true - french fries are generally not worth the trouble or calories.

I'd suggest you add a small amount of citric acid to the sugar water as this will help.

"Fruit Fresh" is sugar and citric acid, a teaspoon will do.
Lemon juice is another source but it does have the lemon flavor.
You can take a hammer to a vitimin c pill, in a plastic bag and give it a good whack. Add about 100 mg which could be 1/10 to 1/20th of your tablet. Add to the sugar water.