What's Really In A Big Mac?
The answer is… a sesame seed bun, American cheese, special sauce, 100% beef patty, sliced pickles, shredded lettuce and onions… or so we're told.
On closer inspection when perusing the US McDonald's website there are over 72 ingredients that go into this world famous burger. Many of which I wouldn't be happy putting in my (or my kids) mouths.
I can hardly refer to many of these ingredients as “food” as they are far from natural or providing your body with any form of nutrition. In fact, McDonald’s even refers to them as “components of their popular menu”, making them sound like pieces of man-made, processed products (which is exactly what they are).
We all know that fast food is unhealthy, but have you ever stopped to really inspect what the “secret” ingredients are?
Let’s lift the bun off the Big Mac and see what’s really inside…
BIG MAC BUN:
Ingredients:Enriched Flour (Bleached Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup and/or Sugar, Yeast, Soybean Oil and/or Canola Oil, Contains 2% or Less: Salt, Wheat Gluten, Calcium Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Ammonium Sulfate, Ammonium Chloride, Dough Conditioners (May Contain One or More of: Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, DATEM, Ascorbic Acid, Azodicarbonamide, Mono and Diglycerides, Ethoxylated Monoglycerides, Monocalcium Phosphate, Enzymes, Guar Gum, Calcium Peroxide), Sorbic Acid, Calcium Propionate and/or Sodium Propionate (Preservatives), Soy Lecithin, Sesame Seed.
CONTAINS: WHEAT AND SOY LECITHIN.
Wow! That’s a lot of ingredients just to make a burger bun. It definitely doesn’t look anything like the traditional days of just 4 simple ingredients: flour, water, salt and yeast.
High fructose corn syrup and sodium sound tempting? Those ingredients are two of the best serial killers in the world! They get away with murder, causing an epidemic of obesity and seeing a nation struggling with heart disease and diabetes. So why do they put it in? Because it’s addictive and makes your body crave more!
How about some azodicarbonamide on the side? This is a delicious (note the sarcasm) bleaching agent that is a known carcinogen.
PASTEURIZED PROCESSED AMERICAN CHEESE:
Ingredients: Milk, Cream, Water, Cheese Culture, Sodium Citrate, Contains 2% or Less of: Salt, Citric Acid, Sodium Phosphate, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Lactic Acid, Acetic Acid, Enzymes, Sodium Pyrophosphate, Natural Flavor (Dairy Source), Color Added, Soy Lecithin (Added for Slice Separation). CONTAINS: MILK AND SOY LECITHIN
I don’t know about you, but that definitely doesn’t sound like cheese to me. It sounds like the chemicals for a science experiment.
Notice how the recognisable ingredients are always listed first, followed by the “secret” formula.
BIG MAC SAUCE:
Lol gangplank applying dmg to barrelswizardstree. Ingredients: Soybean Oil, Pickle Relish (Diced Pickles, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sugar, Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Salt, Calcium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate [Preservative], Spice Extractives, Polysorbate 80), Distilled Vinegar, Water, Egg Yolks, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Onion Powder, Mustard Seed, Salt, Spices, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Mustard Bran, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Vegetable Protein (Hydrolyzed Corn, Soy and Wheat), Caramel Color, Extractives of Paprika, Soy Lecithin, Turmeric (Color), Calcium Disodium EDTA (Protect Flavor).
CONTAINS: WHEAT, EGG AND SOY.
Well, for a start there are 33 ingredients in this sauce (33!!), 4 of which are sugars, including the silent killers: High Fructose Corn Syrup and Sodium. The real clincher in this sauce however, is propylene glycol alginate (nicely hidden in between the spices). What is propylene glycol? Well, it’s an ingredient found in anything from anti-freeze and engine coolants, to shampoo, to… well, the big mac sauce. Tasty?
100% BEEF PATTY:
Ingredients:100% Pure USDA Inspected Beef; No Fillers, No Extenders.
Prepared with Grill Seasoning (Salt, Black Pepper).
Doesn’t sound so bad? Well for one, ALL beef in the US has to be USDA inspected, otherwise it would be illegal! The fact they market their beef as “100% pure” actually means nothing. It’s like claiming their pickles are made out of 100% pickle! It may or may not be pure and legally doesn’t need to include the chemicals/toxins used in the processing of the meat. All smoke and mirrors! Let’s keep going..
- To make a McDonald's Big Mac, start by combining mayonnaise, French salad dressing, relish, mustard, vinegar, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika to make the special sauce. Then, toast 3 hamburger buns and spread the sauce on one side of each bun. Next, add lettuce, cheese, pickles, and a hamburger to the bottom bun.
- The hotter, juicier and tastier Big Mac will be available for only $1, for a limited time on the mymacca’s app. Save the date for a Macca’s Run.' McDonald's - Today our delicious hotter, juicier, tastier.
