BAGGING half price meals and knowing the best time to order fresh food, are just some of the secrets shared by ex-McDonald’s employee Sarah McMaster.
Sarah, 26, from Glasgow, worked at her local McDonald’s branch between 2018-2020 – and has revealed to The Sun what it was really like working at one of Britain’s best-loved chains.
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Over the two years she worked there, Sarah had experience of nearly all aspects of working at a McDonald’s branch.
She started off cleaning up in the dining area, moved to taking orders in the drive-thru section, and then worked in the kitchen dishing out orders.
Sarah worked at McDonald’s to earn some cash while she was training to become a fitness coach.
She left McDonald’s in 2020 just before the pandemic hit.
Over her two year stint working at the chain, Sarah has picked up tips and hacks on how to get the best food – and for less.
How to get half price meals
Maccies fans might already know a number of tricks to get money knocked off their order.
Londoners taking the bus will want to check their tickets, as sometimes McDonald’s vouchers are printed on the back.
Fans can also bag a Big Mac meal and fries for less than half price by filling out a quick feedback survey.
But Sarah has revealed a less well-known way of bagging food for up to half price at the fast food chain.
Once a worker has been with the chain for a month, they are eligible to receive an Employee Discount Card.
This allows them to get money off their order at McDonald’s restaurants – Sarah says you can get up to half price off meal deals on the menu like Big Macs and Chicke McNuggets.
The discount doesn’t work on limited menu items and the amount you get off varies based on what is ordered.
You need to be an employee to get the discount – but if you are friendly with your local Maccies staff or have any friends who work there, then they might be willing to share their perk.
Best times to get your food
There’s nothing like the excitement of getting your McDonald’s order and being hit with the familiar waft of your go-to meal.
Maccies food is usually cooked to order – but there are certain times when you can bank on food being super fresh.
Sarah said during peak times like lunchtime and dinnertime, food is being constantly made – so the best times to get your grub is at 1pm or 5pm.
When the Maccies breakfast menu changes over to the normal menu at 11am is also a good time to buy your bits.
This is because you’ll get the first batch of freshly made burgers, fries and more of the day.
How to get fresh grub
Timing your trip right to Maccies isn’t the only way to bag grub fresh from the oven, Sarah said.
“If you want things fresh, like fresh fries because you’re not a fan of them when they’re a wee bit soggier or cold, ask to get them without salt.
“They have to make them fresh and they have to make them separate. It’s the same with burgers – if you want a brand new fresh one, ask for it without seasoning.
“All they do is put a salt and pepper mix on top of it anyway – so you could easily do that yourself.”
You’ll have to wait a little bit longer for your order as staff make it from scratch though, Sarah said.
Staff get free sweets
Sarah said that massive boxes of Nestle sweets were left for workers to munch on in the staff room at the branch she worked in.
As Nestle supplies a lot of the toppings for McFlurries, the company often gifts sweets – often boxes of Celebrations – to McDonald’s branches every few months or so.
“We got a lot of sweets especially around Christmas time,” she said.
“They’re left in the staff room – it’s a free for all.”
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