... up, basically.
Weeks after these new french fries debuted nationally (because Wendy's has a "no waste" policy, a publicity person told me, meaning restaurants had to run out of the old fries before selling the new ones), they're knocking around Charlotte. And they're tasty. Thinner, crisper and a good deal saltier than the old version, these employ russet potatoes, with some skin left on, and sea salt, and are the first major tinkering with fries that Wendy's has done in its 40+ years.
A staggering change? Nope.
Chief marketing officer Ken Caldwell has said the company wanted "every ingredient to be a simple ingredient" and that skin-on reminds people that fries come from potatoes. (!) Both the old and new come to stores frozen. The new ones are fried in a different blend of vegetable oils. But nutrionally, the new fries jump significantly in sodium -- 500 milligrams in a medium order, compared to 350 for the old. (And sea salt is generally thought no healthier for you than regular rock salt.) Calories are a push: The new add 10 cals for a total of 420.
Tried them?
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Wendy's new fries: Thumbs ...
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33 comments:
That's a shame. Wendy's had the best fries of any of the fast food chains, primarily because they were thicker and thus held their heat longer. Shoestring fries are cold almost before they hit your table.
And the extra sodium is not good. Perhaps, if it's shaked on post-cooking, you can ask it to be limited...? Ketchup itself has a ton of sodium, sugar too. I've found that if you dip fries into it, you really don't need salt on them at all.
Y'all, I thought these tasted EXACTLY the same! Still salty. Still good. And mine hardly had that much skin on them. But really, they tasted EXACTLY the same.
I tried them this weekend. I thought they were better than the old fries, but saltier. I often don't finish my fries before they get cold, and these fries tasted pretty good even cold. Some fries aren't worth eating if they're not hot.
Restaurants need to cut salt not add more.
I just had Wendy's for lunch. The fries were very salty. I had salt on my hands so much that I had to "clap" it off as if it were sand.
The new "made to order" burgers are not that great either. I usually like my cheese melted on the burger. The last few times I have been, the cheese looked as if it would never melt. Patties were too cold to melt the cheese.
I think the direction is right...in doing things better. But I think the salt packets in the dining area should suffice those that would like salt on their fries. The new natural fries should come without salt. No matter sea, rock, etc.
Eat fries, get fat, simple.
I know it's not good for us, but a few comments: 1. Wendy's, when it first opened, has those AWESOME burgers with the grease dripping out of them. They were delicious! 2. Another post-er commented on the "made to order" food and how it wasn't as good. He's exactly right. Remember when McDonald's had the bins full of hot cheeseburgers, Filet-O-Fishes, fries, etc? The whole sandwich was hot and they were wonderful. Now, the bun is room temp, the burger patty MIGHT be hot, the cheese is cold, the mayo or tartar sauce is cold. The whole thing is a mess. The "made to order" is also a bunch of B.S. because it's all pre-cooked anyway. It should be called "thrown together as ordered, except now that we do it this way, it takes ten times as long as it used to when we used bins". Even though it might have been shortening my life, I'd rather have some tasty grease. Maybe the time I'd also save by them having the bins back would counterbalance the time the grease takes off my life?
I tried the new fries this past weekend, they are crap just like the old ones. The best fast food french fries has alway been McDonalds. And no I am not a McDonalds plant or anything like that, just my opinion.
Have tried them twice now. They're ok, but I liked the old fries better. Why was there the need for change? It's not like french fries or fast food is healthy. They should have added these as an option, not replace the old fries.
Tried them at lunch today. They didn't seem saltier than the old ones at all. I thought they were better because they were crispier - no soggies!
They are awesome! Much better than the old version. I'm not a big fan of adding salt to my food but I haven't gotten a batch yet that I would consider too salty.
That's a good thing, Wendy's has the worst fries out of every fast food place but the best food.
All this Kvetching over the potatoes. We all know that these treats are not diet food but that should not preclude treating our tastebuds on occasion to something unhealthy.
Some folks would have complained at the Last Supper because good old smoked barbeque (pork, of course) and SunDrop cola were not on the menu. I'm just sayin'.
McDonalds fries are horrible these days compared to what they used to be. Ever since they took out the bad fat they have been tasteless, when they used to reign supreme. Wendy's has always had good fries, and I loved their very fine popcorn salt. I'm glad to here they aren't skimping on the salt. Fast food fries are an occasional treat and if I'm going to indulge and "spend the calories" I want flavor!
