If it weren’t for potatoes, we’d be hungrier individuals. Whereas scrumptious in any type, fries maintain a particular place in our hearts as a result of their carb-y, salty, deep-fried selves have saved us from having to accept salads at many-a fast-food eating places. However, sadly, not all fries are vegan. We’re right here to inform you which of them are.
Are French fries vegan?
All fries ought to be vegan, proper? In spite of everything, they’re simply fried, salted potatoes. Whereas many fries are free from animal elements, generally they include dairy or could also be fried in lard.
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Usually, the fries you order from a fast-food restaurant are cooked in the identical oil that’s used to fry meat and different animal merchandise. Some vegans keep away from ordering meals that could be cross-contaminated, however others are okay with this so long as the fries themselves don’t include meat or dairy elements. It’s a alternative that’s finally as much as the person.
Which fast-food French fries aren’t vegan?
Whereas most fries are vegan, there are a couple of that truly include animal elements:
McDonald’s: These fries are cooked in oil with “pure beef flavoring,” which doesn’t include any precise meat, nevertheless it does include dairy.
Checkers: Their fries are coated in milk powder and fried in animal lard, in order that they’re unambiguously not vegan.
Popeye’s: Identical to the vast majority of Popeye’s menu, the fries will not be vegan. On this case, they’re fried in beef tallow.
This isn’t a definitive listing of which fries include animal merchandise. Ask your server in regards to the elements in the event you’re visiting a smaller chain or an area fast-food institution.
12 vegan fast-food French fries so as to add to your order
We dug via the highest fast-food chains within the US to uncover which of them have vegan fries. In no explicit order, listed below are 12 fast-food fries which might be free from animal-derived elements.
Burger King
1 Burger King
In contrast to its competitor McDonald’s, Burger King has vegan fries.
Served piping sizzling and salted, you gained’t must eat them alone because the Unimaginable Whopper has been on Burger King’s menu because the summer time of 2019.
Other than a burger and fries, you’ll discover a couple of different vegan choices at Burger King that can be sure that you don’t must face your starvation pangs.
KFC
2 KFC
It might be recognized for fried hen, however KFC will get credit score for placing vegan fries on the menu.
The Secret Recipe Fries are seasoned with a “secret mix of herbs and spices,” in response to the web site. However what that actually means is that they’re tossed with onion, carrot, tomato powder, and slightly little bit of MSG.
In case you’re touring and end up in want of a vegan meal and not using a plant-based restaurant in sight, then KFC’s menu will serve in a pinch. Its different vegan choices embody baked beans and a few different greens that you just’d look forward to finding at a barbecue desk. In the meantime, we’ll even be ready for Past Fried Hen to return not directly, form, or type.
Wendy’s
3 Wendy’s
We could not know if Wendy’s black bean burger will ever make its debut, however we do know one factor: the fries are vegan.
Wendy’s fries differ from different fast-food fries in that they depart the pores and skin on. We’re about it.
There are a couple of different plant-based choices on Wendy’s menu that may assist you spherical out your meal. In case you want extra to your meal, you could possibly get a baked potato and have a starch-filled meal of each fried and baked spuds. And there will not be a veggie burger, however the Premium Bun is vegan.
Taco Bell
4 Taco Bell
Sure, Taco Bell has fries! The Nacho Fries are recognized to come back and go, so give them a attempt the following time you notice them on the menu. The fries are vegan, however provided that you get them organized with out cheese. We advise changing it with pico de gallo and guacamole for some toppings that fast-food chains don’t usually supply. However, Taco Bell additionally occurs to be one of the vegan-friendly fast-food chains, so that you don’t must get simply potatoes until you need to. A lot of its menu may be made plant-based with some easy swaps.
5 Guys
5 5 Guys
At 5 Guys, there are two sorts of vegan fries to select from. There’s the common possibility, which is deep-fried in peanut oil earlier than being salted. Then, there are the Cajun-style fries that are additionally fried in oil after which seasoned with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, paprika, oregano, white pepper, and purple pepper powder. As for different vegan choices, 5 Guys is a type of fast-food chains the place you’ll must make do with simply fries.
In-N-Out Burger
6 In-N-Out Burger
Though it’s solely situated in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Texas, In-N-Out Burger has earned a reputation for itself within the fast-food world. In case you ever end up close to one, sadly, you gained’t be capable of get a burger, however the fries are vegan since they’re solely fried in sunflower oil.
Arby’s
7 Arby’s
This meat-centric institution has a shocking variety of vegan choices, together with fries! Each the crinkle-cut fries and the curly fries—a uncommon white whale on fast-food menus—are free from animal-based elements. Plus, relying in your location, you would possibly discover a third, regional possibility: the thick-cut homestyle fries.
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8 Sonic Drive-In
The common fries at Sonic are vegan and primed for dipping into ketchup. However in the event you’re looking for potatoes in one other type, you then’ll be glad to know that the tater tots are additionally made with simply plant-based elements.
Dairy Queen
9 Dairy Queen
No animal fats right here—Dairy Queen’s fries and hash browns are each vegan. You gained’t discover many different animal-free choices right here, however surprisingly, Dairy Queen has a non-dairy model of its Dilly Bar, so you possibly can bask in a salty-and-sweet mixture of French fries and ice cream.
Jack within the Field
10 Jack within the Field
Prepare, as a result of Jack within the Field has a whopping three fries to select from. The French fries, seasoned curly fries, and the potato wedges don’t include beef tallow or some other form of animal-based elements, for that matter. Plus, the hash browns are vegan, too.
Whataburger
11 Whataburger
Fries are one of many few issues on the Whataburger menu which might be truly vegan. You’ll be able to pair your spuds with a cheese-less backyard salad and a few apple slices, however not a lot else.
Hardee’s
12 Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s
Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s each share extremely comparable menus—each chains occurred to be owned by the identical mother or father firm, which has chosen to market them in virtually the identical method. Each have natural-cut fries however whereas Carl’s Jr. has waffle fries, Hardee’s has curly fries. All of them are vegan, however sadly, solely Carl’s Jr. sells the Past Burger to assist spherical out your meal.
It’s not all the time enjoyable consuming simply fries, however we respect how fries have been there to satiate our starvation in determined occasions.
For extra vegan fast-food guides, learn:
Kat Smith is a Queens, NY-based freelance author and editor who loves cooking and discovering native vegan hidden gems.
