National French Fry Day is Coming: Here's How to Get Them Free From McDonald's
National French Fry Day is serving up the ultimate perk-free fries from McDonald's are almost here.
According to PEOPLE Magazine, McDonald's is giving customers a free order of medium fries to celebrate the food holiday on July 10. A press release states that the deal can only be used when a $1 minimum purchase is made in the eatery's app.
However, there is a catch. The offer can only be redeemed once per person on that day and is limited to McDonald's Rewards members.
The press release shared with PEOPLE states, "Every year, McDonald's serves 3.6 billion servings of its World Famous Fries. We're making it even easier for fans to get their hands on them."
The statement continued, "We're unapologetic potato perfectionists. Everything from cook time to amount of salt is carefully calculated to deliver that crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside bite fans crave."
According to Food Republic, McDonald's signature fries got their iconic texture after a financial decision led to an unexpected workaround.
The website wrote, "Unable to afford the expensive equipment needed for hydrogenated vegetable oil, Interstate Foods stretched its product with beef tallow. The resulting blend boasted 93% beef fat and 7% cottonseed oil, a cheap fix that yielded an unparalleled masterpiece: a fry with a shatteringly crisp exterior and a buttery interior that captivated the world."
The company stopped using Beef Tallow for its fries in 1990. The potatoes are now fried in a canola blend oil.
After purchasing the franchise rights to McDonald's in 1954, Ray Kroc continued refining the process to create the chain's now-famous French fries. Working alongside J.R. Simplot and Edwin Traisman, Kroc helped develop a process for freezing the potatoes that preserved their consistency.
Kroc also partnered with Louis Martino to create a device that precisely calculated cooking time and temperature, ensuring evenly fried products at every McDonald's restaurant.
According to McDonald's website, the fries' lasting appeal comes from the potatoes used, careful quality control, and the taste customers crave.
"Our suppliers peel, cut, blanch and par-fry quality potatoes before freezing them and shipping them to our restaurants, where they're prepared into the hot, crispy fries you know and love," the site explained.
The website added, "The process we use to cook our fries in-restaurant is very well defined – everything from the cook time to the amount of salt is carefully measured, so they always taste hot and delicious."
What started as a focus on consistency ultimately made McDonald's fries a global staple. And honestly, there's no better excuse to enjoy them than National French Fry Day.
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This story was originally published July 2, 2026 at 8:10 AM.