McDonald’s employee wrote on Reddit. “They will have to make them fresh since they always put each on them.”

In the comments on Reddit, other fast food workers even said that you can ask for any item to be made fresh (with or without salt) and employees will dish up a made-to-order meal. It may mean a few extra minutes of waiting, but we promise the hot, crispy pot at the end of the rainbow is worth it.

As an added bonus, this means you can control your salt intake, and if you’re taking ’em home, you can even pair them with a homemade McDonald’s cheeseburger!

P.S. Don’t forget to end your meal on a sweet note with the new McDonald’s bakery items on the menu.