I spent close to four years working at a McDonald’s outlet while pursuing my university studies. It was not uncommon for customers to express frustration over a recurring issue – receiving cold fries. Given that fries are a staple with nearly every McDonald’s meal, this issue arises frequently.
If you don’t consume the fries within roughly five minutes of purchase, they are likely to become cold. Once bagged, their thinness causes them to lose heat rapidly compared to thicker alternatives like oven chips.
For those experiencing this problem regularly, finding a lasting solution becomes crucial. This is precisely what both customers and employees discussed on Reddit, a platform where I can personally attest to the discussions. In a post on the McLounge forum, a non-employee from the UK sought advice on how to ensure their fries are always hot and fresh.
Their query was straightforward: “I’m particular about my fries and prefer them piping hot straight from the fryer. I don’t want to be a bother, so I rarely order fries, but sometimes I crave the hot, salty goodness. Is there a polite way to request this without upsetting the staff?”
One Reddit user reassured, “It’s acceptable to request fresh food if you’re patient enough to wait.” Another user chimed in, “As fries take about three and a half minutes to cook, there’s no harm in asking for a fresh batch since they are made frequently.”
While it’s a known practice to order fries with ‘no salt’ to ensure a fresh batch, McDonald’s employees suggest a more effective three-word request for better results. They advise asking for ‘cook to order’ instead of ‘no salt’ to guarantee hot and freshly prepared items.
Additional suggestions included ordering at the front counter and specifying ‘cook to order,’ emphasizing patience, and refraining from requesting ‘no salt’ to ensure a fresh serving. This approach not only leads to freshly cooked fries but also aids in reducing salt intake for health-conscious customers.
However, customers should be prepared for potentially longer wait times when requesting ‘cook to order’ as it involves staff creating space for the new batch, cleaning the station, and minimizing salt residue. This process ensures the freshest fries but may result in extended waiting periods for orders to be fulfilled.