Local Maccas Using Small Hamburger Patties on Promo Big Mac

Powlie85 on 24/11/2020 - 20:29
Last edited 24/11/2020 - 20:30

Just got the deal of the day earlier which was a big Mac for $3.
I noticed that there wasn't much meat on the Big Mac - they basically used two tiny hamburger patties instead of the standard big mac ones. Or at least so it seemed to me. Any mcdonalds employees here that can confirm the three patty sizes being hamburger/cheeseburger, big mac, quarter pounder?

There are a number of scenarios here as to what could have happened. Most likely they didn't anticipate the demand and didn't defrost enough burgers (unless they're cooked from frozen). The other option is that the owner made staff cut down on food cost and instructed them to make the promo big macs this way. Either way - what's everyone's opinion?

Poll Options expired

  • 62
    This is a scandal
  • 16
    You're petty
Food & Grocery Burger Fast Food McDonald's

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Comments

  • spackbace on 24/11/2020 - 20:30
    +2

    Up next on Today Tonight, Neighbours from Hell!

    • Powlie85 on 24/11/2020 - 20:33

      Pretty good relationships with everyone in our row of houses. Never had to return an item when it didn't do what it said on the tin? Reality is that it just wasn't a burger. It was bun, salad, sauce - not a Big Mac.

      • spackbace on 24/11/2020 - 20:34

        Never had to return an item when it didn't do what it said on the tin?

        Did you return your Big Mac, or call the store and question it, or just decide to come straight to OzB?

        • Powlie85 on 24/11/2020 - 20:36

          I ate it at home. Wasn't offered a receipt. Didn't bother going back. Now as I'm sitting down getting rid of the burger again I'm arguing with some guy - so no - came straight here.
          Besides that - just want to check if I'm right or wrong before I get the lawyers involved

          • spackbace on 24/11/2020 - 20:38
            -1

            @Powlie85: Ok so just wanted to rant, about your scenario which may or may not have happened to you, because without a comparative burger from the same store, it's just a story.

            Next time, at least put a dragon into your story!

          • SF3 on 24/11/2020 - 20:46
            +1

            @Powlie85: Maybe the beef patty shrunk on your way home…

          • djones145 on 25/11/2020 - 22:50

            @Powlie85: Lionel hutz is who u need
            I have him in speed dial
            pm me

  • ShannonN on 24/11/2020 - 20:32
    +5

    and if you enquire about it they'll say " we've downsized the meat to promote a healthier combination and help combat childhood obesity" LOL

    • Mechz on 24/11/2020 - 22:04

      The meat isn't the problem.

      • SF3 on 24/11/2020 - 22:24
        -1

        the "meat" is the problem ;)

      • SirFaffer on 24/11/2020 - 23:37
        -5

        the meat is animal abuse

        • Scrooge McDuck on 25/11/2020 - 01:46
          -1

          If one deprived a lion of meat, would that be animal abuse?

  • dust on 24/11/2020 - 20:37
    +1

    Fill out a survey? At least get some free mcbites for your troubles?

    • Associatedburgermaniac @ McDonald's on 24/11/2020 - 21:00
      +2

      No longer give out those promotional items for doing the survey :(

  • scotty on 24/11/2020 - 20:40
    +10

    Read on the OzBargain somewhere that both hamburger/cheeseburger and Big Mac uses 1:10 patties, i.e. 1/10 pound.

    • Powlie85 on 24/11/2020 - 20:47

      In that case paying $6.40 for a "big" Mac is an absolute joke.

      • scotty on 24/11/2020 - 20:48

        Indeed. $3 would be the most I'll pay for a big mac.

      • bmerigan on 24/11/2020 - 21:01
        +4

        Try a Big Jack then.

        • Powlie85 on 24/11/2020 - 21:05
          +1

          I've moved here from oversees where theyve had the big king and big king xxl for ages. Tried the larger version of the big jack here and funnily one tier had a large patty and the other tier had two small ones. I prefer the big jack and they seem to be better value even when they're hardly ever discounted.

      • SF3 on 24/11/2020 - 21:25
        +2

        Just got the deal of the day earlier which was a big Mac for $3.

        That's why you (most of us) bought it via deal of the day…

        I doubt any OzBargainer would get a BigMac at "RRP"… unless they wanna give up their OzB badge. ;)

    • Elegant Giant on 24/11/2020 - 20:47
      +7

      Correct, there's two types of basic meat: 10-to-1 (10 patties per pound) and 4-to-1 (4 patties per pound). 4-to-1 is used on quarter pounders (ie quarter of a pound) and double quarters, whereas the 10-to-1 is used on cheeseburgers, hamburgers, big macs etc.