A Big Mac that you didn’t have to pay for. Burger fans are set to have a great day today (Monday, May 28) as McDonald’s gives away free Big Macs in celebration of International Burger Day. The Big Mac Bun 1) Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid): To make white bread, you need white flour. To make white flour, two of the three layers that make up a grain of wheat (bran and germ) are removed along with the iron and B vitamins (folic acid, riboflavin, niacin. Mouthwatering perfection starts with two sear-sizzled 100% pure Halal beef patties and Big Mac® sauce, sandwiched between a sesame seed bun. American cheese, shredded lettuce, onions and pickles top it off.
PICKLE SLICES:
Ingredients:Cucumbers, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Calcium Chloride, Alum, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Natural Flavors (Plant Source), Polysorbate 80, Extractives of Turmeric (Color).
Come on!! It’s a pickle!! How can a food this simple and traditionally healthy, end up being so harmful for your health? Did you know that when cucumbers are lacto-fermented they have the ability to dissolve the stone forming uric acid that can result from eating certain meat? Well, these faux-pickles certainly don’t do that.
SHREDDED LETTUCE AND ONIONS:
Thank goodness!! It’s actually lettuce and onions!
I understand that it’s impossible for everyone to avoid fast-food restaurants, and that sometimes you are limited on food choices, especially on long-haul drives across the country. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know what you are putting in your body and be provided with all the facts to make informed choices.
If you want to indulge in fast food, just try to keep it as an irregular occurrence, as all those toxins and chemicals can do serious harm to your body, especially if you are consuming them on a regular basis.
All of the ingredients above have come straight from this official McDonald’s PDF.
In good health,
James.
Do you have any handy tips to share for eating healthy foods while traveling or when you are pushed for time?
- Prep Time : 15 minutes
- Cook Time : 4 minutes
- Yield :1 Big Mac
Ingredients
- The Big Mac Sauce
- Mayonnaise - 1/4 cup
- Miracle Whip - 1/4 cup
- French Dressing - 2 tablespoons
- Relish - 2 teaspoons
- Onion, Minced - 1 tablespoon
- White Vinegar - 1 teaspoon
- Sugar - 1 teaspoon
- Salt - pinch
- The Big Mac Burger
- Ground Beef, Medium - 5 ounces
- Sesame Seed Hamburger Bun - 2
- Iceberg Lettuce, Shredded - handful
- Onion, Minced - 2 sprinkles
- Dill Pickles, Sliced - 4 slices
- Cheddar Cheese slice - 1
- Vegetable Oil - 1/2 teaspoon
- Salt - pinch
- Pepper - pinch
Instructions
- Add to a bowl, 1/4 cup of Mayo, 1/4 cup Miracle Whip, 2 tablespoons French Dressing, 2 teaspoons Relish, 1 tablespoon minced onion, 1 teaspoon white Vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar and a pinch of salt. Stir and refrigerate.
- Place parchment paper on your work surface. Use 2 to 3 ounces of Medium Ground Beef for each patty (2). Make two balls with the ground beef and place it on the parchment paper. Flatten each patty with your hands and then use a plate to completely flatten the patties so they are very thin. Cover and refrigerate.
- For one Big Mac you're going to need two buns. Use two bottom bun pieces for the middle and bottom of your Big Mac and one top piece for the top of your Big Mac. We do not need the other top piece because Big Mac's have three bun layers. Heat a pan until hot and brush with a little vegetable oil. Turn the pan on low-medium and toast the 3 bun pieces for around 2 minutes or until nicely toasted.
- Remove the hamburger patties from the fridge. Turn up the heat to medium-high and add a small squirt of oil to the pan. Add patties to heated pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook the patties for around 2 minutes per side. After the first 2 minutes flip the burgers and re-season. Continue cooking for the remaining 2 minutes.
- Now it's time to construct your Big Mac. Have ready your Big Mac sauce, a couple sprinkles of minced onion, a handful of shredded Iceberg Lettuce, 4 slices of dill pickles, 1 slice of cheddar cheese and of course your 3 bun pieces. Spread the bottom and middle buns with Big Mac sauce. Then sprinkle the minced onion on the bottom and middle as well. Next top the bottom and middle buns with the shredded lettuce. This is where things deviate. Add the slice of cheddar cheese to the bottom bun layer and the pickles to the middle bun layer. Add one patty to the bottom and the other patty to the middle. Finally top the middle layer with the sesame seed bun top and then place the middle section on the bottom section of the burger. Viola! You now have your very own, best and most authentic McDonald's Big Mac burger! Enjoy!
This is without a doubt the best most authentic McDonald’s Big Mac clone recipe ever! The secret is in the Big Mac sauce. Make your own Big Macs at home. I hope you enjoy the recipe. If you try it for yourself, you won’t be sorry!
Language conventionsmr. mac's 6th graders. ♫♫ “Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.” ♫♫
Enzymesmcdonald's Big Machines
