McDonald’s Hacks For People Who Want To Bring 'Lovin' It' To A New Level

McDonald's: the place where dreams come true! Or more accurately, the place where you can chomp down on juicy burgers and salty fries for a fraction of a regular restaurant's price. But McDonald's is capable of much more than you'd think. There's a lot hidden inside those golden arches, including delicious food transformations and secret money-saving tricks. You won't be able to approach the McDonald's counter the same way ever again...

1. Make your own Buffalo Ranch fries

If you have a hankerin' for Buffalo Ranch fries but all you have near you is a Mickey D's, then listen to this hack. Simply order your McDonald's fries, put them in a paper bag, then add some Ranch and Buffalo sauce. Shake the bag up, and voila! You have Buffalo Ranch fries for the price of regular fries.

2. You can get your McMuffin cheaper

A regular McMuffin comes with a slice of Canadian bacon. If you’re not a fan of bacon, though, you might order yours without it. Next time, though, ask for an egg and cheese muffin — which is no different from the McMuffin without bacon. Well, except for the fact that this option’s almost $2 cheaper, according to one Redditor.

3. Ask for a receipt

McDonald’s employees know how to pinpoint a secret shopper. One person claiming to have been an employee told Reddit that these people typically come in during peak times, and they always ask for a receipt. So, if you want the high level of service provided to an evaluator, be sure to ask for your receipt every time you visit the fast-food eatery. They might just treat you and your food better because of it.

4. You can ask for a Neapolitan milkshake

What happens if you can't decide what flavor shake to order? Instead of settling on just one, tell the cashier you'd like a "Neapolitan milkshake." If the employee is game for a challenge, then they'll combine vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry into one swirly cup. You've got the best of all three flavor worlds!

5. You can order a grilled cheese

It’s worth remembering that vegetarians have more options than just ice cream or Egg McMuffins. It turns out that the staff can and will make you a grilled cheese, too. One McDonald’s employee named Andy told Mental Floss in 2019 that doing so wasn’t so easy, though. He explained, “Sometimes it can get a bit risky doing it because the bun toaster wasn’t designed to make grilled cheeses, so sometimes you get some burnt buns or cheese…”

6. Use free refills to your advantage

Is there a promotional drink you want to try but don't feel like paying for? Try ordering a cheap drink and then asking for the special drink when you get your refill. The free refills are one of the best aspects of McDonald's! This hack may not slide at every McDonald's, but it's worth a shot, right?

7. Swap out your sauce

Perhaps one burger on the McDonald’s menu sounds perfect… except for the sauce on top of it. You don’t have to have your sandwich as-is when you stop into the golden arches, though. Staffers apparently don’t mind if you swap out one sauce for another. And this is even the case with a Big Mac, which comes with its signature, eponymous condiment.

8. Make your own DIY food carrier

What can you do to make transporting fast food a bit easier? Order a drink, a burger, and fries, and then open up the burger box. Put the burger on one side and the fries on the other. Then, stick the drinking straw through the opening in the middle of the box. And there you have it! Everything is easily accessible, including your drink.

9. Hack your way to cheaper nuggets

Even though you have a hankering for chicken nuggets, you might not always want to get the 20-piece box; that's a lot of nuggets. However, if you're looking for the wisest financial decision, 20 is the way to go. Each nugget costs about 25 cents, whereas a 10-piece box is 36 cents per piece.

10. Make your own ice cream sandwich

They have cookies. They have soft-serve. So what’s not clicking? Go ahead and try asking for an ice cream sandwich during your next McDonald's visit and become the envy of every other customer. Your bravery will inspire everyone else in line to order the delicious dessert!

11. A special time of day

There’s nothing like a fresh carton of McDonald’s fries or a piping hot, melty cheeseburger. You can almost guarantee that you’ll get fresh food during the windows that the restaurants expect secret shoppers to come and evaluate them. One former employee claimed on Quora that they tend to fall from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.

12. Behold the breakfast-Mac

No, this doesn’t mean you should order a hamburger for breakfast, but something close! If you order two McMuffins and combine them into a single sandwich, it’s kind of like a McBreakfast! That's worth getting out of bed for. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, after all.

13. Get your own Happy Meal toy

McDonald’s sells a shocking number of Happy Meals each year. According to the company, more than 38,000 restaurants offer the kid-friendly eats, and, altogether, they dole out one billion of them every year. One of the joys of buying a Happy Meal is that it comes with a toy. And, as one apparent former employee revealed, you can request which one you want.