      Could be the meat was left on the grill a little too long and shrunk a bit, or maybe big expectations for a big mac

      • Powlie85 on 24/11/2020 - 20:49

        Thanks for clarifying - will not be buying big macs again.

        • pjcook on 25/11/2020 - 09:37
          +4

          That'll learn em…. Pretty sure they will have to close a few branches now.

      • Associatedburgermaniac @ McDonald's on 24/11/2020 - 21:00
        +2

        10-to-1 (10 patties per pound) and 4-to-1 (4 patties per pound). 4-to-1 is used on quarter pounders (ie quarter of a pound) and double quarters, whereas the 10-to-1 is used on cheeseburgers, hamburgers, big macs etc.

        Correct

        • jayboi on 24/11/2020 - 21:31
          +2

          Username checks out

      • AustriaBargain on 25/11/2020 - 02:58

        If you press the 4:1 button then then 10:1 patties get very obviously burned, if you press then 10:1 button with 4:1 patties laid out then they come out raw. It is possible to leave them on the grill for too long after the press has lifted but the machine beeps at you very loudly so you can’t ignore it.

    • AustriaBargain on 25/11/2020 - 02:56

      Yeah unless they do things differently since I was a McTool, there are only two sizes of beef patties. There is no Big Mac size and there never was, it was always the same size as the hamburger patties and they are cooked in big batches so it’s not like a batch is labelled just for Big Macs. Maybe OP is just getting fatter and a Big Mac doesn’t fill him up anymore.

    • Whisper Quiet on 25/11/2020 - 07:40
      +1

      Pretty sure Big Mac patties have been using the cheeseburger / hamburger patties for a couple years now. McChickens are cheeseburger size buns which means the patties are also much smaller. Only get Maccas a few times a year if that now. USA prices and sizes are basically half the price for double the size (Same with Burger King vs Hungry Jacks). Aussies get screwed over badly with takeaway food.

      • stoodamire on 29/11/2020 - 13:04

        Did you take into account the minimum wage in Australia?

        • Whisper Quiet on 29/11/2020 - 15:59

          Hungry Jacks and Maccas hire mostly juniors. So it's nowhere near the difference

    • crashloaded on 25/11/2020 - 08:43

      That was my experience working there as my first job. Same patties.

  • taoz on 24/11/2020 - 20:46
    +2

    thought they used the same pattie.
    big macs are now pretty small if you havent had one for years

    • AustriaBargain on 25/11/2020 - 03:00
      +1

      I remember when I was a very little kid the biggest bite I could take out of a Big Mac was like a tiny scrape off the side of the burger. Now I can fit a quarter of one in my face in one go. Obviously Big Macs have shrunk to 1/8th of their previous size, it’s the only explanation that makes any sense.

  • Powlie85 on 24/11/2020 - 20:51

    Sounds like they did use the "correct" patty when reading some of comments bhere. Pretty disappointing experience.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 25/11/2020 - 01:49
      +4

      Pretty disappointing experience.

      Pretty disappointing thread. I sharpened my pitchfork for nothing!!

    • Jono05 on 25/11/2020 - 12:09

      You are getting two patties though. Which is the same as a 5:1 patty which is similar size/ weight in the end to a 4:1 quarter pounder patty.

  • MiscOzB on 24/11/2020 - 20:53

    They'll sometimes use the cheeseburger/hamburger buns too for Big Macs/Quarter Pounders.

    • Associatedburgermaniac @ McDonald's on 24/11/2020 - 20:59

      No. No they won't

      • MiscOzB on 24/11/2020 - 21:25
        +2

        They did for a Quarter Pounder I bought a while back, the patty was sticking out, clearly weren't the proper buns.

        • Powlie85 on 24/11/2020 - 21:34

          I've had this happen too.

          • Associatedteacherer @ McDonald's on 24/11/2020 - 21:54

            @Powlie85: Probably someone new, accidental or they ran out and hoped you wouldn't care

            • AustriaBargain on 25/11/2020 - 03:01
              +1

              @teacherer: It’s actually pretty stressful in the kitchen if it is understaffed. And the training can be just assuming the new worker will pick everything up after a 30 minute tour. It’s not rocket science though, it’s more like factory work than cooking.

