# Burger King's new fries **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957 "2011-12-12T21:27:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/1 "2011-12-12T21:27:13Z")
Years ago, Burger King had a massive campaign about new, revamped french fries. Free samples everywhere, tons of advertising dollars spent, and some actually better fries. Over the years, those crispy good fries devolved into soggy messes. Now, BK is once again advertising NEW FRIES! I hadn’t been to a BK in at least 4 years, so I just stopped and got some for lunch to try these much lauded fries. What? These taste exactly the same. Like, literally exactly same. Except I guess they’re a little more. . . dense? Not sure how to describe it. And my Whopper literally tastes like a cafeteria burger. Fail BK, fail. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/2 "2011-12-12T21:30:15Z")
Do they still have that horrible peanut after-taste? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/3 "2011-12-12T21:38:18Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Do they still have that horrible peanut after-taste? That was an unfortunate thing that happened to the last batch of “new” fries after they were out for a few years— extra greasy gross after taste. These weren’t as greasy and didn’t have as strong of an after taste, no. A bit, yes. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/4 "2011-12-13T05:04:46Z")
I remember when the ‘new’ fries first hit - tried them once. To me they tasted liked Lay’s Potato Chips. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/5 "2011-12-13T06:20:21Z")
It’s been a bit, but my take on the fries they had before was that they were coated with some kind of space-age polymer that crisped up while leaving the centers as mush. These fries were tasty and crispy while hot, but quickly became nigh inedible when cooled. I didn’t mind them, but I did feel like fries that were still enjoyable if I didn’t get to them right away had a distinct advantage, especially if they could actually be re-heated. So, what’s the story with the new fries? A differenter coating? ---
**Author:** ![clarkstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@clarkstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clarkstar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/6 "2011-12-13T07:49:24Z")
the new fries are slightly thicker. i like em better than what they had before ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/7 "2011-12-13T15:01:39Z")
McDonalds restaurants used to have a hand-operated device that cut their french fries from whole potatoes right there next to the fryer. Fast food fries haven’t been any good since those machines were relegated to the scrap heap. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/8 "2011-12-13T15:24:32Z")
I just want Wendy’s, the ones before the new ones they came up with. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/9 "2011-12-13T15:56:41Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Do they still have that horrible peanut after-taste? That’s not peanut. It’s dishwashing detergent. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/10 "2011-12-13T16:11:28Z")
> [@Johnny\_Angel](#): > > It’s been a bit, but my take on the fries they had before was that they were coated with some kind of space-age polymer that crisped up while leaving the centers as mush. It’s actually a starch, though I like “space-age polymer” better. The new fries seem to have a similar coating, though the fries themselves are noticeably thicker. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/11 "2011-12-13T17:43:33Z")
I somehow missed this new ad campaign, but we were forced to eat at a BK at the airport in Orlando this past week and ended up noticing the new fries. They were hot and fresh and were notably better than any BK fry I’ve ever had. Still a long ways from Mickey D’s fries, but better. A little thicker than they were and crispy. Not sure how well they’d travel if you had to get them home from the drive thru though. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/12 "2011-12-13T17:50:07Z")
I’ve not been much of a fry-eater for a while, but I actually tried these today. They’re not bad. Better than Wendy’s Sea Salt crap, to be sure. And better than McDonald’s - at least, locally. But our McDonald’s is kinda cruddy. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/13 "2011-12-13T17:53:47Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > McDonalds restaurants used to have a hand-operated device that cut their french fries from whole potatoes right there next to the fryer. Fast food fries haven’t been any good since those machines were relegated to the scrap heap. In-n-out still does this. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/14 "2011-12-13T18:33:45Z")
Put me in the “New BK Fries are better” camp - the previous receipe (w/ the starch overcoating) always tasted kinda foul to me. Actually, I really liked the little cheese-filled potato puffs BK had a few years back, but alas those didn’t last too long on the menu. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/15 "2011-12-13T18:42:27Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > It’s actually a starch, though I like “space-age polymer” better. > > The new fries seem to have a similar coating, though the fries themselves are noticeably thicker. Isn’t it a crunch enhancer? “Oh the Crunch enhancer? Yeah it’s a non-nutritive cereal varnish. It’s semi-permiable. It’s not osmotic. What it does is it coats and seals the flake, prevents the milk from penetrating it.” ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/16 "2011-12-13T18:43:33Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > Actually, I really liked the little cheese-filled potato puffs BK had a few years back, but alas those didn’t last too long on the menu. Cheesy tots! I’m boycotting BK until they bring them back. Now I have to inject cheese into tater tots myself. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/17 "2011-12-13T18:49:49Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > In-n-out still does this. And their fries are crap, too. Nothing matches well-produced McDonalds fries. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/18 "2011-12-13T19:00:21Z")
I ate a Whopper last weekend as we were under severe time pressure to get to a concert. I didn’t finish it. The bread was terrible and doughy, the meat was frankly, worse than what I would expect from an institutional cafeteria. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/19 "2011-12-13T19:24:23Z")
Whoppers are horrible. Just horrendous. Horribly horrendous. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957/20 "2011-12-13T19:28:21Z")
What do you expect, they have mayo on them! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-kings-new-fries/605957.md?page=2)