Quick Answer
No, Five Guys does not freeze their fries. They use fresh potatoes that are hand-cut in the restaurant every day.
More Details
One of the things that Five Guys is known for is their fresh, hand-cut french fries. They take great pride in using only fresh, never frozen potatoes.
Here are some key facts about Five Guys’ fries:
- Made from fresh, whole Russet potatoes that are delivered to each restaurant
- Potatoes are washed, peeled, and hand-cut into fries on site every day
- Fries are cooked to order – they don’t sit under heat lamps
- Fries are cooked in a combination of peanut oil and canola oil
- Customers can choose from Five Guys’ signature boardwalk style or cajun style seasoning
Many other fast food chains do freeze their fries to prolong shelf life and ensure consistent results across franchises. But Five Guys opts for freshness over convenience. Their philosophy is that fresh potatoes make better french fries.
Why Five Guys Doesn’t Freeze Their Fries
There are a few reasons why Five Guys chooses not to freeze their french fries:
Flavor and Texture
Fresh potatoes simply taste better than frozen potatoes. When potatoes are frozen, it causes the starch and moisture to break down. This can result in softer, mushier fries with an inconsistent texture.
By using fresh potatoes and cutting them by hand every day, Five Guys can maximize the potato flavor and create fries with just the right amount of fluffy inside and crispy outside.
Quality Control
Since each Five Guys restaurant hand cuts their own fries on site, they have maximum quality control. Employees can inspect the potatoes, cut the fries to the perfect size, and ensure fresh oil is used for frying. There is less margin for error compared to cooking frozen french fries.
Customer Experience
Seeing employees cut potatoes by hand every morning adds to the customer experience at Five Guys. It highlights the freshness of the ingredients and gives diners confidence that they are getting a freshly prepared meal.
Being able to customize your fries with different seasonings also allows customers to be part of the process of creating their perfect fry.
How Five Guys Stores Their Potatoes
Since the potatoes are not frozen at any point, Five Guys needs to store them properly to maintain freshness. Here is how they store their potato inventory:
- Potatoes are kept in a cool, dry place away from sunlight to prevent sprouting
- Each restaurant has potatoes delivered 1-2 times per week to replenish supply
- Once delivered, potatoes are stored in a ventilated area and not washed until ready to cut
- Washed, peeled, and cut potatoes are kept in water to prevent oxidation before frying
- Prepared cut fries are fried throughout the day and not held overnight
Proper potato storage prevents excess moisture loss and sprouting that can lead to off flavors and textures. By bringing in small regular deliveries and using them quickly, Five Guys maintains fresh, restaurant-quality fries.
The Bottom Line
Freezing french fries is a common practice in the fast food industry to reduce costs and improve consistency. But Five Guys stands apart by insisting on using fresh potatoes hand-cut in their restaurants daily. Though it requires more effort, their commitment to freshness is a point of pride. Customers keep coming back for Five Guys’ crisp, flavorful fries made only from fresh, never frozen potatoes.