        • Associatedburgermaniac @ McDonald's on 25/11/2020 - 20:47

          The Patty is much bigger than the proper Quarter Pounder bun. If you ever got a cheeseburger bun for the QP, you'll know about it because of the size, and lack of poppy seeds

          • MiscOzB on 25/11/2020 - 21:48

            @burgermaniac: It's not much bigger than the bun normally. The bun I got that time was unusually small for a QP, far too much of the patty exposed.

  • Associatedburgermaniac @ McDonald's on 24/11/2020 - 20:57
    +3

    I can't tell if this is a joke or not… the hamburger patties and the big mac patties are the same thing, and will be the same thing. There is no cost cutting measure implemented to do that, it has been that way for several years now (easily 10 years +).
    There is no way to differentiate between the $3 Big Mac, and the full price big mac in the kitchen, hence no reason for there to be confusion.
    The 3 patty sizes are cheeseburger and big mac (10:1), quarter pounder (4:1), angus (3:1).
    You got a Big Mac for $3 when discounted hamburgers are $2, don't be petty.

    • Powlie85 on 24/11/2020 - 21:08

      I did not know that and it doesn't make sense really. The big macs not usually my 1st choice. More of a mcfeast or quarter pounder fan - but generally really only eat there nowadays of there's a good deal.
      Anyways - kinda expected there to be a size between hamburger and quarter pounder.
      And not too long ago the hamburger was $1.50.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 25/11/2020 - 01:52
      -1

      There is no way to differentiate between the $3 Big Mac, and the full price big mac in the kitchen, hence no reason for there to be confusion.

      The $3 Big Macs are the ones with special sauce on them.

    • Jono05 on 25/11/2020 - 12:15
      +1

      I worked at Maccas more than 30 years ago (while I was at uni) and even back then the hamburger (junior burger as it was called) and cheeseburger patties were the same as the Big Mac ones.

  • Associatedteacherer @ McDonald's on 24/11/2020 - 21:48

    Hamburger patties and big Mac patties are the same thing. 10:1 patties, one 10th of a pound
    Quarter pounder/mcfeast patties are 4:1, one 4th of a pound.

    • tomsco on 24/11/2020 - 22:35

      Are Angus patties still around at 1/3rd of a pound?

      • Associatedteacherer @ McDonald's on 24/11/2020 - 22:38

        Sorry it's been a few years since i was there, was 3:1 back in the day

        • tomsco on 24/11/2020 - 22:56
          +1

          9 years for me. Use to make Big Macs for myself using the Angus patties.

          • Associatedteacherer @ McDonald's on 24/11/2020 - 23:01

            @tomsco: I was underesrimating, it's been… 11 years. Jeez

  • bobbified on 24/11/2020 - 22:14

    You probably went to a dodgey franchise! LOL

  • Drakesy on 24/11/2020 - 23:38

    Yeah, Big Mac's have been medium/small Mac's for years.
    Pretty sure they changed to the hamburger size patties a fair few years ago.

    Probably better for my waist line though.

  • Cave Fire on 25/11/2020 - 01:27
    +1

    Lol had a fair few of them and thought the staff were playing an elaborate trick on me. Funny thing is Macca's Australia will still say they haven't changed size over the years.

  • AssociatedBrodo Faggins @ McDonald's on 25/11/2020 - 01:29

    Ex kitchenhand at Maccas here.

    Can confirm all the above sizing is true - 10:1 patties (same ones used in Cheeseburgers) are used in Big Macs.

    A $ saving hack when I was working there many years ago, was to buy 2 cheeseburgers, replace ketchup/mustard sauce with big mac sauce, and add lettuce - all the other ingredients were identically the same (except the bun ofc). Not sure about prices now for standalone burger + extras upgrade.

    10:1 are also used in meat based wraps/salad (excluding brekkie wraps).

    4:1 are used in Quarter Pounders & McOz, but not the Angus and premium beef range.

  • AustriaBargain on 25/11/2020 - 03:03

    Is someone marking all ex employees as associated? Haven’t 1 in every 8 Australians worked at a McDonald’s at some point in their life, or conceived in Ikea beds or whatever.

  • mincemeat on 25/11/2020 - 08:19
    +1

    Whatever patty size option they use, its never enough these days anyway.

