US vs UK McDonald's | Food Wars

Summary

In this video, Harry and Joe compare McDonald's offerings in the UK and the US, highlighting differences in portion sizes, ingredients, and calorie counts. They explore how the sizes of drinks, fries, and McNuggets vary, with the US portions being generally larger. They also dive into unique items exclusive to each country, such as the Veggie Deluxe and Chicken Legend in the UK, and the McGriddle and Donut Sticks in the US. Along the way, they discuss the differences in ingredients and flavors, making for a fun, in-depth comparison of two iconic McDonald's menus.

Takeaways

• 😀 McDonald's in the UK and US have significant portion size differences, especially in drinks and fries.
• 😀 The UK offers McNuggets in boxes of 6, 9, or 20, while the US offers increments of 4, 6, 10, and 20, with some places even offering 40-piece boxes.
• 😀 UK fries are simpler, made from only potatoes, oil, and salt, whereas US fries contain more ingredients, including artificial additives for color and flavor.
• 😀 The Big Mac in the US contains 40 more calories than in the UK, mainly due to differences in sauce ingredients.
• 😀 McDonald's drinks in the US tend to have significantly more calories, with the chocolate shake in the US reaching 840 calories, comparable to two cheeseburgers and a hamburger.
• 😀 A large Big Mac meal with a milkshake in the UK contains about 1,400 calories, while the same meal in the US totals 1,870 calories.
• 😀 The UK offers unique menu items like the Veggie Deluxe burger, Chicken Legend, wraps, and Mozzarella Dippers, not available in the US.
• 😀 The US has a broader variety of coffee drinks, including caramel, French vanilla, and mocha options, and iconic seasonal items like the Shamrock Shake.
• 😀 The US menu also features a wide range of breakfast items such as the McGriddle (pancake sandwiches) and various breakfast burritos.
• 😀 US McDonald's includes unique sauces like sweet 'n sour, honey mustard, ranch, and buffalo, whereas the UK offers a sweet curry and salsa dip.

Q & A

What are the main differences in drink sizes between the UK and US McDonald's?

In the UK, the drink sizes are small, medium, and large, while in the US, the small, medium, and large drinks are significantly larger in size compared to the UK portions.

How do McNugget portion sizes differ between the UK and US McDonald's?

In the UK, McNugget boxes come in sizes of 6, 9, or a share box of 20. In the US, you can get a 4, 6, 10, or 20-piece box, and some locations even offer a 40-piece option.

How are McDonald's fries different between the UK and the US?

In the UK, McDonald's fries contain only three ingredients: oil, salt, and potatoes. However, in the US, fries are made with more ingredients, including vegetable oils, natural beef flavor, and various additives like dextrose and sodium acid pyrophosphate for color.

What are the calorie differences between a Big Mac in the UK and US?

The biggest calorie difference in a Big Mac comes from the sauce. The US Big Mac has around 40 more calories than the UK version, likely due to the difference in sauce ingredients and proportions.

What is the reason for the higher calorie count in US McDonald's milkshakes?

The US chocolate shake contains 840 calories, which is higher than in the UK due to its richer ingredients and portion sizes, representing more than two cheeseburgers and one hamburger worth of calories.

How do the total calories in a McDonald's meal compare between the UK and US?

In the UK, a large Big Mac meal with a milkshake totals around 1,400 calories, while in the US, the same meal with a chocolate shake adds up to 1,870 calories, which is about 630 calories more.

What unique menu items are available at UK McDonald's that are not offered in the US?

The UK offers several unique menu items, including the Veggie Deluxe burger, Chicken Legend, Wrap of the Day, Veggie Dippers, and Mozzarella Dippers.

What special menu items are available at US McDonald's that are not found in the UK?

The US offers a wide range of exclusive items, such as the Shamrock Shake, various iced and flavored coffee drinks, Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Quarter Pounder with Cheese Deluxe, and McGriddles, which are breakfast sandwiches made with pancakes.

What is the McGriddle, and why is it popular in the US?

The McGriddle is a unique breakfast sandwich introduced by McDonald's in the US, where the bread is replaced by pancakes with syrup flavor injected inside. It's popular for its sweet and savory combination, available in flavors like bacon, egg, and cheese or sausage, egg, and cheese.

What is the difference between biscuits in the US and the UK?

In the US, 'biscuits' refer to a type of soft bread roll, typically served with breakfast, while in the UK, biscuits are cookies. This cultural difference also leads to the confusion when discussing breakfast items like McGriddles.