Former McDonald's chef explains why restaurants don't ever sell highly-requested menu item

People are flooding to social media after an ex-McDonald's chef revealed why the chain doesn't sell one particular sought after item.

Ah, McDonald's. The cheap, quick, and deliciously tasty golden goodness of nugs, fries and Big Macs which save us all on our lunch breaks, before a night out and the next morning when we can't bring ourselves to sloth our way to the stove.

It's introduced mozzarella dippers and the McPlant, but has yet to bring out another item which fans of the fast-food restaurant have been begging it to for years. Can you guess what food item we're talking about?

You buy your Big Mac, your fries, some nuggets, a milkshake and even a McFlurry if you're really treating yourself. Oo and go on, how about some mozzarella dippers too.

But the one thing which would really add to your meal? Which you can buy from other fast food chains but still not from McDonald's?

Crispy, golden-coated, aromatic onion rings.

They're not great for your breath but boy do they taste heavenly, so why has McDonald's refused to introduce the golden rings of gloriousness?

Former McDonald's corporate chef Mike Haracz - who goes by @chefmikeharacz on TikTok - has taken to the platform to reveal why the company hasn't bowed down to customer's calls for onion rings to be placed on the menu.

The chef explains: "So McDonald's is most profitable when it is the most efficient and that's efficiency in scale.

"If they can sell all of the same thing - if McDonald's could sell one thing and that's it - it would be great for them.

"So they actually, especially more recently have reduced choice and reduced options, more specifically in the United States."

Mike goes on to explain that if McDonald's did decide to introduce onion rings to its menu, it would 'probably be a limited time offer' - 'a little special thing' - taking into account its focus on efficiency.

"Think of how many less people would [...] order fries and would order onion rings instead," he continues. "Right now, because of how many French fries they sell, because of how efficient they are and most importantly, how over-the-top profitable it is for them - so the mark-up on their fries are like, it is pretty bad how much they overcharge for their fries compared to other menu items - they would be selling a much less efficient, much less profitable item for them."

What Mike doesn't consider is people like me who wouldn't substitute fries for onion rings, but add both to the order instead.

However, the former McDonald's chef raises a valid point, noting: "Would you be willing to pay a lot more for your side of onion rings?"

And he's right, as the cheapskate I am, I probably wouldn't, even if it was 'an extra dollar,' with the chef warning it could be 'even more' too.

Sadly, Mike doesn't think even a limited time offer will be happening anytime soon, so don't get your hopes up onion ring lovers. And it's fair to say, people are as disappointed as I am by Mike's inside scoop.

One TikToker said: "Damn never thought of it that way! That's smart thanks for the info keep up the content."

Another argued: "I bet a lot of people would order fries and onion rings at the same time."

And a third, clinging onto hope, added: "They add all kinds of random stuff to the menu all the time."

UNILAD has contacted McDonald's for comment.

Topics: Food and Drink, McDonalds, Social Media, TikTok

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.