  • AbucklingNMS on 25/11/2020 - 09:06

    Only thing I've noticed (bought two separate burgers within 5 weeks) is :- Wow I thought Macca's are now cooking their patties better + not grey! The second time patty was upside down - turns out they're brown on one side and grey on the other (cooked, but un-appetizing looking). So I assume they're s'posed to put brown side up, but they're in a hurry sometimes? (Love the M's frozen Raspberry drinks - the white stuff that seems to speed up pouring has a vanilla taste, so much like an old fashioned country creaming soda - Hungry Jacks ones are exactly like red cordial - incidentally HJ has frozen Pepsi and Coke - WTF - even Domino's uses only one brand 'cause of Pepsi fridges.)

  • [Deactivated] on 25/11/2020 - 09:25

    It's an inside job. Someone's been doing the switcheroo and amassing a whole lot of big patties and offloading it at a higher price.

    This stinks all the way to the top and I don't see anyone singing as long as those fur coats keep dropping off the back of them trucks.

    You're all a bunch of cockroaches.

  • TransportPosters on 25/11/2020 - 09:51

    SHUDDER!

    This brings back bad memories of my local Subway putting 7 meatballs into its $7 promo footlong subs instead of the usual 8.

  • OzHunterNSW on 25/11/2020 - 12:07

    You must frequent the establishment in order to notice such discrepancy.
    How many seeds are on a bun? I bet you know.

    • Powlie85 on 26/11/2020 - 13:44

      Nope - thats the issue. Haven't had a Big Mac in ages and as others pointed out, the small patties are correct. I guess what I'm pointing bout is that the big mac is way to big for the small patties they use.

  • HeWhoKnows on 25/11/2020 - 12:08
    -3

    Dear OP

    I must remind you that the patties used on a Big Mac are ALWAYS THE TINY ONES!

    The same tiny 10:1 paties are used on Big Macs, Cheese burgers and Junior burgers
    That is 10 patties to a pound of meat.
    Alternatively 2.2 pounds to a kilo which means 22 patties to a kilo.
    If you do the sums thats very small and nothing unusual for Maccas.

    You are not buyiing a quarter pounder mate.
    (4 patties to a pound of meat) big difference!

    Its basically just a double junior burger.
    So stop complaining
    You are just making a fool of yourself.

    You got what you asked for.

    • Powlie85 on 26/11/2020 - 13:47

      Thanks mate - the fools on here are the ones getting their panties in a knot over a thread on OzBargain, about an OzBargain deal that turned out to be a disappointment

      What you and others on here pointed out (and what I actually also asked about in my post), is that the used the correct patties of approx 2x45gr before cooking. Not sure how much is left after, but it's certainly a joke when it comes with three huge slices of bread/roll.

      • HeWhoKnows on 27/11/2020 - 10:24

        Mate
        McDonalds is a Global Corporation
        They have very strict standards
        They dont skimp on deals
        There is too much at stake.
        Thats why they are the most succesful food business in the world!

        So its probably more a case of your imagination.

        BTW
        45gms is not very much meat
        But yes you are basically buying 3 slices of bread buns with 2 fine slithers of meat and some lettuce
        Biggest hamburger con-job in history!

  • afah0447 on 25/11/2020 - 12:29

    I worked at Maccas in high school. They use the same beef-patty for the Hamburger, Cheeseburger and Big Mac.

  • Pro-crastinator on 26/11/2020 - 01:28
    +1

    If you don’t want to feel ripped off… buy a Chicken’n’Cheese burger… which for $4 is a McChicken with cheese but without lettuce (& in a cheeseburger bun).

    The chicken feels bigger in the smaller bun… so more satisfying and half the cost of McChicken and you’re only missing lettuce and a bit of bun (but gain cheese)… excellent if you feel like slowly working your way towards a full Keto diet 😂

    • TransportPosters on 26/11/2020 - 09:24

      Yeah, but the chicken burgers from McDee's and HJ's often taste like what I imagine warm thick soggy cardboard with mayo to taste like.

      • Pro-crastinator on 26/11/2020 - 09:26

        OK, I like them, but I've never eaten cardboard.

        • Powlie85 on 26/11/2020 - 13:41

          Is it still half a slice of cheese or have they reduced it to a quarter?

  • AussieDaddy on 02/12/2020 - 17:02

    Always thought this goes for all promo meal deals. Have tried Maccas, Hungry Jack's and Domino's, and the promo size items always looked smaller/had less toppings compared to regularly purchased meals.

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