FOOD NEWS
Why Your McDonald's Quarter Pounder Might Be Undercooked
By Stacie Adams
A McDonald's fan recently asked Mike Haracz, a TikToker and former McDonald's Manager of Culinary Innovation, why the Quarter Pounder always appears undercooked.
Haracz said it might be because this burger is made from a fresh, not frozen, patty, and potential human error can happen to prevent the burger from being fully cooked through.
According to Haracz, McDonald's staff presses a button to initiate the cooking process, with the Quarter Pounder patty typically being left to cook for 80 to 84 seconds.
Pressing the wrong button could lead to a shorter cooking time, leaving it a little pink inside. A dirty grill might also prevent the surface from reaching the proper temperature.
In his TikTok video, Haracz also breaks down the process McDonald's uses to package fresh beef patties for the Quarter Pounder.
Packs are filled with a special gas that protects the meat from spoilage while being transported, giving the patties a brown hue that turns vibrant red when exposed to open air.
It's possible for the patty to retain some of the red coloring after being taken out of the pack, even after being cooked correctly and for the appropriate amount of time.