How many calories are in a basket of fries at Wingstop?

Wingstop is a popular chicken wing chain that is known for its wide variety of flavors and wing sizes. In addition to chicken wings, Wingstop also offers side dishes like french fries. One of the side dish options is a basket of fries.

Nutrition Information for Wingstop Fries

According to the Wingstop website, the nutrition information for a basket of french fries is as follows:

  • Serving Size: Basket (217g)
  • Calories: 740
  • Total Fat: 39g
  • Sodium: 790mg
  • Total Carbs: 75g
  • Dietary Fiber: 5g
  • Sugars: 2g
  • Protein: 5g

So a full basket of french fries from Wingstop contains 740 calories. This is quite high compared to other standard fast food french fry servings. For example, a medium order of fries at McDonald’s contains 380 calories.

Wingstop French Fry Basket Size

One reason the Wingstop fry basket contains so many calories is due to its large size. A basket of fries at Wingstop weighs 217 grams.

For comparison, here are the sizes and calorie amounts for french fries at some other popular fast food chains:

Restaurant Fry Size Serving Weight Calories
McDonald’s Medium 117g 380
Burger King Medium 101g 320
Wendy’s Medium 148g 420
Wingstop Basket 217g 740

As you can see, the Wingstop basket of fries weighs significantly more than a medium or regular fry order at other restaurants. So the extra calories directly correspond to the larger portion size.

Factors that Increase Calorie Count

There are a few reasons why Wingstop fries contain so many calories compared to other chains:

Frying Method

Wingstop fries their french fries by deep frying them in oil. Deep frying is a cooking method that submerges food in hot fat or oil. This adds a significant amount of calories.

Depending on the type of oil and cooking time, deep frying can add an extra 120-190 calories per 1/2 cup serving.

Oil Used

The type of oil used for frying also impacts the calorie count. Wingstop states on its website that its fries are fried in a blend of canola and cottonseed oil. These oils are relatively high in saturated fat compared to other vegetable oils.

For example, 1 tablespoon of canola oil contains:

  • 124 calories
  • 14g total fat
  • 1g saturated fat

While 1 tablespoon of cottonseed oil contains:

  • 120 calories
  • 14g total fat
  • 3.5g saturated fat

The higher amounts of saturated fats in these oils adds more calories than using an oil lower in saturated fat, like sunflower or peanut oil.

Fry Portion Size

As mentioned previously, the large serving size of Wingstop’s fry basket also increases its calorie count. Their fries weigh nearly double that of a medium order at other restaurants.

More fries = more calories. The bigger portion accounts for much of the calorie difference between Wingstop fries and other fast food chains.

Additional Ingredients

Wingstop notes their french fries contain “spices” in addition to potatoes, oil, and salt. If these spices contain sugar or other calorie-containing ingredients, it would increase the overall calorie count.

However, Wingstop does not provide details on the exact spices used. So it’s unclear if the spices significantly affect the calorie total or not.

How Many Calories Per Fry?

Figuring out the calorie count per individual french fry from Wingstop requires some math calculations. Here are the steps to estimate it:

  1. There are 740 calories in a 217g fry basket
  2. If 1 gram = 5.47 calories (calculated by 740/217g)
  3. The average medium-sized fry is about 8g
  4. So 8g x 5.47 calories per gram = 43.8 calories per fry

This means each individual french fry from a Wingstop basket contains an estimated 43 calories. This is just an approximation since fry sizes can vary.

Tips for Reducing Calories

While Wingstop’s fries are delicious, the 740 calorie basket may be too indulgent for some. Here are some tips for reducing the calorie count if you want to enjoy their fries more moderately:

Order a Smaller Side

Wingstop offers french fries in 3 sizes: Basket, Regular, and Snack. The basket is the largest, while the snack is the smallest. Ordering one of the smaller sides can save you calories:

  • Snack: 320 calories
  • Regular: 510 calories

Portion out a Serving

If you want to stick with the basket size for sharing or value, portion out a serving into a separate container as soon as you receive your order. Enjoy just the portioned fries and take the rest home.

Split Your Order

If dining with a friend or partner, order one basket of fries and two entrees. Split the fries evenly between both meals to only get 370 calories worth of fries each.

Skip Fries Entirely

Wingstop has other lower calorie side options like coleslaw, potato salad, and corn nuggets you can choose instead of fries. Or simply opt for wings only to cut out the starchy side completely.

Healthiest Way to Eat Wingstop Fries

While Wingstop fries will always be high in calories by nature, there are some ways to make them slightly healthier:

  • Get a smaller size like Regular or Snack
  • Opt for a lighter dipping sauce like ranch, blue cheese, or mustard instead of heavy sauces like honey mustard or bbq
  • Enjoy them as a sharing appetizer with friends rather than a personal side
  • Pair them with grilled chicken breasts or salads to increase nutrition
  • Dip fries lightly instead of dousing to moderate fat and calorie intake
  • Drink water or unsweetened tea instead of soda

Portion control and pairing fries with lighter items can help balance out the meal nutritionally when enjoying this tasty menu item.

Comparing Wingstop Fry Calories to Other Meals

To put the 740 Wingstop fries calories into perspective, here’s how that compares calorie-wise to some other popular fast food combos:

Meal Calories
Wingstop fry basket 740
McDonald’s Big Mac meal (burger, medium fries, Coke) 1,040
Burger King Whopper meal (burger, medium fries, Coke) 1,170
Wendy’s Baconator meal (burger, medium fries, small Frosty) 1,270
2 slices of Domino’s 14″ pepperoni pizza 760

While the Wingstop fries have a very high calorie count, it’s fairly comparable to getting a full combo meal at other popular chains. And the fry basket alone actually contains fewer calories than most full fast food meals.

Daily Calorie Recommendations

When considering the 740 calories for an entire basket of Wingstop fries, it helps to know the recommended daily calorie intake levels based on age, gender, and activity level.

According to the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the recommended daily calorie intake levels are:

  • Women
    • Age 19-25: 2,000 to 2,400 calories per day
    • Age 26-50: 1,800 to 2,400 calories per day
  • Men
    • Age 19-25: 2,400 to 3,000 calories per day
    • Age 26-50: 2,200 to 3,000 calories per day

These are estimated averages that can vary based on your personal needs. Active individuals require more calories, while less active may require less. However this provides a general guideline for appropriate calorie consumption per day.

A full basket of Wingstop fries would provide nearly 1/4 to 1/3 of most adults’ recommended daily calorie needs. So it’s best consumed as an occasional indulgence or split as a snack, not a personal meal side.

Wingstop Fry Calories Compared to Other Desserts

To put the Wingstop fries’ 740 calories into one more perspective, here’s how they compare to the calorie counts of some popular desserts:

Dessert Calories
1 slice chocolate fudge cake with frosting 740
2 scoops ice cream (1/2 cup) 440
1 slice apple pie 416
3 chocolate chip cookies 660
Wingstop basket of fries 740

A full basket of fries is nearly equivalent in calories to eating a rich, frosted slice of cake. The fries provide less nutrition and fiber compared to most desserts as well.

Conclusion

Wingstop’s basket of fries contains a very high 740 calories. This is largely due to the large portion size, deep frying method, and oil used. Splitting the basket or ordering a smaller side can reduce the calorie intake to more moderate levels.

While the Wingstop fry basket is high in calories, it contains a similar amount to many full fast food combo meals. Enjoying the fries in moderation along with lighter menu options can help balance an occasional indulgence.

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