14. Steamed vs. regular bun

If you've ever looked at the bun on a Filet-o-Fish and thought it looked different from other buns, you're right! The sandwich uses a steamed bun as opposed to a grilled one, and you can ask to have any sandwich made using it. Some people just prefer the smooth, pillowy steamed bun to the sometimes-crunchy grilled bun.

15. Get mayo on the side

While ketchup is probably the condiment used most often to dunk French fries, some people prefer mayonnaise. McDonald's might not offer mayo in their condiment dispensers, but you can always ask for some on the side. Chances are, they've got a few mayo packets hidden behind the counter.

16. Cereal as ice cream topping

Nothing cuts through the salty greasiness of a McDonald's meal quite like a vanilla ice cream cone... on the rare occasion that the ice cream machine is actually working, that is. If you are able to get a McDonald's ice cream cone, you can elevate it by adding some ingredients from home — say, crushed cookies or even crushed cereal.

17. You can upgrade your apple pie

Apple pie is an American classic, and it tastes delicious on its own. But there’s one way to make the fruity dessert taste even better — topping it with a scoop of ice cream, of course. Surprisingly, you can have this combination when you dine at McDonald’s. Yes, one person purporting to have worked at the chain claimed on Reddit that they secretly serve the apple pie a la mode.

18. Stop asking for fries sans salt

You can get fresh fries at McDonald’s by asking for yours without salt. The ones sitting under the heating lamp will inevitably have it on them. Though staffers apparently hate it when you do this. Employee Andy told Mental Floss that they have to pour the fries onto a separate, salt-free baking sheet — a move so awkward that many of them hurt themselves doing it. Instead, just request a fresh batch of fries so they can prep them in the salty, easy-to-use fry basin.

19. A smaller Big Mac

At McDonald's, the Big Mac reigns supreme. But, they can be a little pricey if you're on a tight budget. If you're craving the taste of a Big Mac, though, just order the McDouble and ask for it "dressed like a Mac." Sure, it's smaller, but it tastes just the same. It's the essence of a Big Mac but with fewer calories.

20. Chicken or the egg?

There are two kinds of eggs McDonald's uses for its breakfast items: fresh eggs and a yellow liquid egg substitute. In order to ensure you always get the fresh kind, ask for your breakfast with a "round" egg. You may not always end up with a real egg, but asking can never hurt your chances.


Image notes: Find something like this photo that shows both kinds of eggs! Can do a composite image if necessary. User generated image(s) are best.

21. Ask for fresh coffee

No morning would be complete without a coffee. And McDonald’s hands out a whopping 500 million cups of the stuff per day, according to the Chicago Tribune. If you stop into the golden arches for your caffeine fix, have a look at the pot that’s brewing. If it looks like it’s been sitting for a while, you can always ask the staff to make a fresh carafe for you.

22. Locate one of the best

Some McDonald’s restaurants are a cut above the rest. One supposed employee revealed via Reddit that they worked at a “Top 500” outpost in Ohio, and the change in quality from low- to top-tier was astounding. While the former might leave burgers on the heaters for an hour or more, high-ranking McDonald’s establishment could only have food sitting for 10 minutes before it had to go.

23. Don't look down on leftovers

Look, no one really wants to eat fast food that has been sitting out for a while, but hear us out on this. If you ask a cashier for food that is "going begging," or has gone unclaimed in the kitchen, there's a chance you could get discounted food. The food would likely be just a few hours old, so you'd be getting somewhat-fresh food for a fraction of the usual price.

24. You can get cheap toppings

Are we the only ones who never get enough Oreo or chocolate sauce in our McFlurries? Thankfully, you can ask for extra toppings for only 20¢ each. That's a very small price to pay for a crunchier, sweeter, and more enjoyable McFlurry! With just a few extra cents, you've created your own ice cream sundae for the price of a McFlurry.

25. Complaints = free food

According to a TikTok user who previously worked at McDonald’s, customers who complained about their food got treated on their next visit. Supposedly, her Scottish branch of the fast-food joint would write down customers’ names and give them a free meal on their next visit. She didn’t go into specifics about how this worked or if this was a business-wide policy, though.

26. You can get free coffee

McDonald's has a "buy five get one free" deal on their McCafe coffees, but what happens if you lose the piece of paper proving you've bought enough to warrant a free one? The phone app can scan barcodes and track the amount of coffee you drink, so you'll never miss your free cup of joe.

