This Is the Only McDonald’s Breakfast Dish That Uses ‘Real’ Eggs
Updated: Mar. 31, 2022
This insider secret will teach you how to get the freshest eggs, no matter which breakfast sandwich you're craving.
McDonald’s made waves when it extended its breakfast hours in 2015 to include all-day McMuffins instead of cutting the morning foods off at 10:30 a.m. If the later hours mean you’ve been ordering from the fast food chain’s breakfast menu more often, you might want to know a secret about its eggs.
Most of the egg dishes at McDonald’s use a “folded egg.” It looks like a standard omelet folded up, but the ingredients list reveals that in addition to nonfat milk, the egg liquid also contains modified food starch, salt, and citric acid. The folded eggs used in McGriddles, and biscuit and bagel sandwiches are cooked and folded in another location, then frozen and shipped to the McDonald’s restaurants, according to the company. (Not a fan of frozen eggs? Here’s how to make your favorite McDonald’s menu items at home.)
Inspired By: McDonald's Cheeseburger
A crispy coating mix is the secret ingredient that dresses up these baked hamburgers. You bake them in the oven instead of grilling or frying. I like to use a sweet and spicy steak sauce for the best flavor. —Mike Goldman, Arden Hills, Minnesota
Inspired By: McDonald's French Fries
An even tastier way to eat fries! The addition of Parmesan and garlic makes this side dish simple irresistible. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Inspired By: Shamrock Shake
Save a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies for this creamy milkshake that's fun for kids and adults, too. —Shauna Sever, San Francisco, California
Inspired By: Chicken McNuggets
My 3-year-old went through a chicken-nuggets-and-french-fries-only stage, so I made these golden nuggets for him. Even the grown-ups like them! —Amanda Livesay, Mobile, Alabama
Inspired By: Quarter Pounder with Cheese
Go on a burger road trip in your own backyard. Grill the patties and load them sky-high with your favorite toppings. For instance, peanut butter and bacon make them southern style; coleslaw and tomatoes, a northern version. —Susan Mahaney, New Hartford, New York
Inspired By: Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit
I turned classic breakfast sandwiches into something heartier that you could even enjoy for dinner. We pile toppings like salsa and avocado—mayo and ketchup, too—on the homemade biscuits. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas
Inspired By: Honey Mustard Sauce
This fast, easy mustard with rice vinegar and honey has more flavor than any other honey mustard dressing I've ever tried. —Sharon Rehm, New Blaine, Arkansas
Inspired By: Pico Guacamole with Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich
You can use any type of bread or roll for this sandwich. We like the ciabatta, but have used other breads and rolls, whatever I might have handy. You can also pan fry the chicken if you can't get to a grill.—Debbie Speckmeyer, Lakewood, California
Inspired By: McCafe Strawberry Shake
Cool off with a thick and rich treat that will remind you of a malt shoppe! Nothing can beat this strawberry shake recipe. —Kathryn Conrad, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Inspired By: Hotcakes
I found this fluffy and easy pancake recipe among our old family favorites and adapted it to make a small amount. It's quick and easy to prepare, but we still consider it a special treat. —Eugene Presley, Council, Virginia
Inspired By: Chicken Selects
These strips are designed for kids, but tasty enough for company. The tender strips are moist and juicy and would also be great on a salad. —Becky Oliver, Fairplay, Colorado
Inspired By: Tangy Barbecue Sauce
I've never cared that much for store bought barbecue sauce. I just like to make things myself from scratch including this spicy, deep red-brown sauce. You'll find it clings well when you slather it on grilled meat. —Helena Georgette Mann, Sacramento, California
Inspired By: Cinnamon Melts
A slow cooker turns day-old cinnamon rolls into a comforting, old-fashioned dessert. It tastes wonderful topped with lemon or vanilla sauce or whipped cream. —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana
Inspired By: McRib
Perfect for a weekday dinner or cozy weekend meal, this recipe makes fall-off-the-bone tender meat with delicious flavor. —Margaret Luchsinger, Jupiter, Florida
Inspired By: Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad
This knockout shredded pork makes a healthy, delicious and hearty salad with black beans, corn, cotija cheese and plenty of fresh greens. —Mary Shivers, Ada, Oklahoma
Inspired By: Fruit & Maple Oatmeal
I tasted muesli on a trip to Switzerland, and when I came home, I made it my way. Keep things interesting (and avoid midmorning munchies) by adding different fruits and nuts every day. —Maddie Kirk, Springfield, Pennsylvania
Inspired By: Filet-O-Fish
The seasoned breading of this hearty sandwich turns mild-flavored cod or halibut into a taste sensation, and the creamy sauce just keeps it going! —Mildred Caruso, Brighton, Tennessee
Inspired By: Tartar Sauce
Here’s a traditional sauce worth making from scratch. It makes the meal feel very special, and guests are always impressed. You might never buy the bottled stuff ever again. —Roger Slivon, Genesee Depot, Wisconsin
Inspired By: Sausage Burrito
This is a great kid-friendly recipe that takes only 20 minutes to prepare and cook.—Sharon Haswell, Cheshire, Massachusetts
Inspired By: Sweet BBQ Bacon Burger
Every family has a burger of choice, and this is ours. It's stacked tall with bacon and crunchy onion rings. —Paula Homer, Nampa, Idaho
Inspired By: Fruit 'N Yogurt Parfait
The best time for this dessert is midsummer, when the blueberries are thick in our northern woods. Red raspberries can be added to the mixed berries, too, to brighten the patriotic colors.—Anne Theriault, Wellesley, Massachusetts
Inspired By: Fish McBites
My husband and I love fried fish, but we're both trying to cut back on dietary fat. I came up with this oven-baked version. He likes it as much as deep-fried fish, so I know it's a winner. —LaDonna Reed, Ponca City, OklahomaThe scrambled egg sausage mix in a McDonald’s breakfast burrito are also precooked by food suppliers, then mixed in with a laundry list of other ingredients such as meat, vegetables, spices, sugar, and additives—including dextrose and xanthan gum—before being frozen. Restaurants microwave the egg mix to reheat it. Meanwhile, the liquid used to make scrambled eggs in the Big Breakfast contains just eggs and the preservative citric acid, and they’re cooked fresh on location.
To get the freshest egg possible, you’ll want to order a McMuffin. Unlike the other breakfast sandwiches, McMuffins are made with “round eggs”—a whole egg cracked into a metal egg ring that keeps the egg in the right shape. If you order yours with egg whites, your protein won’t come from a fresh egg, but the egg white liquid doesn’t contain any extra ingredients.
No worries if you want a freshly cracked egg but prefer a McGriddle or biscuit base. “If you want real eggs on your breakfast sandwiches instead of the liquid stuff, you can put a round egg onto any breakfast sandwich,” former McDonald’s employee Chuck Chan reveals on Quora. “Just ask for a ‘round egg’ on it.”
Want more insider info on the fast food chain? Learn the secret flavor behind McDonald’s fries, and find out why Coke tastes better at McDonald’s than anywhere else.
If you prefer to make your breakfast at home now, our easy breakfast ideas will become morning favorites.
[Source: Business Insider]
