Fries- Fast Food Chains

[munchkinette]

I'm traveling next week (Honolulu) and I'm wondering if there are any major chains that have gluten free fries. I don't usually eat them so I don't pay attention, but McDonald's and Burger King seem to be in most airports and tourist destinations.

[MelindaLee]

  On 9/7/2010 at 2:20 AM, munchkinette said:

I'm traveling next week (Honolulu) and I'm wondering if there are any major chains that have gluten free fries. I don't usually eat them so I don't pay attention, but McDonald's and Burger King seem to be in most airports and tourist destinations.

I can't help much, but I can tell you that McDonald's are NOT okay

[Skylark]

  On 9/8/2010 at 2:37 AM, MelindaLee said:

I can't help much, but I can tell you that McDonald's are NOT okay

Yes, they are. There is a trace of wheat-based flavoring used in processing that McDonalds does disclose, but when the finished fries are tested independently there is no detectable gluten on the most sensitive assays.

Chick-Fil-A is good, and some Burger King restaurants have a dedicated fryer for their french fries. You have to ask every time, though.

[modiddly16]

I'm not sure that I'd eat McDonald's fries after all the debate that has gone on with them about whether they are or aren't safe for celiacs. Depsite them testing with no levels of gluten, they're typically made in shared fryers. I know that all Chick-Fil-A's have dedicated fryers but depending on where you are in the country, it might be tough to track them down. When I'm in airports, I tend to stick to cashews, candy (terrible I know) or a bag of chips if I have to eat. I always try to keep some glutino crackers or pretzels or a granola bar in my bag for travel purposes too!

[psawyer]

McDonalds have dedicated fryers for the fries in order that nothing else can compromise the flavor of the fries. In the store layout, those dedicated fryers are in a different part of the store, and are operated by different employees.

[lovegrov]

Peter is right. McD fries are definitely done in separate fryers and usually are nowhere near the other fryers. MOST Wendy's fryers are dedicated and the fries are gluten-free. Same with BK, although the fryers are near each other so CC is more likely. Hardees (Carls) does NOT have dedicated fryers.

Just to be safe, always ask about dedicated fryers.

richard

[munchkinette]

  On 9/8/2010 at 12:09 PM, modiddly16 said:

When I'm in airports, I tend to stick to cashews, candy (terrible I know) or a bag of chips if I have to eat. I always try to keep some glutino crackers or pretzels or a granola bar in my bag for travel purposes too!

Yeah... the only time I came home early from a trip due to glutening was 2 years ago in the Dominican Republic. I was living off peanut M&Ms. I can't do that again.

I do have some snacks to bring in my bag, as well as my soy sauce packets. The hostel has a kitchen. (I've stayed there before.) Still, I know that going out drinking involves late night snacks, and I like to know my options before my judgment is compromised.

[scarlett77]

In & Out if they have them there. Ask for protein style burger and a separate box for your fries. Tell them you have a wheat allergy and to change their gloves. Usually they are pretty good about this. Try to make sure it is not peak hours because it will take more time for your food.

[MaryJones2]

I eat Five Guys Fries and bunless burgers all the time. Pretty sure they are in HI. Everything is safe there except the bun. The burgers are cooked on a seperate grill so as far as fast food goes there is very little chance of CC. Chick Fil A is the only other place I'll eat fries.

[K-Dawg]

The McD fries thing is weird. I work downtown Toronto and there is a McD's near my office. I went there for fries a few weeks ago. I asked the girl behind the counter if the fries are done in dedicated fryers (cuz I always like to confirm before putting food in my mouth...what if a policy changes?) and she gave me a weird look. So I asked, "Do you fry your french fries in seperate fryers?" and she said, "yes" and I said, "so you don't fry anything else in them?" and she said "... pause....NO". Because of the pause, I asked "never?" and she said, "Well, we're not supposed to, but sometimes we do." I then told her I had celiac disease and could get sick if I ate fries cross-contaminated with items that have gluten.

I was so sad...esp cuz I had no lunch as my plan had been to get McD's fries.

