Fast Food Employees Warn Against Ordering These Menu Items
Fast food is such a lifesaver when you're tired or running late. But before you roll up to the drive-thru for your next fast food meal, you should know which items to avoid. Employees of popular chains are sharing the items they warn against ordering.
Here's the inside scoop on what to skip.
Chili
There's nothing more enjoyable than a warm bowl of chili on a cold day. It's a classic comfort food, but you should know where that the meat in that chili comes from.
According to Reddit user Cozmo23, "The meat comes from hamburger patties that sat on the grill too long to serve to customers. They take them and put them in a bin and then throw them in the fridge. When the chili is made they take it out, boil it, chop it up, and dump it in the chili." It's a smart way to reduce waste, but if you want fresh meat, just order a burger instead.
Chicken nuggets
Chicken nuggets are a delicious, crispy snack when they're served hot and fresh, but that isn't always the reality.
According to Reddit user Ritch88, "If you order chicken nuggets, just ask for them fresh. Otherwise, they've been just sitting in their container in the heat. They have a timer, but nine times out of ten when that timer goes off, people just reset the timer instead of making new ones." If you want the freshest version, make sure to specify when you order.
Tuna salad
Tuna is one of those things that really needs to stay cold to be safe. In many sandwich shops, the tuna salad is mixed in big batches and sits in the display case for hours.
On a slower day, that scoop of tuna might have been sitting there since the early morning. If you're not sure how fast they move through it, a sliced turkey sub is usually a much safer bet.
Late night milkshakes
If you get a craving for a milkshake right before the restaurant closes, you might want to reconsider. Many stores start the long cleaning process for the shake machine an hour or two before they actually shut the doors.
If you order one late, you might be getting a half-melted ice cream or a rushed product. It's always better to get your sweet treats earlier in the day when the machine is ready.
Fried fish
Unless it's a Friday during Lent, most fast food places don't sell many fish sandwiches. Because the demand is low, the fish fillets often sit in the heater for a long time. They can lose their crunch and become quite oily.
If you really want a good fish sandwich, you should ask them to cook a fresh one for you. It takes a few extra minutes but tastes so much better.
Secret menu items
"Secret" menu items are always circulating on social media. While they sound fun and exclusive, they can be a real headache for the staff. Most employees are not officially trained on these items.
This means your order might be made incorrectly or take a long time to prepare. It's always a safer choice to order something that's actually advertised on the menu, and the employees will be grateful.
Grilled chicken
Most people assume the grilled chicken is the healthiest option on the menu. While it does have fewer calories, it also tends to sit in the warming tray much longer than the crispy chicken.
Since most customers choose the fried version, the grilled pieces can get dry and rubbery over time. If you want something that was likely cooked more recently, the popular crispy chicken is usually the way to go.
It's always good to have a little bit of inside knowledge about where we eat. None of this is meant to ruin your favorite treat, but being a bit more selective can lead to a much better meal.
Fast food workers are just doing their best in a tough job, so being a polite and informed customer makes everything run more smoothly.