Merry McRibmas and many McRib returns to all those McDonald’s fans that have been eagerly awaiting this day.
The cult item, made with pork, barbecue sauce, pickles and onions, is finally back on the menu at UK restaurants after almost a decade away.
And while many were ready and waiting outside their local Maccies from 11am this morning, it seems a few have already spotted an issue with the sandwich’s triumphant return.
Eagle-eyed customers have claimed there’s a slight change that’s been made to the iconic sandwich, and it’s all to do with the way that it’s prepared.
A viral TikTok video shared by @madaboutmaccies showed how the McRib used to be made before it was axed, with the pork patty being submerged into a pot of sauce, before being served up on the bun.
However, this is no longer the process that staff follow when making up a McRib order. Instead of dunking the pork into the sauce, a squeezy bottle is used to apply the sauce to the toasted bun, before putting onions, meat, and pickles on top, as shown by @formbymcdonalds.
People online were quick to say McDonald’s had ‘messed up’ the McRib by making this change and that it looked ‘dry’ as a result.
A user on TikTok known as @V33333 said: ‘The meat used to be dipped not dry!’ While @1Geob99 agreed, commenting: ‘Last time they was here like 10 years ago, the meat was in the sauce tray, not just sauce on the bun. Looks dry now.’
@get_ya_knits_out was also not happy with the new process, claiming it’s ‘wrong’. They posted: ‘You’re doing it wrong. Normally the meat gets dipped in the sauce.’
And @user7454199182001 claimed they were ‘absolutely gutted’ that it looked different, adding: ‘Disappointed that’s not how I remember the McRib. Absolutely loved it, absolutely gutted now, was looking forward to trying again.’
Others claimed that it was ‘not a proper McRib’ as the patty needed to be ‘drowned’ in the sauce, with some suggesting McDonald’s had ‘ruined’ the sandwich so people didn’t ‘ask for it again’.
A spokesperson for McDonald’s confirmed to Metro that the way the McRib is prepared in restaurants has changed since it was last available.
What did Metro’s specialist food writer think of the McRib?
Metro’s specialist food writer, Courtney Pochin, got a sneaky preview of the McRib ahead of its re-launch. Here’s her verdict…
‘I’ll be honest, I don’t fully get the hype around this one. I know there aren’t many pork items on the McDonald’s menu, so there’s definitely a novelty aspect at play, but the chain has offered plenty of BBQ items over the years, none of which have reached the same dizzying heights of fame as the McRib.
‘It’s not the most exciting burger McDonald’s has ever made, (personally, I’d have preferred if the lasagne burger from summer 2022 made a comeback), but it’s also not the worst thing the chain has ever sold either… (here’s looking at you hot cross bun pie).
‘I like the simplicity of it. There’s not an entire salad shoved in there, or anything that feels overly unnecessary. All of the ingredients compliment each other quite nicely.
‘The pork patty is rather thin, but there’s plenty of smoky barbecue sauce and it’s all served in a sub, meaning it feels like you’re getting more for your money than with your average burger. The price isn’t too bad either for 2024. (The McRib is £4.49 on its own, or £6.19 as part of a medium meal).
‘I’m not a big onion fan, but even I can admit that they do enhance the overall flavour, providing a sharp, savoury bite to balance out the sweetness of the sauce. The only thing I’d perhaps change, would be to add a few more pickles, as I love a good pickle.
‘Would I order one again? I’m not sure I’m going to get the chance (I’m giving it 24 hours before it sells out), but I’m definitely glad that I’ve tried one, if only to better understand the fast food phenomenon that is the McRib.’
They said: ‘We are pleased to confirm the hugely anticipated arrival of the McRib on October 16th, returning to the UK for the first time since December 2014.
‘Over the years the flavour of the product has remained the same, however we have evolved the way the sauce is dispensed. We have managed to remove complexity and simplify procedures for our crewmembers whilst still delivering the iconic McRib sauce that our fans love.
‘In the UK, we consider it important to separate pork and beef on the grill, so separate cooking processes and dedicated utensils have been implemented across our restaurants to allow us to satisfy McRib fans and finally bring it back to the UK.’
For those still keen to try the McRib, you’ll need to be quick as it’s only going to be around for a limited time, while supplies last. Once it sells out, there will be no more McRib.
To put this into context, the last ‘limited time’ item the chain launched was the ‘infamous’ Grimace Shake which ended up selling out in just two days. As such, many missed out on the chance to try the popular drink.
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