Has anyone else ever encountered this? Maybe it was a one-off?

KDawg

  On 9/8/2010 at 1:43 PM, psawyer said:

McDonalds have dedicated fryers for the fries in order that nothing else can compromise the flavor of the fries. In the store layout, those dedicated fryers are in a different part of the store, and are operated by different employees.

[kareng]

Company policy may be nothing else in the fryers but in reality, they sometimes use them for something else. Appreicate her honesty.

[modiddly16]

This was definitely the first I have heard of McDonald's using dedicated fryers, but I will be the first to admit that I zoned out after the first 1082913712 pages during the initial debate I have, however, in the past when eating those evil fries, found pieces of fried chicken or bits of coating in the bottom of the fry thing...which to me tells me they're sharing something they shouldn't!!

I totally forgot about Five Guys. LOVE THEM!

[i-geek]

  On 9/8/2010 at 11:35 PM, janetw said:

I eat Five Guys Fries and bunless burgers all the time. Pretty sure they are in HI. Everything is safe there except the bun. The burgers are cooked on a seperate grill so as far as fast food goes there is very little chance of CC.

Yes. Five Guys is an awesome chain. Love them.

To the OP- you mentioned that you're staying at a hostel with a kitchen, which is a big plus. I would like to mention that if you're planning on cooking, pack your own skillet, cutting board, and utensils. Those things are likely provided in the hostel kitchen, but it's anyone's guess what was previously prepared using them and how well they were cleaned.

As for airport food: I didn't trust the McD that I found in the O'Hare airport (Chicago). They were absolutely mobbed and I didn't see evidence of separate fryers. I stuck with a fruit cup and Kind bar from the Starbucks kiosk.

[Skylark]

  On 9/9/2010 at 12:00 PM, modiddly16 said:

This was definitely the first I have heard of McDonald's using dedicated fryers, but I will be the first to admit that I zoned out after the first 1082913712 pages during the initial debate I have, however, in the past when eating those evil fries, found pieces of fried chicken or bits of coating in the bottom of the fry thing...which to me tells me they're sharing something they shouldn't!!

I totally forgot about Five Guys. LOVE THEM!

Betcha it was bits of breakfast hash browns, which are cooked at the same station. Little bits break off easily and we always ended up with hash brown crumbs in the fry bags at the changeover from breakfast to lunch.

I worked in a McDonald's in high school and not much has changed as far as their fried foods. We would have been reprimanded the first time and fired the second if we put something other than fries into the fry station. The grease is a different temperature and the foods do not cook correctly in the wrong fryers. McDonald's is all about process control and consistency.

I'm pretty sensitive and I've eaten plenty of McDonald's fries without problems.

[scarlett77]

  On 9/9/2010 at 5:45 PM, Skylark said:

Betcha it was bits of breakfast hash browns, which are cooked at the same station. Little bits break off easily and we always ended up with hash brown crumbs in the fry bags at the changeover from breakfast to lunch.

I worked in a McDonald's in high school and not much has changed as far as their fried foods. We would have been reprimanded the first time and fired the second if we put something other than fries into the fry station. The grease is a different temperature and the foods do not cook correctly in the wrong fryers. McDonald's is all about process control and consistency.

I'm pretty sensitive and I've eaten plenty of McDonald's fries without problems.

I'm wondering if I should give McD's a try again. I had done research awhile back and decided that McD's fries were OK and so let my son have them (which was his absolute favorite treat). After a couple of months I saw that his improvement had stopped and thought maybe it was the fries (although it could really have been a number of other things). It is incredibly hard to tell if he has been glutened.

Hubby & I hate driving by McD's because our son asks for fries every time he sees the sign.

[Skylark]

  On 9/9/2010 at 7:31 PM, scarlett77 said:

I'm wondering if I should give McD's a try again. I had done research awhile back and decided that McD's fries were OK and so let my son have them (which was his absolute favorite treat). After a couple of months I saw that his improvement had stopped and thought maybe it was the fries (although it could really have been a number of other things). It is incredibly hard to tell if he has been glutened.

