Chains Offer Free or $1.99 Fries for July 10 National French Fry Day

Q: Beyond the deals, what separates a perfectly crispy fry from a soggy disappointment?

A perfectly crispy fry comes down to moisture control, the right potato, and precise frying. The best fries use high-starch, lower-moisture potatoes such as Russets, which are more likely to produce a crisp shell and fluffy center than waxier varieties. Preparation matters as much as the potato itself. Hand-cut fries are typically soaked in cold water to remove excess surface starch, then dried thoroughly. That step helps prevent steaming and sticking. If too much moisture remains, the oil cools, the surface softens, and the fry turns greasy or limp instead of crisp. The biggest separator is frying technique. Many cooks and food experts point to double-frying as the standard for restaurant-quality fries: a lower-temperature first fry cooks the interior, then a hotter second fry creates the golden, crackling exterior. Consistent oil temperature is critical. If the oil is too cool, or if the basket is overcrowded, fries absorb oil and lose structure rather than crisping. For takeout and delivery, coated fries often hold up better than traditional ones. A thin starch-based coating can act as a barrier against steam and moisture migration, helping fries stay crisp longer in bags or boxes. Non-coated fries usually taste best immediately, because trapped steam quickly softens them. In short, soggy fries usually result from excess starch, excess moisture, low oil temperature, or overcrowding. Crispy fries are engineered through potato choice, drying, hot oil, and often a second fry.

3 articles · Updated · TODAY · Jul 9

More than 20 U.S. restaurant chains are rolling out free or discounted fries for National French Fry Day on July 10, with offers ranging from no-purchase freebies to app-based deals tied to small minimum spends.
McDonald’s is offering free medium fries with a $1 purchase, Wendy’s free fries of any size with a $5 app order, and Whataburger a free medium fry for rewards members with no purchase required.
Several promotions extend beyond the holiday: Shake Shack runs free classic fries with a sandwich purchase through July 13, Sheetz offers a free bag of fries on $10 purchases through July 16, and Arby’s has a $1.99 XL Fry deal through July 12.
Most deals require loyalty membership, app ordering, promo codes or participating locations, making digital sign-ups and minimum-purchase thresholds central to how chains are using the food holiday to drive traffic.