I HATE the new fries. Mine were extra crunchy and tasted of leftover grease. Bring back the old fries!
I was so excited to try them the other day however they were so salty I could hardly eat them!! And I love salt on my fries . . . huge disappointment!!
No doubt that Wendy has found a cheaper supplier.
Sea Salt is "healthier" than regular salt. I imagine the workers are not familiar with proper application.
I was hoping these fries would mirror Five Guys.
Oh, we did not know they came from potatoes? The marketing wizards at Wendy's must think we are mentally challenged as consumers. I want to try them, but I liked the old ones and am slow to accept change. My cousin said they were good, but a bit salty tasting with the sea salt. I think it is about keeping up with Five Guys and other new places.
http://musingsandvisuals.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-fries-at-wendys-what-was-wrong-with.html
If they hadn't told me they had changed, I never would've known.
You honestly cannot think about sodium and fat and calories when you go to a fast food resturant. Their really is no use.
Way too Salty..!!! I had to throw mine away.!!!. They should have left well enough alone,, Remember if its not broke Don't Fix it !!!
Terrible Salty
I liked their old fries. It is their nuggets that needed work.
http://musingsandvisuals.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-fries-at-wendys-what-was-wrong-with.html
Yes these fries are too salty for sure. I had to wipe off the salt to be able to taste the potato they are raving about. If I want that much salt I will eat it straight out of the shaker. I wish that they would let the salt lovers salt their own food. Half the time they do anyway before they taste it. I hope that they get rid of these soon.
I DETEST these new "& improved" fries. I hate the sea salt, but even if I ask for them with no salt (and ad my preferred Morton's salt) th oils they use to cook the fries ruin them. They taste very little like original Wendy's fries, which were a close #2 behind (properly made) McDonald's fries. The new fries are too thin and have gross skin on them. DITCH THEM!
All this crap is because the Wendy's corporate "geniuses" saw some sruvey that put Wendy's fries #4 behind McD's, Five Guys, and In N Out. I don't know about you, but In N Out fries may be natural, but they are thin, soggy, and bland. And Five Guys peanut oiled catastrophes were enough to make me vomit. Let those niche chains serve the market for weak freak fries. McDonald's, don't even worry about trying to top them. It's like trying to be more famous than The Beatles or Elvis. Wendy's had an excellent product hat they have totally ruined. And despite all this "healthy" crap, these fries are just as bad for you as the old ones, but far less tasty! I'm boycotting Wendy's until they bring back the original recipe!!
I think Dave Thomas is rolling in his grave. I loved Wendy's "old-fashioned" fries. They were my favorite from any chain. I consider myself a health conscious person but when I want fries as a treat I want Wendy's fries, the way they WERE, not this "healthier" version, which let's be honest, really aren't any healthier. Write the company! Tell them to bring back the fries we love!
I can't believe all these people who claim they taste the same. The new fries are disgusting. It's not even that they have too much salt - the fries themselves offend my palate, and it takes a lot to offend me with fries. They taste like dirt with a hint of potato.
RxMike83 Bring Back Wendy's Old French Fry Recipe - Sign the Petition http://t.co/rfpagy5
i think they want to save money on useing the skin on the potato cause in a yr all that skin adds up and the more they use the more they get out of the crop cause they didnt lower the price of the fries now did they
The new fries are simply awful. The ones we had tonight were 1/2 inch pieces of burnt sticks. I returned them and the new batch consisted of one inch pieces of the same sorry stuff. The manager was very apologetic and said she didn't like the new fries either and wished they'd bring back the old fries. I think she has heard lots of complaints about them.
Anonymous,
The new Wendy's fries are awful. They are too salty and do not taste good. I don't get these fries as a side anymore if I even go to Wendy's which I don't go as much. The old fries were much better.
THEY SUCK.
The new fries are awful and I hope enough people complain and they bring back their old fries which were the best of the fast food restaurants. I will not purchase Wendy's fries again unless they change them back. If nothing else why don't they sell both and let the people decide. THE NEW FRIES ARE TERRIBLE!
I will not purchase Wendy's fries again unless they change them back. THEY ARE AWFUL!
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