Think you know everything about your favorite fast food joint? Think again. Behind the smiling service and sizzling fries are workers with stories, secrets, and truths they’re not exactly allowed to tell you. Whether it’s menu hacks, cleanliness confessions, or surprising kitchen shortcuts, here are the 10 secrets fast food employees wish they could spill, but they can’t.
10. The Truth About Milkshakes
While fast food is known for its instant ingredients, some fast food places beg to differ when it comes to some of their products. One example is milkshakes, which they claim are made from ice cream. Wrong! They’re still made from powdered mix.
9. Rude Customers Get What They Deserve
This is actually an open secret to many of us. If you tend to be rude towards your server or in a drive-thru, then your food will get spat on or workers will “accidentally” drop it on the floor. Reddit user HailTheTempress said that even managers partake in ruining your food if they see that you’re rude towards the employees.
8. 25% of Old Oil Residue
The oil from the fryers gets changed to fresh oil once it affects the taste of the food. That’s about two days! The trick that workers do is that they change 75% of the old oil with fresh oil, so there’s like 25% of old oil residue with fried foods. But if you aren’t sensitive to oil, this wouldn’t come as a shock to you.
7. The Grill Marks on Your Burger Are Fake
Admit it; seeing the perfectly spaced grill marks on your burger patty makes the taste even better. Well, that’s only psychological since the grill marks are fake. The “grill marks” of your patty likely came from a machine that marks frozen patties before they’re grilled. Some fast food chains even go through lengths to inject the meat with artificial ingredients to get that perfect flavor.
6. The Trick to Freshest Fries
Sometimes, your fries are soggy since they’ve been around for a number of hours, but don’t worry, as there’s a trick for that. When you order unsalted fries, chances are the employees would need to make another batch of fries since the ones that they serve are already salted. If you really want the salt, then just add it on your own when employees aren’t looking.
5. Chilis Are Made of Repurposed Meat
Fast food restaurants that serve chili may have actually created their chili with old meat. Those were the unsold burger patties that had been sticking around for too long. It’s also a move to avoid food waste and save the place money for beef.
4. They Know About Secret Menus
Fast food employees are aware of that recent TikTok secret menu discovery, you ask. If it’s too complicated, they deny your request by telling you that they aren’t allowed to make them. But if you really wanted to try it, then you would have to order them separately and create it on your own.
3. “Exact” Rules Aren’t Always Followed
Ever wondered why your burger is smaller than the previous location of the same fast food? Well, it’s no secret that out of necessity and time, the corners do get cut. Whether it’s skipping the timer or reheating an old patty, each location differs in how it prepares your food.
2. Rushed Drive-Thru Orders
Reddit user Ev3nstarr revealed that management gives out bonuses according to how fast they give out drive-thru orders. Every lunch rush, they only have 25 seconds to hand out orders to hungry customers on the drive-thru. This is why sometimes, there’s something missing with your orders, or the taste of your food is different from the usual.
1. Your Food Might Have Chemical Residue
Most fast food joints clean everything in the kitchen with concentrated chemicals during closing hours. This includes the grill and beverage machine nozzles. If you happen to order early in the morning, then chances are your food or drink might have some chemical remnants.