Ex-McDonald’s chef reveals what not to order at the Golden Arches: ‘Not as good as it used to be’
Ordering this way will McMaximize your chances of lovin’ it.
Former McDonald’s corporate chef Mike Haracz, who regularly spills industry secrets about the Golden Arches, has divulged the best and worst things to order at the iconic burger monger.
Haracz was the Manager of Culinary Innovation for McDonald’s US menu for four years, developing new items and conducting sensory and quality testing on products.
During that time, he learned many tricks of the trade and now posts video exposés on how the sausage (McMuffin) is made to his over 300,000 followers on TikTok.
Recently, the industry insider revealed what and what not to order at McDonald’s.
He clarified to Jam Press that his recommendations were based on “personal taste preferences” as he felt that there is nothing to worry about food safety-wise.
First and foremost, Haracz declared that he wouldn’t order the iconic bagel breakfast sandwich as is.
“I feel like the folded egg used on their breakfast sandwiches tends to be dry and lack flavor,” insisted the chef, who advised customers to get the bun steamed due to a recent dip in quality.
The chef, who has over 20 years of food industry experience, says his favorite item is the “double-quarter pounder with cheese” due to the beef quality (McDonald’s swapped out frozen patties for fresh ones in this sandwich several years back).
However, customers have to eat the nosh within minutes of serving to taste the difference, per Haracz. “If you wait too long to eat it, all of the quality improvements are lost and it tastes the way that it used to,” he advised.
The chef suggested that the sheer volume limits the variety of what the chain can churn out.
“There might not be enough of an ingredient in the world to support it on the menu,” said Haracz, adding that understaffing can impact quality as well.
Ordering correctly is perhaps especially crucial given that McDonald’s has jacked up its prices by more than 100% over the last decade — more than three times the rate of inflation.
