I visited a McDonald's test kitchen to try its biggest menu overhaul in a decade. The burger patties are a big improvement, but the new Big Mac is too sweet.

Harry KershMar 30, 2024, 17:24 IST

The new and the old Big Mac burgers.Harry Kersh / Business Insider

McDonald's is rolling out a new burger bun recipe in the US, UK, and Australia.
It's also changing the way it cooks burger patties and stores some of its fresh ingredients.

McDonald's burgers are getting a new look. The menu shakeup comes as the fast food chain prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, and constitutes the biggest change the chain has made to its food in 10 years.

I visited the McDonald's UK head office in East Finchley, London, to hear more about the changes, and to get a side-by-side comparison of the old and new burgers.

The McDonald's UK head office is housed in an unassuming building in North London.

The McDonald's UK Head Office building in East Finchley, London.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

Inside is a test kitchen where chefs prepare new dishes.

Everything inside the test kitchen is the same as you'd find in an actual McDonald's restaurant.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

The biggest change is the new bun recipe

The new-look buns are glossy and easy on the eye.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

The burger patties are also being cooked differently.

The quarter pounder patties had a good sear on either side.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

Onions are now added during the grilling process, not after.

Previously the onions were added after the meat had finished cooking.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

Every ingredient has had a rethink, even the lettuce

The McDonald's lettuce display, or a buffet for rabbits.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

The cheese may seem more gooey than before

You won't edam well brielieve how gouda this incheddarble burger tastes.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

So how do these method and ingredient tweaks actually taste?

It was time for McDonald's to put their burger where my mouth is.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

First up was the McDonald's Double Cheeseburger

You vs the guy she tells you not to worry about.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

This change definitely felt like an upgrade.

Ronald, you've done it again.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

Next up was the Quarter Pounder with Cheese

The buns stand out as the main difference once again.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

I actually didn't think the Quarter Pounder tasted very different to the old version

It will still be called a Royale with Cheese in continental Europe.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

Then it was time for the revamped Big Mac

The new and the old Big Mac burgers.Harry Kersh / Business Insider

Sadly, the new Big Mac didn't pass the taste test.

Tastes like a wasted opportunity.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

I was left underwhelmed with the changes to the Big Mac.

The newer version ended up sliding out of the buns way more than the original.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

McDonald's has made some positive steps, but I'd continue to make tweaks if I were in charge.

The menu change feels like a mixed bag.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

Only time will tell if people approve of the new menu.

Let's be real, I'll still go to McDonald's whatever they do to their menu.Harry Kersh/Business Insider

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