How to Upgrade Your Big Mac, According to a Former McDonald’s Chef

If you thought you’d tried everything at McDonald’s, think again. Not only does the beloved burger chain continue to add new items (Dulce de Leche Frappé, anyone?) but it also has a secret menu reserved for only the most passionate McDonald’s diners. And now, a former McDonald’s corporate chef is sharing an even lesser-known upgrade—one that’s bound to take your favorite fast-food sandwich to a whole new level.

Keep reading to learn about the chef’s secret menu hack and how to order one for yourself.

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What is the chef’s upgrade?

Sure, McDonald’s burgers are perfectly delicious if you stick to the standard recipes, but according to former McDonald’s corporate chef Mike Haracz, there is one upgrade that makes every sandwich better: a steamed bun. “You need to order a double cheeseburger or a McDouble, and then you need to request a steamed bun,” he told followers on TikTok.

@chefmikeharacz #stitch with @Cribbs McDonald’s Former #McDonalds corporate chef talks about the #Steamedbun hack! #mcdonaldshacks #mcdonaldssecrets #mcdonaldshack #McDonaldsLife #McDonaldsMenu #mcdonaldsmenuhack #mcdonaldsmenuhacks #FastFood #FastFoodHack #FastFoodMenuHack #filetofish #McDouble #DoubleCheeseburger #FYP ♬ original sound – Chef Mike Haracz

Yes, you read that right. You can request a steamed bun with your McDonald’s sandwich. While Haracz recommends requesting it the next time you order a cheeseburger, you can add a steamed bun to any order, including a McChicken, McRib or Big Mac.

How, exactly, does McDonald’s steam a bun?

The restaurant uses its steamer to heat the bun with—no surprise here—steam for exactly 11 seconds. The end result is a moist, squishy bun that makes your sandwich even more satisfying than it already was. Plus, requesting a steamed bun means your meal will always be made to order.

Does McDonald’s regularly steam its buns?

McDonald’s has been steaming its buns for years, but not for all of its sandwiches. In fact, the only sandwich recipe that includes a steamed bun is the Filet-O-Fish. The @foodfvucks account on TikTok offers a visual on how the process works:

@foodfvcks Reply to @buffs6236 #fishfilet #mcdonalds #howto ♬ Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) – Edison Lighthouse

The rest of McDonald’s sandwiches come with a bun warmed in the standard warmer. If you’ve never tried the Filet-O-Fish, you might not have known steamed buns were an option.

How can you order a steamed bun?

Salivating? Get yourself to a McDonald’s—but skip the drive-thru. You have to order a steamed bun the old-fashioned way: with an in-person cashier. Currently, there’s no way to make this extra-special request through the mobile app or the in-store kiosk.

While you’re there, make the most of your trip by asking the cashier for the fan-favorite Strawberry & Crème pie too.

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Sources:

• @chefmikeharacz on TikTok: “Former #McDonald’s corporate chef talks about the #Steamedbun hack!”
• @foodfvcks on TikTok

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