McDonald's

[Carrot]

ambuletz said:

I only like McDs for 2 things

BigTasty - their best burger. but getting pricey now
double cheeseburgers - probably the best value item there on a price vs calories vs protein standpoint.


Given it's £6 for a big tasty meal nowadays, I just buy the chilled burger quarter pounders you get in supermarkets. using the smash technique they cook in no time, taste better, and are cheaper. Just need to learn how to do the big tasty sauce, and also find the right buns.

smash technique?

[Richard-390a0]

I'll probably have one once a year or so depending if I'm flying back from Geneva, but other than that I wouldn't bother. I'm sure if I were still a teenager I'd frequent the local one more often lol. I've always been more of a takeaway fish & chips kind of a person tbh.

[vixen1700]

Probably have a chicken sandwich or Big Mac a handful of times a year. Just seem to get that urge for one, that familiar taste I suppose.

Took my 86 year old mother in one for the first time last year, and she raved about how nice the chicken in a bun was.

[bigothunter]

Time pressures meant I bought a MacDonalds beef burger. Total cock-up: there was a long queue so the "fast food" wasn't fast., and their burger was foul so got thrown in the bin. I've not been back to MacDonalds since.

MacDonalds in California has better quality food (although still greasy) and bigger quantities. The Yanks will not tolerate the crap we eat.

[Dan_1981]

We don't eat at McDonalds weekly but I'd take a stab that we call in one every 6 weeks or so.

The foods fine, its quick, available, and tasty enough at a reasonable price.

Not sure i'm seeing the issue with calories either?

Medium Big Mac Meal with Coke Zero (which they serve as standard now) comes in at 846 kcal.

Less than a third of an adult males daily intake?

If we go to the arches it's usually for our main meal of the day, not a snack.

So is the issue really with Mcdees or is it with people who are unable to contain their urges and have one as a stop gap, or have to add an extra burger or a box of nuggets to the standard meal?

[Leon R]

A key to the success is consistency, I haven't had Mcdonalds in about 18 months and I think the last time I went to was at an airport in the U.S during a layover.

If you are tired and hungry then knowing exactly how what you are about to order is going to taste is a winner.

[snuffy]

bigothunter said:

Time pressures meant I bought a MacDonalds beef burger. Total cock-up: there was a long queue so the "fast food" wasn't fast., and their burger was foul so got thrown in the bin. I've not been back to MacDonalds since.

MacDonalds in California has better quality food (although still greasy) and bigger quantities. The Yanks will not tolerate the crap we eat.

First time I went to America I had a Big Mac to see what the difference was. Absolutely none what so ever. They are the same in every country - which is rather the point.

[ElectricSoup]

Why can they get gravy in Aussie McD's and not in the UK?

[snuffy]

ElectricSoup said:

Why can they get gravy in Aussie McD's and not in the UK?

Maybe there's not a big enough supply of 2 month old babies to "produce" it ? (if it looks anything like the KFC stuff that is !)

[anonymous-user]

snuffy said:

bigothunter said:

Time pressures meant I bought a MacDonalds beef burger. Total cock-up: there was a long queue so the "fast food" wasn't fast., and their burger was foul so got thrown in the bin. I've not been back to MacDonalds since.

MacDonalds in California has better quality food (although still greasy) and bigger quantities. The Yanks will not tolerate the crap we eat.

First time I went to America I had a Big Mac to see what the difference was. Absolutely none what so ever. They are the same in every country - which is rather the point.

https://www.insider.com/we-found-every-difference-between-uk-and-us-mcdonalds-2020-5

This video lists all the differences between the food served in the US and the food served in the UK.

The US food as a lot more (unpleasant sounding) ingredients than the UK, and overall the portions in the UK are healthier and contain less calories.

For example, the fries in the UK have just potato, salt, and vegetable oil.

In the US, fries contain Potatoes, Canola Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Natural Beef Flavor Wheat and Milk Derivatives, Citric Acid Preservative, Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate (Maintain Color), Salt. Prepared in Vegetable Oil: Canola Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil with TBHQ and Citric Acid added to preserve freshness. Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.

[snuffy]

Lord Marylebone said:

snuffy said:

bigothunter said:

Time pressures meant I bought a MacDonalds beef burger. Total cock-up: there was a long queue so the "fast food" wasn't fast., and their burger was foul so got thrown in the bin. I've not been back to MacDonalds since.

MacDonalds in California has better quality food (although still greasy) and bigger quantities. The Yanks will not tolerate the crap we eat.

First time I went to America I had a Big Mac to see what the difference was. Absolutely none what so ever. They are the same in every country - which is rather the point.

https://www.insider.com/we-found-every-difference-between-uk-and-us-mcdonalds-2020-5

This video lists all the differences between the food served in the US and the food served in the UK.

The US food as a lot more (unpleasant sounding) ingredients than the UK, and overall the portions in the UK are healthier and contain less calories.

For example, the fries in the UK have just potato, salt, and vegetable oil.

In the US, fries contain Potatoes, Canola Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Natural Beef Flavor Wheat and Milk Derivatives, Citric Acid Preservative, Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate (Maintain Color), Salt. Prepared in Vegetable Oil: Canola Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil with TBHQ and Citric Acid added to preserve freshness. Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.

My comment was based on my eating it and looking at it. To me, the Big Mac I had in the US looked and tasted the same as a UK one.

