Five Guys: "Unhealthiest Fries in America"

[Miles Archer]

So, who’s mastered the art? Five Guys Burgers and Fries, a fast-food chain located mostly on the East Coast. The chefs are incredibly picky about their potatoes, only selecting spuds that grow in Idaho north of the 42nd Parallel. They’re even more selective about how the fries are prepared, requiring cooks to shake them exactly 15 times before serving. This meticulous process leads to a tasty result—but with a dark secret. That’s right: It’s the unhealthiest fry recipe in America.

One small serving of the fries contains a staggering 526 calories, but most people don’t order a small (especially since upsizing will only cost a couple bucks more). Instead, a large fry order contains a whopping 1,314 calories. That’s more than half the average recommended amount for a pretty active adult man for the entire day. To put it in perspective, that’s as many calories as a Five Guys hamburger patty, bun and milkshake combined. The calorie count is also substantially higher than most other fast food fries. McDonald’s, often touted as one of the nation’s most fattening restaurants, packs a mere 510 calories in their large order of fries—less than half of Five Guys’. That said, a Five Guys large is way larger, weighing in at 568 grams vs. McDonald’s 178.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/restaurant-serves-unhealthiest-fries-america/?trkid=soc-toh-facebook

[Mosby]

1. by weight arbys curly fries are probably worse

I don't know why writers always bring up McDonald's, other than they are a big target.

[NobodyHere]

21. It's a point of reference

Just about everyone know what a serving of McDonald's fries looks like.

[sharp_stick]

2. They don't mention that a small

Five Guy's fries are pretty much equal to 2 or 3 large fries from most of the chains. Plus they are damned tasty, especially the cajun fries.

[JDC]

5. No Kidding. 3 of us eat a small.

[Generic Brad]

15. I couldn't eat a small order there

The only time I ever ate at a Five Guys I asked for a small order of fries and for a small grocery sack of fries. What size does a large order come in? A bushel basket?

[Warpy]

3. Prince Edward Island spuds are better, IMO

They're absolutely enormous and the flavor can't be beat. Maine spuds, especially the ones from Aroostook County, but they're not as huge as the PEI spuds.

About the only thing that recommends the Idaho variety is their fairly regular shape, makes them easier to machine cut. I do agree about growing them at high latitude, my Mass. spuds weren't nearly as good. Altitude will do, but the air has to be pretty cold to produce really good ones.

[frazzled]

4. Since I'm allergic to peanuts, I can't eat them anyway

They're fried in peanut oil. I've been to Five Guys a couple of times, but never touch the fries. It's kind of hard for me to even go in there, because of all the barrels of peanuts. But as long as I don't ingest any, I'm fine. And my spouse loves peanuts. So I tag along once in a while and eat the small-size burger with everything on it. Saves a lot of calories ... and my health.

[Gothmog]

6. Can you even get into the restaurant?

I would not chance it. The peanut smell is overwhelming

[frazzled]

7. I don't get a reaction from just being around them

My sensitivity began back in the early 70s, and since peanut allergies were not known much at all then, it took a few times of getting violently ill to believe it (I'd grown up on PBJ sandwiches). Still not believing it, I used to try once a year to ingest a half a peanut, to test if I was just crazy. I'd be on my back within 30 minutes. After a few years (and one accidental ingestion of peanut oil in a salad someone brought), it was clear.

I've avoided peanuts or peanut-derived products 40 years. Whether this was a true allergy or just a very bad sensitivity (I never stopped breathing, just got knocked with something that felt like the worst flu you've ever had for 24 hours), it was so dramatic that I wasn't going to risk it. The smell of them is nauseating to me, just because of the connection to those violent episodes. But I don't get sick from the smell: I don't like it, but I can tolerate it because I respect others' need to down some goobers once in a while.

[Gothmog]

8. I am glad that you are being careful on this and know your limits

I like Five Guys but have worried about people who are allergic. I had a scout who we had to be very careful with

[Brother Buzz]

13. The Peanut Institute (who knew) implies you shouldn't sweat it

Allergy
Peanut Oil: No Allergens
Since peanut oil is pressed from peanuts, some have questioned if peanut oil also contains peanut allergens. This question has confused many who would like to enjoy a Sichuan stir-fry, deep-fried turkey, or other foods cooked in peanut oil.

The fact is that highly refined peanut oil is different from peanuts, peanut butter, and peanut flour when it comes to allergy. This is because most peanut oil undergoes a refining process, in which it is purified, refined, bleached, and deodorized. When peanut oil is correctly processed and becomes highly refined, the proteins in the oil, which are the components in the oil that can cause allergic reaction, are removed. This makes the peanut oil allergen-free! The vast majority of peanut oil that is used in foodservice and by consumers in the U.S. is processed and is considered highly refined

http://www.peanut-institute.org/eating-well/allergy/peanut-oil-no-allergens.asp

That being said, you know best. That, and we don't know the quality of the oil Five Guys uses.

[frazzled]

16. I had it in a Chinese salad

It must not have been refined, because I thought I was going to die afterward.

Sorry, despite assurances, I'm not risking it.

[Brother Buzz]

17. I totally understand you position, and that's cool...

and it's also possible the peanut allergens migrated in from another peanut source; bowels of peanut sauces and chopped peanuts are sitting all over the place in a Chinese kitchens.

Better safe then sorry.

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. At 568 grams, their large fries weigh 1.25 lbs

Even if you share them, that is A LOT of fries.

[HeartachesNhangovers]

10. There's no such thing as "fries that are good for you",

so rather than split hairs on which ones are the worst, it would be better to point out that if fries are a regular part of your diet, you are making poor dietary choices.

[Optical.Catalyst]

11. Sounds like a great place to go - a little after 4:20 in the afternoon

[mainer]

12. Why are their fries more calorie rich? I'm trying to find their recipe...

It's just potatoes fried in oil. How does their recipe differ from, say, McDonald's?

[Ptah]

14. McDonald's fries are more calorie rich.

Five Guys:
1,314 calories 568 grams = 2.3 calories per gram


McDonald’s:
510 calories 178 grams = 2.9 calories per gram

[Mosby]

22. arbys fries are 3.13 per gram

I think they have a coating on them that retains more oil.

[mythology]

18. I keep trying their fries, but I don't like them

[Awsi Dooger]

19. Massive portions

I realize that has already been mentioned in the thread but it needs to be emphasized again.

My sister has 4 kids and eats out all the time. She loves Five Guys because all 4 kids can get by with only one order of fries. Everywhere else it's one per person and the oldest son insists on large.

[karadax]

20. This makes me feel better about my guilty pleasure of

Arby's curly fries. Is five guys the place with the greasy paper bag ?

[oberliner]

23. Most people don't order a small?

I've never known anyone to order anything other than a small, unless they were sharing.