The Illusion Five Guys Uses With Its Fries
There's no shortage of fast food burger options out there in the world, so it's remarkable for a chain that only has a few menu items (including a secret menu) to make such a name for itself. Yet, Five Guys has managed to stand apart from its competition, and develop a devoted fan base.
ABC 7 points out that a huge part of this devotion simply comes from the quality of the food produced at Five Guys. There are no freezers in Five Guys which means that its burgers are always made with fresh beef. They also include bacon as a standard variation at no extra cost and there's an overwhelming number of toppings that you can add to your burger. ABC 7 claims that it's actually more than any other fast food restaurant in the U.S.
USA Today adds that customers are also treated to all-you-can-eat peanuts during every visit. There is always an open container of peanuts that guests are welcome to help themselves to while their burgers are being prepared.
Food Republic reports that when Five Guys was first dreamed up by its founders, they knew that they couldn't get people in the door with burgers alone. So, they decided to make the French fries every bit as mouth-watering as the burgers.
How Five Guys makes its fries
Walking into a Five Guys restaurant is an unmistakable experience. Not only because of the minimalist retro design, and red and white tiled walls, but also because of the stacks of potatoes and fryer oil around the building. USA Today reports that these supplies are featured in every Five Guys. You won't find flash-frozen, pre-cut French fries going into the friers at Five Guys. They only use real spuds in every store. The chain seems to be so proud of this fact and its ingredients, that it keeps them on display to show them off.
Food Republic reports that Five Guys co-founder Chad Murrell (yes, he is one of the "five guys") is incredibly proud of the chain's French fries, and that includes its potatoes. Five Guys sources all of its potatoes from Idaho for ten months of the year. The other two months it sources from Washington because the quality of Idaho potatoes drops off at that time of year.
People are truly fascinated by how Five Guys is able to make such delicious fries and Good Morning America says a series of TikToks detailing the process have gone viral. The spuds are sliced in-house, washed, and allowed to soak in water before being fried the first time. Then, after some rest, they go back into the fryer to finish cooking and crisp up.
The dedication to ingredient sourcing and preparation is impressive, but it's not the only trick up the chains sleeve.
Peanut oil is the not-so-secret ingredient to amazing fries
Real potatoes aren't Five Guys' only secret to making some of the best French fries in America. Five Guys' Chad Murrell told Food Republic that the chain is staunchly devoted to only using peanut oil in its fryers. You'll find gallons of it sitting around the restaurants next to the real peanuts as well.
Food Republic points out that peanut oil is considered a non-hydrogenated oil that is free from trans fats and preservatives. It's also considered a healthier cooking oil for this reason. Five Guys employees are expected to also change the oil regularly so that it is replaced before the quality of the oil begins to degrade.
Murrell says that sticking with peanut oil produces the kind of crisp exterior and melt-in-your-mouth quality that he looks for from the brand's fries. Reader's Digest adds that the oil is only used for French fries. There aren't any chicken fingers or mozzarella sticks getting thrown in to affect the flavor. This helps keep the oil pure and lends a signature flavor.
Five Guys' might produce superior quality fries to keep customers coming back, but it doesn't stop there. It relies on a signature marketing illusion to make its fries a major part of the Five Guys experience.
The French fry illusion
Anyone who's ever ordered fries from Five Guys knows that the size you order is more of a suggestion than a concrete fact. ABC 7 says that while a small fry order will get you a 12-ounce cup filled with fries, it will also get you another full scoop thrown into the bag with it. That's not the server hooking you up though, that's all a part of Five Guys' carefully planned "illusion."
According to a Five Guys employee on the subreddit r/IAmA, that extra scoop is a type of "illusion" of a bonus. Paying for a small fry will always be paying for the cup and all the other fries that come with it. You might think you're getting away with robbery, but really it's all a part of the brand's plan.
Five Guys' Chad Murrell even admits it to Food Republic saying "We always give an extra scoop. I say load 'em up and make sure they get their money's worth." Brilliant.
The employee from r/IAmA says that you can always ask to skip the extra scoop if that many fries seem overwhelming, but just know that you've paid for them either way.