However, the opinion proffered what that the UK's food is crap whereas the "MacDonalds in California has better quality food (although still greasy) and bigger quantities. The Yanks will not tolerate the crap we eat"

[ElectricSoup]

snuffy said:

ElectricSoup said:

Why can they get gravy in Aussie McD's and not in the UK?

Maybe there's not a big enough supply of 2 month old babies to "produce" it ? (if it looks anything like the KFC stuff that is !)

Nah mate, I've had the gravy option on the "Loaded Fries" in Oz, it's decent gravy. The quality of their meat in the Sausage McMuffins isn't up to UK standards though. Dry and a bit rubbery and plain. Not great.

[snuffy]

ElectricSoup said:

Nah mate, I've had the gravy option on the "Loaded Fries" in Oz, it's decent gravy. The quality of their meat in the Sausage McMuffins isn't up to UK standards though. Dry and a bit rubbery and plain. Not great.

Gravy is foul full stop. I don't even have it with a roast dinner - so my opinion of gravy in general is not that high to start with !

[anonymous-user]

snuffy said:

The opinion proffered what that the UK's food is crap whereas the "MacDonalds in California has better quality food (although still greasy) and bigger quantities. The Yanks will not tolerate the crap we eat"

It depends which way you look at it, as to which food is 'best', but my post was to highlight that there are some differences in the food. It is not the same.

The Americans would consider their McDonalds food to be 'better' as it is slightly tastier (thanks to stloads of additional ingredients and flavourings) and it is served in larger portions, which they also appreciate.

Here in the UK, we would consider our McDonalds food to be 'better' as it contains only basic natural ingredients, and is therefore healthier, and is served in portion sizes containing less fat and calories.

[snuffy]

Lord Marylebone said:

It depends which way you look at it, as to which food is 'best', but my post was to highlight that there are some differences in the food. It is not the same.

The Americans would consider their McDonalds food to be 'better' as it is slightly tastier (thanks to stloads of additional ingredients and flavourings) and it is served in larger portions, which they also appreciate.

Here in the UK, we would consider our McDonalds food to be 'better' as it contains only basic natural ingredients, and is therefore healthier, and is served in portion sizes containing less fat and calories.

True, it depends on your point of view (and what you consider to be plus and minus points); one man's ceiling is another man's floor.

[blueg33]

ambuletz said:

I only like McDs for 2 things

BigTasty - their best burger. but getting pricey now
double cheeseburgers - probably the best value item there on a price vs calories vs protein standpoint.


Given it's £6 for a big tasty meal nowadays, I just buy the chilled burger quarter pounders you get in supermarkets. using the smash technique they cook in no time, taste better, and are cheaper. Just need to learn how to do the big tasty sauce, and also find the right buns.

I agree on the Big Tasty, otherwise I prefer BK burgers (ignoring the better but less common venues like Honest etc)

[ElectricSoup]

snuffy said:

ElectricSoup said:

Nah mate, I've had the gravy option on the "Loaded Fries" in Oz, it's decent gravy. The quality of their meat in the Sausage McMuffins isn't up to UK standards though. Dry and a bit rubbery and plain. Not great.

Gravy is foul full stop. I don't even have it with a roast dinner - so my opinion of gravy in general is not that high to start with !

Heresy, I could drink it by the pint.

[untakenname]

Lord Marylebone said:

https://www.insider.com/we-found-every-difference-...

This video lists all the differences between the food served in the US and the food served in the UK.

The US food as a lot more (unpleasant sounding) ingredients than the UK, and overall the portions in the UK are healthier and contain less calories.

For example, the fries in the UK have just potato, salt, and vegetable oil.

In the US, fries contain Potatoes, Canola Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Natural Beef Flavor Wheat and Milk Derivatives, Citric Acid Preservative, Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate (Maintain Color), Salt. Prepared in Vegetable Oil: Canola Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil with TBHQ and Citric Acid added to preserve freshness. Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.

The extra ingredients in the fries used to be what made Mcdonalds imo, they stopped using the natural beef flavour in the UK around the year 2000 which is shame as they tasted so much better.

[mattuk89]

When I was younger, more skint and out in a van every day used to have it quite a lot whilst trying to bulk up at the gym, 2 double cheese burgers 880 calories 50 grams of protein, a bit more fat than you want but didn’t matter back then.

Could of made food the night before for work etc but nothing could beat the convenience.

[anonymous-user]

snuffy said:

Lord Marylebone said:

It depends which way you look at it, as to which food is 'best', but my post was to highlight that there are some differences in the food. It is not the same.

The Americans would consider their McDonalds food to be 'better' as it is slightly tastier (thanks to stloads of additional ingredients and flavourings) and it is served in larger portions, which they also appreciate.

Here in the UK, we would consider our McDonalds food to be 'better' as it contains only basic natural ingredients, and is therefore healthier, and is served in portion sizes containing less fat and calories.

True, it depends on your point of view (and what you consider to be plus and minus points); one man's ceiling is another man's floor.

Indeed.

Personally, I prefer the 'natural' approach of McDonalds UK, and the less ingredients the better. I put my health before something tasting fractionally better and being a bright artificial colour (They even use additives to make the fries bright yellow in the US).

I think the ingredients used by McD's in this country is really very good, British beef, British salad, and British and Irish potatoes etc, very little else added.

Some of the ingredients in American food and drink are horrendous. They use many additives that are banned in the rest of the world.