# French fries vs. onion rings = cheap vs. expensive. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 3, 2010, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756 "2010-06-03T12:42:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/21 "2010-06-03T19:12:24Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I like my onion rings with yellow mustard. This is the weirdest thing I have read in a long time. now I’m going to have to try it. As a kid I always had catsup and as an adult I’ve always had bbq sauce with them. I never even thought of mustard. And there is definitely something wrong with BK’s onion rings. I rarely go to BK but when I do I am tempted to get onion rings even though I know I don’t like them but I get them anyways hoping that maybe this time they’ll be good and then about four or five rings in I rememebr why I should stop ordering them. And my soul cries a little. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/22 "2010-06-03T20:24:16Z")
Fourthing(?) the disappointment with BK onions rings. I love pretty much all onion rings, even generic store frozen rings. I love when I order fries and there’s an onion ring that sneaks in. Except at Burger King. I’ll throw it away. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/23 "2010-06-03T20:29:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Agreed, if you’re making fresh rings as opposed to pouring them out of some bag of frozen, pre-battered rings. Even if they are pulling them out of some frozen bag (probably the case, at fast food places), someone still had to slice and batter them before they got frozen. No matter how you do it, that cost has to be accounted for somehow. And the best thing for onion rings is that garlic horseradish sauce like you get with a Bloomin’ Onion. Mustard wouldn’t be bad, but you can do so much better than plain yellow mustard. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/24 "2010-06-03T20:44:59Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I didn’t think that it was possible to make tasteless onion rings, but Burger King has somehow managed. They don’t taste like onion or even like spices. They taste like the cardboard they come in. I mean this literally. The only taste in my mouth when I eat a BK onion ring is vaguely papery. > > Actually next time I might try eating the cardboard, its taste might improve after soaking up the onion ring grease. I agree 100% on this, and to me the weird part is that while the onion rings are vile, Burger King’s french fries are the best fast-food fries around. I don’t eat meat myself, but I will often go to Burger King with my parents who enjoy BK once in a while. When I go with them, I will usually just get a soda, but sometimes I get an order of fries. From what I can tell (again, I don’t do fast-food fries too often) Burger King’s fries are always hot, crisp and unsalted, which make them light-years better than the fries at most other burger places. That said, I don’t know why Burger King’s onion rings are so very bad, but I would never try them again… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/25 "2010-06-03T21:18:55Z")
On a related note, if you like onion rings and want to try something new: pepper rings. Slice up a green pepper into rings. Batter and fry like onion rings. Eat and enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/26 "2010-06-03T21:53:22Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > On a related note, if you like onion rings and want to try something new: pepper rings. > > Slice up a green pepper into rings. Batter and fry like onion rings. Eat and enjoy. You can do this with pickled peppers, too (in the same manner that you do fried pickle chips.) Yum! ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/27 "2010-06-03T22:18:36Z")
Interesting. How much would a peck of that cost? ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/28 "2010-06-03T23:01:28Z")
Oil into which onions are fried get an oniony taste, much like fried chicken oil gets that chicken taste. Also, while multiple batches of fries can be cook in the same oil, much less onions can be cooked in the same oil and lesser still chicken in the same oil before it decomposes. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/29 "2010-06-03T23:20:42Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > It’s because what BK sells are not real onion rings. Take one apart. You’ll find that you can’t. The onion in there, if there is onion in there, is minced, probably reconstituted from dried. BK onion rings are technically an [extruded snack product](http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-inventure-group-to-add-extruded-production-to-existing-snack-manufacturing-capabilities-93012024.html): > [@](#): > > The addition of the latest state-of-the-art extrusion technology expands manufacturing capabilities at the Bluffton facility to include sheeted dough, pellet and extruded baked snacks. The new investment allows The Inventure Group to continue to develop the unique new products that have positioned the Company as a leading snack food innovator. > > In addition, The Inventure Group will bring manufacturing inside that is currently outsourced, including its popular Burger King™ Onion Rings and T.G.I. Friday’s® Mozzarella Sticks. […] > > “The extruded snack category began with the basic cheese puff years ago, so it’s amazing to see the innovation that has happened in recent years” said Steve Sklar, vice president of marketing at The Inventure Group. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/30 "2010-06-03T23:34:29Z")
I was going to post that BK onion rings were like onion-flavoured batter. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/31 "2010-06-04T00:25:50Z")
I love BK onion rings… I admit that they taste almost, but not quite, entirely unlike “real” onion rings, but I do like the taste of the batter, which is really just about all there is to them. It helps if you think of them as “slightly oniony-flavored batter rings”, rather than “onion rings”… ---
**Author:** ![cstamets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cstamets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cstamets)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/32 "2010-06-04T01:33:55Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > BK onion rings are technically an [extruded snack product](http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-inventure-group-to-add-extruded-production-to-existing-snack-manufacturing-capabilities-93012024.html): That refers to these [snack products](http://www.inventuregroup.net/burger-king.asp#), not the onion rings BK sells in their restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/33 "2010-06-04T01:44:02Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I was going to post that BK onion rings were like onion-flavoured batter. Yea, they probably have more in common with a hushpuppy than an onion ring. ---
**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:** [June 4, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/34 "2010-06-04T01:46:06Z")
No, hush puppies are **good**. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/35 "2010-06-04T05:11:48Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Interesting. How much would a peck of that cost? As much wood as a woodchuck could chuck. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/36 "2010-06-04T05:47:48Z")
> [@MilTan](#): > > As much wood as a woodchuck could chuck. Of course, that is assuming a woodchuck could chuck wood. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/37 "2010-06-04T06:44:06Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > As said, labor and wastage. Any onion rings worth eating are done by hand, and that takes a lot of time and effort. Excellent onion rings require more effort and time than you might realize. I know places where it takes 2 days to make the rings. But they are worth every penny. Let’s not completely discount the effort it takes to make truly great french fries. I used to work with a guy who said there were only three places in the world that made french fries good enough for him to bother eating; his own kitchen, a restaurant in Boston called Sel de la Terre, and France. He told me the process, which involves cutting them to a correct, consistent size, frying them briefly at one temperature, then draining them while heating the oil, then frying again. And I think Sel de la Terre sprinkles some rosemary on them. I’ve had them; they’re amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/38 "2010-06-04T11:04:01Z")
Part of the price difference is, as others have said, the wastage and handling. The non-fast food places that serve French fries quite often will have skin on fries…this means that the taters only have to be washed, and not peeled. Potato peeling (if it’s done at all) and slicing can be done by machine. However, onions have to be peeled by hand, sliced by hand, and cut by hand, and the rings separated by hand. All that hand labor adds up. Personally, I think that an order of good onion rings is worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756/39 "2010-06-04T12:34:58Z")
Inspired by this thread, last night I made onion rings for the first time. I can attest that it was a little labor-intense, with having to carefully peel and slice the onions for the correct size rings, then coat them with wet and dry ingredients, then fry, but man, it was worth it. Delicious! It affirms why I willingly pay extra for onion rings at a restaurant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-fries-vs-onion-rings-cheap-vs-expensive-why/541756.md?page=1)