Waffle fries aren’t nearly as ubiquitous as they should be. The fast food industry runs on fried potatoes, and I can only think of one popular chain where waffle fries are the default option. That’s where the best frozen waffle fries at the grocery store come in.
The best waffle fries we found in our in-office taste test crisp up perfectly (we cooked these in the toaster oven), are excellent for dunking due to sheer surface area, and are more fun to eat by virtue of being a more fun shape. Hypothetically, you could make your own shoestring fries at home—but are you really going to make your own waffle fries? I don’t even totally get how waffle fries are made and I won’t bother to google it because I don’t have to! I’ve already found the best waffle fries on the market. You’re welcome.
- Alexia Waffle Cut Sweet Potato Seasoned Fries
If you buy sweet potato fries because you imagine they’re healthier than fries made with regular ol’ Russets, Alexia’s sweet potato waffle fries will disabuse you of that notion. Sure, they may have a teeny bit of extra iron, but these are greasy as all hell. And I like it. They’re much more delicate than other waffle fries, almost lacy. The sweetness of the potato goes so nicely with the intensely savory flavor of the seasoning. Plus, these have a little heat on the finish, which we loved. If you prefer a sweet potato fry and you don’t mind oil, these are the best frozen waffle fries you can buy.
Credit: Merc / Vons
- Signature Select Seasoned Criss Cut Potatoes
The seasoned coating on these frozen waffle fries reminds me of the coating on fries at Rally’s and Checkers—salty, savory, and intensely peppery. The coating also made them crisp up really nicely in the toaster oven. These would be so good with burgers from the grill; I want to use them to sop up that smoky meat juice. For affordable, store brand frozen waffle fries (Signature Select is sold at Albertsons and its sister stores), you can’t do much better. After this taste test, I can assure you that all store brand waffle fries are not created equal.
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- Ore-Ida Golden Waffle Fries
Ore-Ida’s frozen waffle fries have that crispy, potato starchy coating that makes them crispy (kind of like Burger King fries), but they also have some skin on their edges, which makes them feel more homemade. And, like the other best frozen waffle fries on this list, they cooked up beautifully in the toaster oven. If you don’t want seasoned waffle fries and you can’t find Lamb Weston (our number one pick, spoiler alert), these are a totally solid option.
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- Alexia Seasoned Waffle Cut Fries
Signature Select makes superb seasoned waffle fries, but Alexia does it even better. They also give Checkers/Rally’s—lots of black pepper, chili pepper, and onion powder—but they’re even creamier on the inside than Signature Select. They’re truly a joy to eat and perfect for dipping in sweet, tangy ketchup.
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- Lamb Weston Super Crispy Waffle Fries
Lamb Weston makes the best frozen french fries (non-waffled), so it makes sense that they would also make the best waffle fries. As I’ve already mentioned, more restaurants (fast food and otherwise) should totally serve waffle fries. But if a really good sports bar—the kind that calls its appetizers “small plates”—served waffle fries, this is what they’d serve. They don’t have a crispy coating like Ore-Ida or the seasoned varieties, but they crisp up amazingly well all the same. You can see potato skin on their edges and they have a very earthy, potato-forward flavor. They remind me a lot of the fries at a fast food chain that shall not be named, but they’re even more accessible. Pick these up. They’re the best frozen waffle fries you can buy.
Credit: Merc / instacart
Best Sweet
Best Seasoned Runner-Up
Best Crispy
Best Seasoned
Best of the Best
Other products we tried: McCain Quick Cook Waffle Fries, Great Value Waffle Cut Potatoes
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