Hubby & I hate driving by McD's because our son asks for fries every time he sees the sign.

You could always talk to the manager at that particular store and see whether their policies about the fryers are as strict as when I worked there.

[modiddly16]

hmm...it could've been a burnt hashbrown....I didn't think of that one.

I always did love McDonald's fries...maybe because I know they're bad for you which is why they're so delish. Perhaps I'll give her another go!

[cyberprof]

  On 9/9/2010 at 11:01 PM, modiddly16 said:

hmm...it could've been a burnt hashbrown....I didn't think of that one.

I always did love McDonald's fries...maybe because I know they're bad for you which is why they're so delish. Perhaps I'll give her another go!

I might try too...I haven't eaten anything but fries at McD's since 1986 (including on a trip where I attended a convention for three days at Hamburger University in 1990). But pre-gluten-free I would get drive-thru fries and a coke once a week. Bad for the waistline but a quick, cheap treat.

[Frances03]

The only place I will eat fries is Chick-Fil-A. I've recently started making my own fries and I LOVE them. It is SO easy too. I don't crave fast food fries at all any more.

[3Celiacs]

  On 9/7/2010 at 2:20 AM, munchkinette said:

I'm traveling next week (Honolulu) and I'm wondering if there are any major chains that have gluten free fries. I don't usually eat them so I don't pay attention, but McDonald's and Burger King seem to be in most airports and tourist destinations.

My understanding is that the only gluten free french fry is the unprocessed french fry, ie: In N Out, & Wendy's now has natural fries too. As for how they're cooked, if you were at a place that had onion rings or other battered, fried food, I highly doubt that a fryer is dedicated to just fries unless it's openly mentioned on the gluten free portion of their menu. You could always ask the staff, but good luck communicating. I've tried to ask about gluten free french fries and the response has been: "No, we don't have free fries"! You know the saying, "Better safe than sorry",? Well, better no gluten fries than sorry!

[3Celiacs]

  On 9/9/2010 at 8:55 PM, Skylark said:

You could always talk to the manager at that particular store and see whether their policies about the fryers are as strict as when I worked there.

We used to feel sorry for ourselves at first too, then I went and purchased a small fryer. Ya, it sucks not being able to hit the drive thru, but not as bad as feeling sick. When I feel the need to do my extra mommy thing I make my boys fries, but now Wendy's has gluten free fries so we're not limited to mine or In N Outs.

[kareng]

  On 12/8/2010 at 10:41 AM, 3Celiacs@myhouse said:

We used to feel sorry for ourselves at first too, then I went and purchased a small fryer. Ya, it sucks not being able to hit the drive thru, but not as bad as feeling sick. When I feel the need to do my extra mommy thing I make my boys fries, but now Wendy's has gluten free fries so we're not limited to mine or In N Outs.

How did you find out that Wendy's fries are gluten-free? Aren't they fried in the same fryer with something else? The Wendy's website clearly states they may be fried with gluten containing items.

[lovegrov]

  On 12/8/2010 at 1:26 PM, kareng said:

How did you find out that Wendy's fries are gluten-free? Aren't they fried in the same fryer with something else? The Wendy's website clearly states they may be fried with gluten containing items.

MOST Wendy's have dedicated fryers but a few don't, hence the warning at the website. Just ask.

richard

[RideAllWays]

  On 9/8/2010 at 4:03 PM, lovegrov said:

Peter is right. McD fries are definitely done in separate fryers and usually are nowhere near the other fryers. MOST Wendy's fryers are dedicated and the fries are gluten-free. Same with BK, although the fryers are near each other so CC is more likely. Hardees (Carls) does NOT have dedicated fryers.

Just to be safe, always ask about dedicated fryers.

richard

Always ask, this was not the case in the McD I worked at; the nuggets were fried in the same oil, right next to the french fries.

[Laura]

Adding my vote to everyone who said Five Guys and In N Out. So, so good, and since it's just straight-up potato and they don't have anything else deep-fried, you know what you're getting.