Does McDonald's Use Pre-Cooked Eggs?

December 19, 2025 •

4 min read

According to McDonald's, the answer to whether they use pre-cooked eggs is both yes and no. The preparation method depends entirely on the specific breakfast item you order, with some eggs cooked fresh and others pre-cooked off-site and then reheated.

Quick Summary

The way McDonald's prepares its eggs differs by menu item. Some products, like the Egg McMuffin, use freshly cracked eggs, while others, such as the folded eggs on biscuits and the eggs for the sausage burrito, are pre-cooked and flash-frozen by suppliers.

Key Points

Not a single method: McDonald's uses multiple egg preparation methods across its breakfast menu.
Freshly cracked for Egg McMuffins: The iconic Egg McMuffin contains a freshly cracked, USDA Grade A egg cooked on the grill.
Pre-cooked for folded eggs: The folded eggs found on biscuit sandwiches are pre-cooked by suppliers, flash-frozen, and then reheated in-store.
Special pre-mix for burritos: The eggs for the Sausage Burrito are pre-cooked with other ingredients off-site and reheated in the restaurant.
Scrambled eggs are fresh-cooked liquid: The scrambled eggs are made from liquid eggs, but cooked fresh on the grill with butter.
Request a 'round egg': For a fresher experience, customers can ask for a 'round egg' to be substituted for the folded egg on certain sandwiches.
Commitment to cage-free: McDonald's in the U.S. has achieved its goal of sourcing 100% cage-free eggs.

Not All McDonald's Eggs Are Created Equal

When it comes to McDonald's breakfast, the type of egg you receive is not standardized across the menu. Contrary to a single unified approach, the preparation of the eggs varies significantly from one sandwich to another. The company uses a different method for its famous Egg McMuffin than it does for a Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit or a Sausage Burrito. This approach allows them to balance freshness with speed and consistency, which are crucial for a fast-food operation of their scale.

The Famous Freshly Cracked Egg

For the iconic Egg McMuffin®, the process is surprisingly simple and fresh. According to McDonald's, a USDA Grade A egg is cracked directly onto the grill and cooked in a circular egg ring. A little water is added and the egg is steamed as it cooks, resulting in that perfectly round, fluffy egg patty. This method ensures a fresh-tasting egg for one of their most popular breakfast items.

The Pre-Cooked, Folded Egg

If you order a sandwich served on a biscuit, such as the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, you will receive a folded egg. These eggs are not cooked fresh in the restaurant. Instead, they are prepared as liquid eggs by a supplier, cooked, folded, and then flash-frozen. At the restaurant, these pre-cooked, frozen eggs are reheated on the grill with real butter. This process is what gives the folded egg its distinct, uniform texture.

The Scrambled and Burrito Eggs

For scrambled eggs, a different technique is used. McDonald's cooks liquid eggs fresh on the grill in the restaurant with real butter. The resulting egg product, while not from a freshly cracked shell, is still prepared on-site. However, the eggs for the Sausage Burrito undergo a more complex process. These eggs are pre-cooked with other ingredients like sausage, tomatoes, green chilies, and onions by the suppliers before being flash-frozen. The restaurant staff then reheats the finished egg mixture, often using a microwave, before assembling the burrito.

Ask for a "Round Egg" Hack

For those who prefer a fresher egg on their biscuit or McGriddle, there is a known hack: simply ask for a "round egg" instead of the standard folded egg. The restaurant staff can often accommodate this request by swapping the pre-cooked egg patty for the freshly cooked one used in the Egg McMuffin. While this may not be possible on all orders (the burrito egg mixture cannot be substituted), it is a reliable way to get a fresher-tasting egg on other breakfast sandwiches. Some locations or delivery apps might charge an extra fee for this, so it's best to check when ordering.

Quality and Sourcing

Beyond the cooking methods, McDonald's has also made significant strides in the quality and sourcing of its eggs. In the U.S., the company met its goal of sourcing 100% cage-free eggs by 2023, two years ahead of schedule. This commitment has had a ripple effect, promoting changes in the egg industry. Sourcing practices can vary by country, with different standards for animal welfare and sourcing, such as the Lion Code used in the UK.

Comparison of McDonald's Egg Types


Egg Type	Used In	Preparation	Key Characteristics
Round Egg	Egg McMuffin	Freshly cracked and cooked in a ring on the grill.	Perfectly round shape, fluffy texture, tastes freshest.
Folded Egg	Biscuits, McGriddles	Pre-cooked from liquid eggs by a supplier, frozen, then reheated on the grill.	Uniformly flat and folded, slightly firmer texture.
Scrambled Egg	Scrambled Egg Plate	Made from liquid eggs cooked fresh on the grill in the restaurant.	Soft, scrambled texture.
Sausage Burrito Egg	Sausage Burrito	Pre-cooked with other ingredients by a supplier, frozen, and reheated via microwave.	Mixed with vegetables and sausage, microwaved consistency.

Conclusion: The Final Word on Pre-Cooked Eggs

So, does McDonald's use pre-cooked eggs? The definitive answer is that they use a combination of pre-cooked and freshly-cooked eggs, depending on the specific menu item. The Egg McMuffin features a fresh, Grade A egg cooked on-site, while the folded eggs on biscuits and the sausage burrito eggs are pre-cooked and reheated. This dual-approach allows the chain to maintain both quality and efficiency. For breakfast enthusiasts who prioritize a fresh-cracked egg, ordering an Egg McMuffin or requesting a "round egg" on another sandwich is the best option. This reveals that for McDonald's, the egg strategy is more nuanced than a simple 'yes' or 'no', catering to different products with different preparations.

Want the freshest egg on your McMuffin every time? Check out this article on how McDonald's cooks their round eggs.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Egg McMuffin uses a freshly cracked, USDA Grade A egg that is cooked in an 'egg ring' on the grill in the restaurant.

Yes, the folded eggs are made from real liquid eggs, but they are pre-cooked and flash-frozen by a supplier before being reheated on the grill at the restaurant.

McDonald's scrambled eggs are prepared using liquid eggs that are cooked fresh on the grill with real butter.

Yes, you can often ask for a 'round egg' to be used instead of the folded egg on a biscuit or McGriddle.

No, McDonald's does not use powdered eggs. All their egg products, whether cracked fresh or in liquid form, are made from real eggs.

Yes, the eggs for the Sausage Burrito are pre-cooked with other ingredients like vegetables and sausage by suppliers and then reheated in the restaurant.

Yes, McDonald's achieved its goal of sourcing 100% cage-free eggs for its U.S. restaurants in 2023.

The variation in taste is due to the different cooking methods. Freshly cracked eggs (McMuffin) have a different texture and flavor profile than the folded eggs, which are pre-cooked and reheated.