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Potato vs. McDonald's french fries — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

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Significant differences between potatoes and mcDonald's french fries

  • Potatoes have more vitamin C; however, mcDonald's french fries are richer in vitamin B3, vitamin K, phosphorus, vitamin E, vitamin B1, fiber, and vitamin B6.
  • Potatoes cover your daily vitamin C needs 16% more than mcDonald's french fries.
  • Potatoes contain less sodium.
  • Potatoes have a higher glycemic index. The glycemic index of potatoes is 86, while the glycemic index of mcDonald's french fries is 70.

Specific food types used in this comparison are Potatoes, flesh, and skin, raw and McDONALD'S, french fries.

Infographic

Potato vs McDonald's french fries infographic
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Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Potato
1
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 16% 3.6% 38% 30% 37% 8.2% 24% 0.78% 26% 2.2%
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 26% 5.7% 53% 30% 38% 14% 54% 25% 32% 2.2%
Contains less SodiumSodium -96.8%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +60.9%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +58.3%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +40.2%
Contains more ZincZinc +70%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +122.8%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +24.5%
~equal in Iron ~0.8mg
~equal in Copper ~0.114mg
~equal in Selenium ~0.4µg

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Potato
2
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 66% 0% 0.2% 0% 20% 7.4% 20% 18% 69% 0% 5% 11% 6.6%
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 19% 0% 28% 0% 45% 8.5% 60% 35% 88% 0% 40% 0% 22%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +251.8%
Contains more FolateFolate +∞%
Contains more Vitamin EVitamin E +13700%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +122.2%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +15.6%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +203.5%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +100%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +27.5%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K +700%
Contains more CholineCholine +228.9%
~equal in Vitamin A ~0µg
~equal in Vitamin D ~µg
~equal in Vitamin B12 ~µg

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient Potato McDonald's french fries DV% diff.
Polyunsaturated fat 0.042g 4.727g 31%
Fats 0.09g 15.47g 24%
Monounsaturated fat 0.002g 7.379g 18%
Vitamin C 19.7mg 5.6mg 16%
Vitamin B3 1.061mg 3.22mg 13%
Calories 77kcal 323kcal 12%
Vitamin K 2µg 16µg 12%
Saturated fat 0.025g 2.271g 10%
Phosphorus 57mg 127mg 10%
Vitamin E 0.01mg 1.38mg 9%
Starch 15.29g 38.23g 9%
Sodium 6mg 189mg 8%
Carbs 17.49g 42.58g 8%
Vitamin B1 0.081mg 0.18mg 8%
Fiber 2.1g 3.9g 7%
Vitamin B6 0.298mg 0.38mg 6%
Vitamin B5 0.295mg 0.59mg 6%
Potassium 425mg 596mg 5%
Choline 12.1mg 39.8mg 5%
Folate 15µg 4%
Magnesium 23mg 37mg 3%
Protein 2.05g 3.41g 3%
Zinc 0.3mg 0.51mg 2%
Manganese 0.2mg 0.249mg 2%
Calcium 12mg 19mg 1%
Net carbs 15.39g 38.68g N/A
Iron 0.81mg 0.8mg 0%
Sugar 0.82g 0.21g N/A
Copper 0.11mg 0.114mg 0%
Selenium 0.4µg 0.4µg 0%
Vitamin B2 0.032mg 0.037mg 0%
Trans fat 0g 0.064g N/A
Tryptophan 0.021mg 0%
Threonine 0.067mg 0%
Isoleucine 0.066mg 0%
Leucine 0.098mg 0%
Lysine 0.107mg 0%
Methionine 0.032mg 0%
Phenylalanine 0.081mg 0%
Valine 0.103mg 0%
Histidine 0.035mg 0%
Fructose 0.26g 0g 0%
Omega-3 - ALA 0.382g N/A
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.031g N/A
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.009g N/A
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 4.251g N/A

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
Potato
1
2% 17% 79%
Protein: 2.05 g
Fats: 0.09 g
Carbs: 17.49 g
Water: 79.25 g
Other: 1.12 g
3% 15% 43% 37% 2%
Protein: 3.41 g
Fats: 15.47 g
Carbs: 42.58 g
Water: 36.63 g
Other: 1.91 g
Contains more WaterWater +116.4%
Contains more ProteinProtein +66.3%
Contains more FatsFats +17088.9%
Contains more CarbsCarbs +143.5%
Contains more OtherOther +70.5%

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
Potato
1
36% 3% 61%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 0.025 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 0.002 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.042 g
16% 51% 33%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 2.271 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 7.379 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 4.727 g
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated fat -98.9%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated fat +368850%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +11154.8%

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
Potato
2
95% 2%
Starch: 15.29 g
Sucrose: 0.17 g
Glucose: 0.31 g
Fructose: 0.26 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0 g
Galactose: 0 g
99%
Starch: 38.23 g
Sucrose: 0.21 g
Glucose: 0 g
Fructose: 0 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0 g
Galactose: 0 g
Contains more GlucoseGlucose +∞%
Contains more FructoseFructose +∞%
Contains more StarchStarch +150%
Contains more SucroseSucrose +23.5%
~equal in Lactose ~0g
~equal in Maltose ~0g
~equal in Galactose ~0g

References

All the values for which the sources are not specified explicitly are taken from FDA’s Food Central. The exact link to the food presented on this page can be found below.

  1. Potato - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170026/nutrients
  2. McDonald's french fries - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170721/nutrients

All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.

Data provided by FoodStruct.com should be considered and used as information only. Please consult your physician before beginning any diet.