27. A hack for your hacks

Many of you will know that you can order certain items separately to make a cheaper meal. But don’t expect other menu hacks to go down as well. For example, staffers know about the “Poor Man’s Big Mac,” which is a McDouble with Mac sauce and extra greens. So, one apparent staffer wrote on Reddit, “We will upcharge you $0.30 for the Mac sauce and $0.20 to $0.30 for the shredded lettuce.”

28. Always take your food to-go

Thinking of popping your McDonald’s onto a tray and sitting down to eat it? Think again. Former employee and TikTok user Joseph advised customers not to dine on the plastic trays. She said in a video that people do “disgusting things” with their trays — including “blowing boogers” into them. Even if the tray’s washed afterward, that’s pretty unappetizing to think about.

29. Just ask!

Ask and you shall receive — that might be the best secret about McDonald’s. According to a Reddit user who said they worked there, if you want freshly cooked food, all you have to do is request it when you order. It may take a few minutes longer than getting something pre-made that has been kept warm in a heated cabinet. But it’s always worth it for a crispy batch of fries and a piping hot burger.

30. Read your receipt

Next time you order from McDonald’s make sure to save the receipt. Toward the bottom, you’ll find a survey link that, if completed, could lead to money off on your next order! Now that's a literal Happy Meal. And to think: you were going to throw that receipt away, weren't you?

31. Make your own milk tea

If you suddenly start craving milk tea while ordering your meal, what's to stop you from asking the cashier for sweet tea and creamer? TikToker @emilylamme recommends adding a pump of hazelnut to your tea for added flavor. Mix them all together, and you get decent milk tea for an even better price.

32. The app could save you money

This just may be the most obvious hack of them all, but if you frequent McDonald's, there's no good reason why you shouldn't download the McDonald's app. You'll be the first one to know about sales, coupons, and special promotions. You're on your phone anyways, so download it!

33. Hack for international locations

If you're traveling out of the country, go to a local McDonald's to see if it has anything on the menu not offered in the United States. Many places have special items unique to the country, such as Taro Pie in Hawaii or fried chicken with pasta in the Philippines.

34. Skip the small patties

Someone claiming to be a McDonald’s employee took to Reddit to claim that, if you avoid any menu item, it should be any of the burgers with small patties. They explained, “The ones that come on your double cheeseburgers and Big Macs. Those things come off of the grill still red with blood and then we would shove them in the trays where they would stay for hours.”

35. Deconstruct your McFlurry

Of all the items on the menu, many McDonald's employees agree the McFlurries are way overpriced for what you're getting. Instead, order a regular sundae and then ask for the McFlurry topping on the side. They may charge you a little extra for the toppings, but you won't have to pay the price of a full McFlurry.

36. Peak times don’t mean peak food

You might think that visiting McDonald’s at its busiest times will ensure you get fresh food. After all, the kitchen staff will be working tirelessly to fulfill orders, right? But a number of Reddit users who said they worked for the chain have revealed that they actually cook a bunch of food pre-rush and then put it in warming cabinets. Only certain items will be made fresh, and apparently it’s usually the more obscure selections on the menu.

37. You could get lobster rolls...

...but only at a very specific location. At one of Maine’s 62 locations, you can add a lobster roll or two to your Happy Meal order. This isn't a hack so much as an excuse to go on a road trip to Maine, but if you absolutely love lobster rolls, then this "hack" is for you.

38. Make your own vanilla espresso milkshake

If you're feeling a bit sluggish, then this coffee hack is sure to perk you right up! If you order an espresso shot and a plain vanilla ice cream, you can combine them to create the sugary, caffeine-filled dessert of your doctor's nightmares — we mean, of your sweetest dreams.

39. Swap fries for apple slices

McDonald’s isn’t exactly known for its nutritious offerings, but this may change once the world learns how many apples the fast food chain buys annually. Approximately 54 million pounds of fresh apples make their way into McDonald’s restaurants each year! If you're willing to part with the restaurant's famous fries, then ordering an apple could be a healthier option.

40. You can fight against overpriced food

Does a slightly overpriced sandwich constitute a $5 million class-action lawsuit? It did for Cynthia Kissner and Leonard Werner. They were irate that they didn't receive a price decrease for ordering quarters pounders with cheese — without the cheese. Clever wording on their part was enough for them to request millions of dollars from McDonald's... yeah, this "hack" may be more trouble than it's worth. This lawsuit was dismissed in court, after all.