Are McCain chips real potatoes? Unpacking the ingredients and process

November 22, 2025 •

3 min read

According to McCain's own website, their chips are indeed made from real potatoes, often sourced from contracted local farmers. However, the frozen chips on the market are not just simply sliced and frozen; their journey from farm to freezer involves several processing steps that add other ingredients to achieve their signature texture and taste.

Quick Summary

McCain chips are made from real potatoes, which are washed, peeled, cut, and blanched before being partially fried and frozen. The final product includes vegetable oils and, for some varieties, a crispy batter coating made from wheat and other ingredients. The process delivers a consistent product with a specific texture, distinguishing it from simple homemade chips.

Key Points

Real Potatoes: Yes, McCain chips are made from real, farm-grown potatoes, not a processed potato paste.
Sourcing: McCain uses specific potato varieties, like Shepody and Russet Burbank, sourced from independent and company-owned farms.
Manufacturing: The process involves washing, peeling, cutting, blanching, par-frying, and flash-freezing to ensure consistent quality.
Coating: Many varieties, like 'Home Chips,' feature a special batter coating made from various flours and starches to enhance crispiness.
Ingredients: While primarily potato, the finished product also contains vegetable oils, salt, and natural colorings, depending on the variety.
Additives: McCain prides itself on using no artificial colors, flavorings, or preservatives in most of its potato products.
Healthier Options: The company has actively reformulated its products to reduce fat and salt content and remove palm oil.

Yes, McCain chips are made from real potatoes

At the core of all McCain potato products lies a simple, farm-grown potato. The company emphasizes its strong relationships with local farmers, sometimes spanning generations, who supply the specific potato varieties needed for their products. For example, in North America, they use varieties like Shepody, Ranger Russet, and Russet Burbank, while other regions may use locally suited varieties. However, the real potato is just the starting point; the journey to the finished, frozen chip is what defines the product.

The McCain manufacturing process: From farm to freezer

The manufacturing process for McCain chips is designed for consistency, convenience, and a desired culinary outcome. It's a journey that adds ingredients and specific techniques to transform a raw potato into a freezer-ready product.

Sourcing and quality control: The process begins with rigorous checks on incoming potato shipments. Samples are tested to ensure they meet McCain's quality specifications before entering the factory.
Washing and peeling: The potatoes are thoroughly washed to remove dirt and then peeled using a steam system.
Cutting: High-tech cutting systems slice the potatoes into the specific shapes for each product type. This automated process ensures uniform size and shape for consistent cooking results.
Blanching: After cutting, the potato slices are blanched in water. This step helps to achieve a good internal texture and removes excess starch. Some varieties may also receive a dextrose rinse at this stage to ensure a consistent golden color.
Coating and par-frying: Depending on the product, a batter or coating may be applied for added crispiness and flavor. The chips are then par-fried (partially fried) in vegetable oil, such as sunflower or rapeseed oil, before being frozen.
Freezing and packaging: The partially cooked chips are flash-frozen to lock in freshness and then packaged for distribution.

What else is in a McCain chip?

While the primary ingredient is potato, the final product contains more. A closer look at the ingredients list for a product like McCain Home Chips reveals a comprehensive list:

Potato (91%): The main component, as expected.
Vegetable Oils: A mix of oils like Rapeseed and Sunflower for frying.
Batter: A coating for extra crunch, made from a blend of wheat flour, rice flour, broad bean flour, dextrin, and starch. This is a key difference from homemade chips and explains the extra crispiness.
Seasoning and Colours: Ingredients like salt, turmeric extract, and paprika extract are included for flavor and color consistency.

McCain vs. Homemade Chips: A comparison

The manufacturing process adds convenience and consistency but creates a different product than what you would make at home. Here's a quick comparison:


Feature	McCain Chips	Homemade Chips (from scratch)
Core Ingredient	Real potatoes	Real potatoes
Added Ingredients	Vegetable oils, batter (flour, starches), salt, natural colorants	Oil, salt, and any desired seasonings
Preparation	Washed, peeled, cut, blanched, par-fried, coated, frozen	Washed, peeled, cut, soaked, cooked
Consistency	Highly consistent size, shape, and cooking results	Varies greatly based on potato type, cutting, and cooking method
Convenience	Ready-to-cook from frozen, fast preparation	Requires more preparation time and effort
Crispiness	Enhanced by a special batter coating	Dependent on the cooking technique and oil used
Allergens	Some products contain wheat and gluten from the batter	Can be made gluten-free if the cooking environment is free of cross-contamination

Are McCain chips a healthy option?

McCain has taken steps to improve the nutritional profile of its products. They have worked to reduce saturated fats and salt, and have eliminated artificial colors, flavorings, and preservatives from most products. While the final nutritional profile depends on the specific product and cooking method (air frying is a popular, low-fat option), they can be part of a balanced diet. It is always recommended to check the specific product's nutritional information on the packaging.

Conclusion

So, are McCain chips real potatoes? The definitive answer is yes. They are made from real potatoes supplied by a network of trusted farmers. However, they are not just plain, raw potato slices. The manufacturing process involves multiple steps, including par-frying in vegetable oil and adding a batter coating for many varieties. These additions are what give McCain chips their consistent, crispy-on-the-outside and fluffy-on-the-inside texture that sets them apart from both homemade and fresh-cut options.

Note: For additional information on their production, McCain provides details on its corporate and regional websites. For example, their process from farm to freezer is explained on the McCain.com website: Making French Fries | McCain Foods.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, McCain Foods has a policy of not using genetically modified (GMO) potatoes in any of its products globally.

The batter coating on certain McCain chips, like the Home Chips, is added to create extra crispiness and a consistent texture when cooked.

McCain sources most of their potatoes from independent, contracted farmers. While they also own some farms, these provide only a small percentage of their total needs.

Many McCain products are not gluten-free due to the wheat-based batter coating used for crispiness. However, they produce some varieties without this coating that may be gluten-free. It is essential to always check the ingredients list on the specific product's packaging.

McCain offers a range of products with different potato varieties, cuts, and coatings, which results in different flavor and texture profiles. A chip with a specific crispy batter will taste different from a plain-cut fry.

Yes, many McCain chips, including those intended for the oven, can be prepared in a deep fryer. McCain products are incredibly versatile and can be cooked via oven, air fryer, or deep fryer.

McCain supplies different products and specifications for retail and foodservice. Restaurant-specific fries are often tailored to specific cooking processes, such as deep-frying in specific oils, which can result in a different taste and texture from the frozen chips sold in grocery stores.