The Logistical Reason Why Employees Recommended Avoiding McDonald's Grilled Chicken
When McDonald's, a chain known for its milkshakes and burgers, first decided to start selling salads in 1987we're sure the world let out a resounding "huh?" However, it wasn't long before the fast food republic warmed up to the idea that a restaurant known for its unhealthy eats could also sell quality un-fried, green-filled meals for a low price. And soon, we started enjoying McDonald's salads and parfaits with little to no apprehension. But then there's the grilled chicken.
Offered in a few of the chain's salad varieties and in sandwich form, the grilled chicken was touted by some nutritionists as one of McDonald's healthiest menu items. But when the poultry product was still being served up at the golden arches in the U.S., Mental Floss reports, Ronald McDonald's employees recommended skipping the more nutritious McDonald's meal.
However, don't think this trifling fact doesn't matter just because the grilled chicken (and all of the previously healthy products, for that matter) was discontinued in 2020. After all, McDonald's is known for bringing previously banished items back to its menu (like its beloved holiday pie, for example). And, to be clear, even associates had no problem with the grilled chicken's taste. So just in case the menu item ever does return from the fast food waste fields, you need to know McDonald's employees discovered the grilled chicken had a logistical flaw.
An employee claimed the grilled chicken often dried out
When it was still being sold at the chain, a McDonald's employee told Mental Floss that, despite the product's health benefits, not many customers were coming to Micky D's with an appetite for grilled chicken. So what does that mean? If you didn't know, McDonald's pre-preps a lot of the items it sells. And according to the same staff member, because it wasn't a customer favorite, the pre-cooked chicken usually sat in the chain's heated cabinets for a long time. And that was not a good thing.
While the employee stated that the chicken's shelf life was allegedly 60 minutes, he explained that it was prone to going dry long before an hour was up. And when it lost its moisture the associate said it looked "like burnt rubber, and probably tastes like it, too." So why did this item tend to go Sahara so quickly? Well, another McDonald's staff member made a claim on Reddit that may be connected to the mystery. According to the employee, the grilled chicken actually came frozen and the staff would prepare the meat by defrosting and steaming it. The associate also said the menu item had a reportedly "gelatinous" quality. While the truth of the dry chicken matter is anyone's guess, because of its tendency to go dry lighting fast, we know for certain both employees discouraged customers from chowing down on the (currently) bygone product.
Other McDonald's food that workers called less than fresh
While McDonald's doesn't offer grilled chicken right now, employees have alleged that some other foods that are currently on the chain's menu tend to sit on the shelf longer than you might expect. We're sorry to say this, dessert and breakfast enthusiasts, but unnamed associates apparently told Reader's Digest that the chain's apple pies and breakfast burritos fall into this category. These products are reportedly among the less frequently ordered McDonald's items. Because of that, when a customer finally digs into the order, they could be biting into less-than-fresh food.
And while chicken nuggets are popular, one employee on Reddit claimed that if you order them in the mid-afternoon you'll likely be feasting on chicken left over from the lunch rush. So you'll be risking eating nuggets that are potentially, in the words of the associate, "more than an hour old." However, the same staff member did provide a helpful tip. According to them, if you order at McDonald's and see an employee intends to grab your food from the warmer, you can ask them to make your meal fresh to ensure you're not biting into a stale Big Mac.