The ultimate fast food challenge: can a homemade Big Mac be made faster than ordering one from the golden arches? This experiment pits homemade cooking against the drive-thru clock in a real-time race against McDonald’s. No ingredients are prepped in advance, adding to the authentic “from scratch” feel of the challenge. The goal? Recreate the iconic Big Mac before the drive-thru order arrives, including all the cleaning and prep work.
Preparing homemade Big Mac ingredients, including ground beef, lettuce, onions, pickles, and sauce ingredients.
The McDonald’s run begins with a quick trip to the nearest location, just two blocks away. A timer starts the moment the order is placed. While the McDonald’s Big Mac is en route, the homemade version takes shape. The ingredients are assembled: ground beef, pickles, onions, lettuce, cheese, and the essential Big Mac sauce ingredients.
The homemade Big Mac sauce is created by combining mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and a blend of spices, including smoked paprika, onion powder, black pepper, and a pinch of salt. A scale is used for precise measurements, ensuring consistency in the sauce.
Mixing homemade Big Mac sauce with mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, spices, and diced pickles.
While the sauce simmers, 80/20 ground beef is formed into two 100-gram patties. The patties are then smashed onto a hot cast iron skillet to achieve that signature crispy crust. Sesame seed buns are toasted, ready to cradle the juicy patties.
Smashing ground beef patties onto a hot cast iron skillet to create smash burgers for the homemade Big Mac.
With the McDonald’s Big Mac in hand, the final assembly of the homemade version begins. The patties are layered with cheese, lettuce, onion, pickles, and a generous helping of Big Mac sauce, nestled between the toasted sesame seed buns.
The moment of truth arrives: the taste test. The homemade Big Mac boasts a thicker, juicier patty, offering a more substantial beef flavor compared to the thinner McDonald’s patty. The homemade sauce also stands out, providing a more robust and flavorful experience.
The homemade Big Mac wins on taste and texture, delivering a more satisfying burger experience. The time comparison is close, with the homemade version just barely edging out McDonald’s. This challenge proves that a delicious, high-quality Big Mac can be made at home in a timeframe comparable to a fast food run.
