Which Fast Food French Fries are Gluten-Free?

Celiac.com 04/08/2023 - Looking for a fast food French fry that is gluten-free, and safe for people with celiac disease? French fries from Burger King and many other fast food restaurants are not considered 100% gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease. They are either cooked in shared fryers and/or contain wheat or gluten ingredients. These French fries are not safe for those with gluten food allergies and wheat allergy. Sadly, this is the case with most fast food restaurants.

Nearly all fast food restaurants that serve French fries also serve hamburgers on buns, and other ingredients that contain wheat. Because of this, most of them won't be able to guarantee a gluten-free French fry. 

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That said, if you're careful, and do your homework, you can get French fries at a number of fast food restaurants that are cooked without gluten ingredients in a dedicated fryer.

The restaurants on this list take extra measures to make sure their French fries are free of gluten ingredients, and prepared in a way that is unlikely to result in gluten contamination. As always, double check with each restaurant, to be sure you can trust their French fries. When in doubt, opt out.

Restaurants That Offer French Fries Cooked Without Gluten Ingredients in a Dedicated Fryer

Five Guys
Five Guys cooks their hand-cut fries in a dedicated French fry fryer in peanut oil. 

Honest Burger
Honest Burger is a popular fast-food chain in the UK. Both the French fries and onion rings are cooked in a dedicated fryer.

In-N-Out Burger 
The popular fast-food chain In-N-Out-Burger offers gluten-free French fries cooked in a dedicated fryer using sunflower oil.

Lion’s Choice 
Lion’s Choice offers gluten-free burgers and fries cooked in a dedicated fryer. Lion's Choice serves locations throughout Missouri. 

Red Robin 
Red Robin will cook their famous steak fries in a dedicated gluten-free fryer by request.

Smashburger
Smashburger offers Udi’s gluten-free buns with their burgers and sandwiches at locations. Most of their toppings are gluten-free. Smashburger does warn that due to shared preparation environments, some cross-contamination may occur. According to the company website, their fries are okay for people on a gluten-free diet.

Sonic Drive-In
Selected Sonic Drive-In restaurants have a dedicated gluten-free fryer for cooking both French fries and tater tots. Check specific locations for more information about Sonic’s gluten-free options.

Ted’s Montana Grill
Ted’s Montana Grill offers fresh-cut fries cooked in a dedicated fryer.

Article Updated 05/06/2023:

McDonald's
McDonald's French fries are free of gluten ingredients, and cooked in dedicated fryers, according to McDonald's UK web site. However, there is some controversy as to whether their fries are gluten-free in the USA.

McDonald's in the USA does not directly market ANY of their products as gluten-free, and their French fries contain beef flavor that includes hydrolyzed wheat, and this is an ingredient that has had its gluten removed through a chemical process. Until recently such an ingredient was not allowed to be labelled "gluten-free" under USA laws, but this changed a couple of years ago, so the USA is now more in line with European labelling laws (this is why you can now buy DiGiorno Gluten-Free pizza, which is made using wheat starch).

McDonald's always used the same ingredients, and usually dedicated fryers--but no matter what, make sure to ask if their fries are cooked in a dedicated fryer as some McDonald's in the USA have been known to cook wheat items in their French fry fryers. 

To date Celiac.com is are not aware of their French fries ever testing positive for gluten.

https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/small-french-fries.html

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Allergen Information

French Fries

Ingredients: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Natural Beef Flavor [wheat And Milk Derivatives]*), Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate (maintain Color), Salt. *natural Beef Flavor Contains Hydrolyzed Wheat And Hydrolyzed Milk As Starting Ingredients.

Contains: Wheat, Milk.

More about hydrolyzed vegetable protein:

Did we miss any of your favorite spots for gluten-free French fries? Share them with us in the comments below.