McDonald’s has perfected the art of cooking eggs quickly and consistently for their breakfast sandwiches and other egg dishes. Here is an overview of how McDonald’s cooks their eggs in their restaurants:
Cracking and Pouring the Eggs
McDonald’s uses real, fresh Grade A eggs delivered in liquid form for many of their egg dishes. The liquid eggs arrive in large bags and are poured into specialized cookers. Each bag contains the equivalent of approximately 100 whole eggs already cracked and mixed.
Using liquid eggs allows McDonald’s to precisely control the consistency and quality of the eggs used. It also allows them to cook a high volume of eggs quickly and evenly.
Cooking the Eggs
McDonald’s uses specialized commercial cookers to cook their eggs. The cookers have flat cooking surfaces that use controlled heat to gently cook the eggs.
The cookers have different heat zones with sensors to ensure the eggs are cooked at the right temperature. The cookers can hold up to 16 eggs at a time. McDonald’s can cook eggs to order or cook batches of eggs in advance to hold for breakfast sandwiches and other menu items.
Cooking Fresh Eggs
For made-to-order breakfast sandwiches like Egg McMuffins, the eggs are cracked fresh onto the grill when ordered. The cook then uses a specialized egg ring mold to keep the egg in a uniform circular shape as it cooks. The egg is cooked for a precise amount of time until the yolk and white are fully set.
Cooking and Holding Pre-Made Eggs
For menu items that use folded eggs or egg patties, like the Sausage Burrito or Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, the eggs are pre-made. Liquid eggs are poured onto the cooking surface and cooked undisturbed until fully set. The cook then folds the eggs or cuts them into rounds to be held in a warmer.
The cooked egg patties can be held in a heated holding unit for up to 15 minutes before being discarded.
Final Assembly and Serving
For breakfast sandwiches, the cooked egg is assembled on the sandwich along with the meat, cheese, and muffin or biscuit. Any sandwiches not served immediately are kept in a warmer until ordered.
For items like the Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddle, the cooked egg rounds are placed on the McGriddle cakes and dressed with bacon and cheese before serving.
Using standardized processes and specialized equipment allows McDonald’s to serve freshly made eggs that are hot, fluffy, and delicious every time.
Key Facts About McDonald’s Eggs
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Egg type | Fresh Grade A liquid eggs |
| Volume used | Over 2 billion eggs per year globally |
| Cooking process | Specialized flat grill cookers |
| Cooking temperature | Carefully controlled heat zones |
| Cook time | Precise cook times for consistency |
| Storage | In heated holding units for up to 15 minutes |
Quality and Freshness Standards
McDonald’s has high standards when it comes to egg quality and freshness:
- Eggs must meet Grade A standards for quality
- Egg deliveries are carefully monitored and tracked
- Egg holding times are limited to maximize freshness
- Cooks are trained to visually inspect eggs while cooking
- Eggs are cooked thoroughly to food safe standards
By following meticulous protocols, McDonald’s aims to serve eggs at the peak of freshness and consistency every time.
Customizing Orders
While McDonald’s has perfected their egg cooking method for efficiency and consistency, customers can still customize their egg orders:
- Order egg sandwiches without meat or cheese
- Substitute folded eggs instead of rounds on sandwiches
- Order scrambled eggs as a side option
- Request eggs well done or extra lightly cooked
So while the cooking method is standardized, there is still flexibility for customer preferences.
Conclusion
McDonald’s has put ample research into developing the optimal method for cooking eggs quickly and consistently. By using liquid eggs, specialized cookers, and holding equipment, they can mass produce eggs that are hot, fluffy, and delicious every time. While the cooking method is standardized, customers can still customize their orders. So next time you enjoy an egg sandwich from McDonald’s, you can appreciate the science and technique involved in cooking their famous eggs.