Fast Food French Fries:

Taste Test and Evaluation

TECM 2700.021
Group 6
University of North Texas
May 13, 2015

Introduction
Fast food is the most convenient way to get food quickly and on
demand. French fries are one of the most popular items available at
such places being that they are by far the most common side item for
fast food meals. Because of their prominence, it is crucial for these
restaurants to perfect the item. Our goal with this report is to
determine the best French fry from four popular fast food chains.
French Fry #1: McDonalds
French Fry #2: Jack In The Box
French Fry #3: Wendys
French Fry #4: Whataburger

In this report, we hope to help consumers in choosing the fast food

establishment with the best French fries to enjoy on the go.

Evaluation Methods
To evaluate each of the French fries, we decided to judge them based
on four criteria:

Crispiness
Saltiness
Freshness
Tastiness

We conducted several taste tests on random subjects in the Victory

Hall lobby to test these criteria.

Crispiness - With our taste test, we asked the participants to rate each fry
on a scale of 1-5 on their own merit with 1 representing the worst amount of
crisp (too hard or too soft) and 5 representing the perfect crisp level.
Saltiness For saltiness, we asked the participants to evaluate each on a
scale 1-5 with 1 representing an unsatisfactory salt ratio with 5 representing
the perfect salt level.
Freshness The freshness level of French fries are important because they
are a direct sign of whether the fries were cooked in fresh frying oil. We
asked each participant to rate from 1-5 the freshness of each fry sample.
Taste For the taste category, we simply asked each participant to rate
each frys overall taste according to their opinion.
We conducted a blind taste test for the four brands we used. Each Brand was
identified by their corresponding number, 14.
1. We created a survey asking the participants to give their opinion of
each fry on a 5 point scale.

Fry 1

Fry 2

Fry 3

Fry 4

Crispines
s
Saltiness
Freshness
Taste
2. We placed each bag of fries directly into brown paper bags lined with
foil and marked with their corresponding number.
3. Arrived at Victory Hall, asking 22 people to participate in a blind taste
test.

Results
McDonalds
Crispiness
Survey options
1 (Worst)

Number Chosen
15

5 (Best)

Saltiness
Survey options
1 (Worst)

Number Chosen
6

11

5 (Best)

Freshness
Survey options

Number Chosen

1 (Worst)

5 (Best)

Taste
Survey options

Number Chosen

1 (Worst)

10

5 (Best)

Jack in the Box

Crispiness
Survey options

Number Chosen

1 (Worst)

10

10

5 (Best)

Saltiness
Survey options

Number Chosen

1 (Worst)

5 (Best)

Freshness
Survey options

Number Chosen

1 (Worst)

5 (Best)

Taste
Survey options

Number Chosen

1 (Worst)

5 (Best)

Wendys
Crispiness
Survey options

Number Chosen

1 (Worst)

5 (Best)

Saltiness
Survey options

Number Chosen

1 (Worst)

10

5 (Best)

Freshness
Survey options

Number Chosen

1 (Worst)

5 (Best)

Taste
Survey options

Number Chosen

1 (Worst)

5 (Best)

Whataburger
Crispiness

Survey options

Number Chosen

1 (Worst)

5 (Best)

Saltiness
Survey options
1 (Worst)

Number Chosen
3

10

5 (Best)

Freshness
Survey options
1 (Worst)

Number Chosen
0

10

5 (Best)

Taste
Survey options

Number Chosen

1 (Worst)

5 (Best)

Conclusion
Wendys fries showed the most potential, with the best Saltiness, Freshness
and Taste making it the best purchase in terms of fries. Whataburger coming
in second place with the greatest crispiness and a close second place in taste
and freshness. McDonalds and Jack in the Box were lacking in crispiness and
saltiness, making them an undesirable choice when it comes to fries.

McDonald Jack in the

s
Box
Crispines 1.50
1.64
s
Saltiness 1.95
2.32
Freshnes 2.09
2.36
s
Taste
2.45
2.73

Wendys
2.68

Whatabur
ger
2.82

2.77
2.77

2.45
2.68

3.25

3.14

Best Crispiness: Whataburger

Best Saltiness: Wendys
Best Freshness: Wendys
Best Overall Taste: Wendys

Recommendations
If you prefer salt on your fries and a freshness you can taste, we
recommend Wendys based on Taste and Freshness.