As one of the most popular fast-food chains in the world, McDonald’s welcomes millions of customers every day. McDonald’s pickles have a distinct flavor and texture that millions of people love.
However, you may be wondering what kind of pickles McDonald’s uses and other questions about them. Look no further! I’ve done the research on the issue, and here’s all I’ve found!
Key Takeaways
What Kind Of Pickles Does McDonald’s Use In 2022?
McDonald’s uses sour pickles on all of its sandwiches, including its cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches as of 2022. These pickles are thinly sliced and have a nice crunchy texture that many people appreciate. However, it’s unclear exactly who supplies its pickles, but they taste similar to Heinz brand hamburger dill pickles, according to many people.
If you are curious about anything else regarding McDonald’s pickles, then keep reading!
What Ingredients Are In McDonald’s Pickles?
McDonald’s website lists the following ingredients in its pickles:
- Cucumbers
- Water
- Distilled Vinegar
- Salt
- Calcium Chloride
- Alum
- Potassium Sorbate (Preservative)
- Natural Flavors
- Polysorbate 80
- Extractives of Turmeric (Color)
Interestingly, although McDonald’s abandoned artificial preservatives for nearly all of its products, the pickles continue to contain potassium sorbate.
That said, potassium sorbate is a preservative commonly used in food products, and it is considered safe.
For the most part, though, McDonald’s pickles are made from simple, typical pickle ingredients.
Where Does McDonald’s Get Its Pickles From?
McDonald’s partners with many food suppliers worldwide that meet high standards of food quality and excellent service.
As a result, McDonald’s gets its pickles from a variety of suppliers worldwide.
Additionally, McDonald’s seems to value long-term partnerships when it comes to its suppliers.
For example, in Australia, one man and his company produce all of the pickles for that market.
Which Pickles Taste The Most Like McDonald’s Pickles?
Because McDonald’s does not sell its pickles in stores, it can be helpful to find a good store brand substitute.
Thankfully, there are some pickles out there that remind people of McDonald’s pickles.
For example, some have said that McDonald’s pickles taste very similar to certain varieties of Vlasic and Heinz dill pickles.
What Pickles Are In The Big Mac?
Big Macs from McDonald’s have regular, sour pickles on them, but they also have a unique sauce with another type of pickles.
For example, the Big Mac sauce contains a pickle relish that adds crunch and sweetness.
According to McDonald’s website, the sweet pickle relish consists of sliced pickles, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, distilled vinegar, salt, corn syrup, xanthan gum, calcium chloride, and spice extractives.
As is evident from the ingredients list, the pickle relish is much different from the regular sour pickles.
Along with vinegar and salt, sugar and corn syrup lend this relish its sweetness.
This sweet pickle relish is only found in the Big Mac sauce and not in any other products at McDonald’s.
If pickles are your favorite part of a cheeseburger, then good news, you absolutely can request extra pickles at McDonald’s.
To do so, simply ask the crew member who takes your order, and they will comply.
There are typically only a couple of pickles on a regular cheeseburger, so for those who love pickles, it’s good to know that you can ask for a few extras at no charge.
However, double-check with your local McDonald’s if you want to request more than just a couple of extra pickles.
A cupful of extra pickles, for example, might cost a bit extra, so always ask.
Why Are There Pickles On McDonald’s Burgers?
Many fast-food restaurants add a few pickles to their cheeseburgers because of a variety of reasons.
At McDonald’s, the chain adds pickles because they are considered an excellent complement to the other elements, and they have a long-lasting tradition of being added into burgers.
To know more about McDonald’s, you can also read our posts on whether or not McDonald’s onion is real, where you can buy McDonald’s pickles, and if McDonald’s Big Macs are good.
Conclusion
At McDonald’s, the pickles come from various suppliers around the world, so there’s not one sole vendor that sells McDonald’s pickles.
That said, the pickles McDonald’s uses are thinly sliced, crunchy, and sour.
Although they are not available for sale, some people find that certain store brands like Vlasic and Heinz dill pickles taste similar.
Additionally, the sweet pickle relish used on Big Macs has a much different flavor and is a fan favorite as well.