What is the most popular item at McDonald’s?

Lauren Lewis
McDonald's sign

Undoubtedly one of the most popular fast food chains in the world, McDonald’s boasts many fan favorites, but what is their most popular item?

First opening in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955, McDonald’s has 36,000 restaurants in over 100 nations. The most recent opening was in Kazakhstan in 2016. It has subsequently worked its way into the hearts of people everywhere, as we reminisce of childhood memories, driving toward the golden arches. 

McDonald’s boasts a whole host of fan favorites when it comes to their menu items, many of which are long-established. The Big Mac, for example, was introduced way back in 1968, while the quarter pounder first made its way to menus in 1973. 

But, there’s one menu item that trumps all the rest when it comes to popularity – do you know what it is?

As it turns out, the answer itself is quite obvious – the french fries are the most popular item on their menu. Did you know that they sell over 9 million pounds of fries per day? Pretty crazy stuff.

McDonald’s french fries are a signature item at the chain, being incredibly difficult to replicate anywhere else. But why do they taste so good? Well, there’s actually a science behind it. McDonald’s uses the perfect combination of salt, sugar, and fat.

As well as this, it’s the quality of the potatoes they choose, which include Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet, and Shepody potatoes. Finally, both the oil and salt also contribute toward their signature flavor. 

So there you have it. Next time you’re chowing down on an order of fries at McDonald’s, you’ll know exactly why they taste so good.

About The Author

Lauren is a fast food writer at Dexerto. Covering some of the biggest brands in the industry, you'll find her writing about McDonald's, KFC, Wendy's, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Taco Bell, and Domino's Pizza, to name a few. Lauren has a Master's degree in English Literature, and loves nothing more than putting pen to paper. You can contact Lauren at lauren.lewis@dexerto.com.