From 'secret' menu to saving money: McDonald's staffers spill little-known secrets about fast food chain
Workers at McDonald's have revealed several little-known facts about the fast-food restaurant giant, which may come as a shock to some. Former and current staff shared tips on how to get your favorite meal for less money, why you shouldn't order breakfast burritos or apple pies, and how to make sure your food is prepared 'fresh'.
McDonald's serves more than 68 million customers daily worldwide, making it one of the most well-known fast food chains. Only those who have worked in the popular restaurant's kitchen, however, are completely aware of what really happens there, how the cuisine is made, and what the advantages are.
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How to get fresh food at McDonald's?
Workers advise customers to make specific requests when buying if they want to guarantee that their food will be freshly prepared and hot off the grill. One employee on Reddit claimed that if you ask for no "grill salt" on the meat, the staff will "have to cook the meat fresh." "Also if you ask for no salt on the fries they will have to cook them fresh," the worker wrote. "And the Fries can sit no longer than fifteen minutes but that is not strictly enforced," as per Daily Mail.
How can you pay less for your meal?
Instead of simply placing an order off the menu, the staff offered clever suggestions for how to reduce the cost of your dinner. According to Redditors, buying a Sausage McMuffin with a side of round eggs will cost you $1 less than ordering a Sausage Egg McMuffin. "This applies to basically all the breakfast sandwiches," the person wrote.
Sydney, known as financial expert Queenie Tan, who previously worked at McDonald's noted that the same menu items are included in both the small McNuggets adult meal and the children's McNuggets Happy Meal. However, the children's Happy Meal is $2 less expensive and is listed at $8.30, while the adult Happy Meal is $10.30. "I used to work at Macca's and something I learnt is that you can buy nuggets or a cheeseburger Happy Meal, which is the same thing but $2 cheaper!" Queenie, 26, wrote on Instagram. Both choices come with small fries, Big Mac special sauce, and a small drink, but the Happy Meal is marginally less expensive and includes a toy or book.
Is there a secret menu?
'What's really on the secret menu?', a Reddit thread from last year, also delved into the less popular menu options. "In all my years working at McDonalds, there was never a 'secret menu'. I honestly don't know where that idea comes from," one former worker said. "There was no secret menu but you could ask for pretty much any combination of things and we'd make it at Maccas. The 'pounder' was popular," another worker claimed.
Why should you avoid apple pies and breakfast burritos?
Employees advise against adding apple pies and breakfast burritos to your order, which may surprise some customers. These two menu items apparently aren't as well-liked as you might imagine, thus the food can remain on the shelves for a very long period.
Why don't the workers not wear gloves?
The staff reportedly does not need to wear gloves but must wash and sanitize their hands every hour. When worn improperly, gloves can spread more bacteria than human hands. "Until recently, employees were not required to wear hairnets, and did not wear gloves when handling raw food when working in the kitchen," a former McDonald's employee wrote.