McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets, a fast-food staple, have won the hearts of millions with their crispy exterior and savory flavor. But have you ever wondered what goes into making these iconic treats? Let’s take a behind-the-scenes look at the journey of a Chicken McNugget, from the selection of ingredients to the final, golden-brown product.
The Making of a McNugget
Sourcing the Chicken
The journey of a Chicken McNugget begins with the selection of high-quality chicken. McDonald’s uses 100% white meat chicken for their nuggets, sourced from specially bred chickens with larger breasts. This ensures a consistent and desirable texture.
Preparing the Meat
In the “deboning department,” whole chickens are processed, and the chicken breast meat is separated for McNuggets. Workers trim the chicken breasts of fat and send them along an assembly line where they are collected in large bins. The selected chicken is then thoroughly washed to ensure it is free of any impurities.
Grinding and Blending
The chicken is then transported to the “blending room,” where it is ground. Industrial, heavy-duty grinders are used to grind the chicken. The ground chicken meat is then mixed with seasonings and chicken skin for added flavor. Corn starch is added as a binder, while preservatives improve shelf life. The mixture is emulsified to ensure an even distribution of ingredients and a consistent texture.
Shaping the Nuggets
In the “forming room,” the blended chicken mixture is shaped into the four iconic McNugget shapes: the ball, the bell, the boot, and the bow tie. Large industrial machines, called forming machines, mold the chicken mixture into these shapes. The chicken mixture is pushed through the machine that shapes the ground meat into the four chicken McNuggets shape. These shapes are made using molds that ensure each nugget is the same size and shape, which is important for consistent cooking.
Battering and Breading
The shaped nuggets are then placed on a conveyor belt and transported to the battering system. The nuggets first enter a waterfall-style batter coater, where they are submerged in a liquid batter. This batter, typically a mixture of flour, water, and seasonings, creates an initial coat on the nugget. Following this, the nuggets are coated with another layer, a broth made from a different set of flavorful ingredients like white pepper and celery. The final layer, unique to chicken nuggets, is a thicker batter consisting of wheat and corn flour starches and a preserving agent that gives the special flavor.
Par-Frying
Once the nuggets are fully coated, they move on to the par-frying stage. This step partially cooks the nuggets in hot oil for just a few seconds. The quick fry helps set the batter and starts the crisping process, but the chicken inside is still raw at this stage. Par-frying is important because it helps the nuggets hold their shape and keeps the coating from falling off; it also locks in the flavor and moisture so the nuggets stay juicy.
Freezing and Packaging
After par-frying, the nuggets are taken out of the oil and cooled down on a conveyor belt. They then go through quick freezing, which is crucial to keeping the nuggets fresh and locking in their flavor. The nuggets are placed in a freezing chamber set to about minus 18°C, which helps them freeze quickly and evenly. The nuggets are then bagged and boxed with machines. Finally, they are transported to McDonald’s restaurants around the world.
Quality Control
Throughout the production process, McDonald’s ensures quality and consistency. They look for a light golden-brown appearance, slight ridges and peaks for a textured and crunchy bite, a slightly firm yet juicy texture, and a delicious chicken flavor with hints of pepper and celery.
McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets have become a beloved menu item, thanks to their consistent quality and great taste. The production process involves several steps, from meat selection and grinding to shaping, battering, frying, and freezing. Each stage is carefully controlled to ensure that every McNugget meets McDonald’s standards for taste, texture, and appearance. So, the next time you enjoy a box of Chicken McNuggets, you’ll know exactly what it takes to create these tasty treats.