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Special requests are going to take time

If you want your fries “fresh,” it’s going to be a minute (or more). A common grievance among fast-food workers seems to be when customers insist on fresh fries, or try to duck and dodge those they don’t deem fresh by requesting them without salt (which then forces the fry cook to make a separate batch). “Especially during the lunch rush, we’re constantly moving orders along, so the fries are nearly always ‘fresh,'” says Louisa, who worked in fast food throughout high school and college. “If you want something specific, you’re going to have to be patient for it.” Find out how your favorite fast food chains got their names.