As McDonalds often acknowledge in their advertising campaigns, a lot of people have their own interpretations of what goes into McChicken Nuggets. But whats the truth?.
Is it chicken feet? Crushed up chicks? Any and every bit of any bird that you could fathom? Er, no, actually – as explained in My Virgin Kitchens latest YouTube video, A DAY WORKING WITH McDONALDS.
While the video is an #ad and has been sponsored by McDonalds, were going to make the assumption that the factory the YouTuber visits, and the processes he watches, are legit. Everyones clicking on.
At about 3:00, he says, “I thought it would be a little more complicated, but the structure for how the nuggets are made is very simple, and the stations in the factory reflect that.” 52 minutes in the video.
“The chicken breast comes in and is inspected by hand before being turned into chicken mince. Now the folks at McDonalds are happy to show [this process]. Its exactly the same thing [as mincing chicken at home], just on a bigger scale. Just chicken breast ground up and then marinated.
“Yes, marinated for extra flavour. It is then compressed and flattened to make pressing the nugget shapes achievable. There are a variety of stages here, [including] a gentle breadcrumb and batter, then flash frying, before going through a slow freezer. Then theyre ready to be bagged up. “.
When someone places an order, the chicken nuggets are fried right from the blue bags and kept warm in a cabinet.
Dusty Baxter-Wright is an award-winning journalist and the Entertainment and Lifestyle Director at Cosmopolitan, having previously worked at Sugarscape. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work covering pop culture, careers, interiors and travel, and oversees the site’s Entertainment and Lifestyle strategy across print, digital and video. As a journalist for the best part of a decade, she has interviewed everyone from Louis Theroux and Channing Tatum to Margot Robbie and Ncuti Gatwa, while she has also spoken on Times Radio and BBC Radio. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram here.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
McDonald’s chicken nuggets have been a popular menu item for decades, beloved by kids and adults alike. But there has long been mystery and intrigue around how exactly these bite-sized pieces of breaded and fried chicken are made. Are they really just pieces of whole chicken breast like McDonald’s claims? Or are there chicken feet, bones, and other unsavory parts blended in? Let’s unpack the process and see what really goes into making a McDonald’s chicken nugget.
Sourcing the Chicken
McDonald’s only uses 100% real chicken breast meat for their nuggets. The meat comes from chickens raised by select trusted suppliers. While each supplier has their own standards and practices, McDonald’s has strict requirements for animal welfare feed hormone usage, and environmental impact that suppliers must adhere to. The chickens are fed a diet of corn and soybean meal with no added hormones or steroids.
From Whole Breasts to Mince
When the whole chicken breasts get to McDonald’s food processing plant, they are checked and trimmed by hand. The chicken breasts are then put through a meat grinder to make very small pieces.
Some key steps in the mincing process
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The grinder blade speed, temperature, and pressure are precisely controlled to achieve the ideal texture.
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The chicken is minced multiple times through progressively smaller grinder plates to achieve a very fine, consistent texture.
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The minced meat is tested regularly for size, texture, color, and other quality metrics.
Flavoring and Forming the Nugget
The minced chicken breast is placed in a large rotating tumbler where seasonings and flavors are added. Exact seasonings vary by region, but commonly include salt, spices, and natural flavors. The chicken and seasonings tumble together thoroughly mixing the flavors throughout.
Next, the seasoned minced chicken is pressed into the iconic oblong nugget shapes. It is compressed and formed using an industrial forming machine specialized for high volume nugget production.
Key aspects of the forming process:
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The minced meat is lightly compressed to remove air pockets and pack the meat tightly.
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The compressed meat is pressed into a rolling sheet.
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The sheet is cut using press dies into the nugget shapes.
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Nuggets are inspected for proper shape, size, and quality.
Breading and Par-Frying
Batter and bread the pressed nugget shapes before they are par-fried. The batter helps the breading adhere and adds flavor. The breading provides texture and flavor.
The automated breading process works as follows:
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Nuggets pass through a flour-based batter then into a breadcrumb mixture.
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The batter and breading fully coats each nugget.
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Excess batter and crumbs are shaken off.
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Nuggets are par-fried for 1-2 minutes at 350°F to partially cook and set the breading.
Flash Freezing for Freshness
After par-frying, the chicken nuggets are individually quick frozen (IQF). As the nuggets fall through a special IQF freezing machine, they freeze solid in seconds.
Flash freezing brings the core temperature down rapidly for optimal freshness and food safety. It also prevents nuggets from sticking together and allows them to be packaged loosely rather than in blocks.
Delivery, Storage, and Final Cooking
The frozen chicken nuggets are delivered to McDonald’s restaurants in protective bags that prevent freezer burn. Nuggets are held frozen in restaurant freezers until needed.
In order to finish cooking, frozen nuggets are deep-fried at 340°F for about 3 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F. After being cooked, the nuggets are kept in warming trays until the customer orders them.
Simple Ingredients, Complex Supply Chain
While the ingredients may be simple, McDonald’s chicken nuggets require a complex, highly orchestrated supply chain to produce. From chicken farm to freezer to fryer, each step of the process must adhere to strict procedures and controls to deliver a consistently delicious product.
So while mystery and myths still surround McDonald’s nuggets, the reality is they are made from simple, real chicken with just a few additions for flavor and texture. Now that you know what really goes into making chicken nuggets, you can enjoy your 20-piece with confidence!
How McDonalds Chicken Nuggets are Made
FAQ
How does McDonald’s batter their chicken nuggets?
McNuggets actually have a tempura batter which is what gives them their distinct taste. A lot of mass-produced foods are designed to be recognizable rather than high quality in an absolute sense.
What are McDonald’s chicken nuggets actually made of?
McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets are primarily made from white boneless chicken, along with a batter and breading. The chicken, which is cut from the tenderloin, breast, and rib, is mixed with a marinade to enhance flavor and help maintain the nugget’s shape. Other ingredients include vegetable oil, enriched flour, yellow corn flour, and various spices and seasonings.