14 Secrets McDonald’s Employees Want You to Know

McDonald’s is a trusty place to stop for a quick, affordable meal or simply to satisfy your craving for some crispy fries.

However, there are some secrets about your local McDonald’s that could give you a better experience — and help you stretch your fast food budget — the next time you visit the Golden Arches.

So before you pull up to the drive-thru at your local McDonald’s, here are some insider tips employees want you to know.

There are crafty ways to shave money off of your total.

Look at McDonald's menu. With a little extra consideration, you can save money while hardly changing your meal.

For example, you can order a sundae with some of your favorite McFlurry toppings. You'll get nearly the same thing and avoid wasting money.

If you’re concerned about food not being at its peak, then you can get your food freshly made instead of worrying about how long it has been warming.

This is a good option if you’re ordering during slow times when food isn’t being replaced as quickly in the warming area. 

Just be aware that making this request might mean it takes a little longer to fill that order.

You may get excited about a shake or McFlurry only to hear the dreaded words that the ice cream machine is down.

Unfortunately, most of the models specific to McDonald’s allegedly take four hours to clean and sanitize, requiring them to be down for long periods.

With some tailored requests, you can have a unique McDonald’s experience with their unofficial secret menu. Just remember that it may be easier to fulfill your custom order during off-peak hours.

You may be trying to eat healthier with a no-salt or low-sodium diet, but your request for non-salt fries could cause issues and delays with your order.

It may mean the employees have to fry a fresh batch of potatoes for you, and wipe down all the equipment to make sure you get a non-salt version of McDonald’s tasty treats.

At many McDonald's restaurants, the drive-thru line takes precedence over in-store diners. During busy hours, hopeful diners in the lobby can end up standing around waiting for their orders.

So, if you’re trying to decide between the drive-thru versus dine-in, remember it may be more efficient to just order in your car. 

It can be frustrating for customers and employees to see a long line while someone at the front is asking questions and still trying to decide what they want.

Instead, be courteous and don’t get in line until you know what you want.

You may wonder how McDonald’s can be so precise with its round eggs on your McMuffins. That can’t be a fresh egg, can it?

But McDonald’s actually uses egg rings on its grill to make your egg round and the perfect size for your McMuffin every morning.

You may think walking through the drive-thru late at night is fun, or perhaps you want a quick bite to eat from the drive-thru after a long bike ride.

However, McDonald’s has a policy that it will only serve cars in the car lane for the drive-thru, so you’ll need to walk inside if you’re hungry.

You may like extra lettuce on your burger or extra cheese on your Filet-O-Fish, but that could also mean an extra charge on your bill.

If you’re trying to save money on your next order, check ahead to find out which add-ons cost extra.

Kids may love Happy Meals, but some McDonald's employees loathe putting it together. 

Whether it's the fries, apples, toys, or drinks, employees are tasked with quickly and correctly compiling the meals. 

Pulling that all together, especially during busy hours, can be more time-consuming than an adult meal.

If you ask for a receipt, it could be a sign to McDonald’s workers that you’re a secret shopper or rating your experience at the restaurant.

As a result, they may pay a little more attention to you and get your order out quicker for a good review.

If you have your heart set on some apple-flavored goodness, then it’s a good idea to request a fresh one. 

A sweet treat straight out of the oven is a great way to complete your McDonald's meal. 

It’s OK if you don’t want a full meal deal with a sandwich, fries, and a drink. Perhaps you don’t want all that soda, or maybe you’re just not a fan of fries.

One simple McDonald's menu hack is to order things separately so you can enjoy what you want and not waste money on things you don’t.

If you’re trying to keep more cash in your wallet, then McDonald’s is a good place to get a decent and affordable meal.

And remember to be nice to McDonald’s employees. They work hard to get you fed when you’re hungry.