What are the ingredients in McDonald's eggs?

December 19, 2025 •

4 min read

According to McDonald's, the company uses several different types of eggs across its breakfast menu, with the ingredients varying by the preparation method. The iconic Egg McMuffin uses a freshly cracked, USDA Grade A egg, while others like the folded egg contain additional ingredients such as milk and modified food starch. This variety is necessary to achieve the different textures and shapes of their menu items.

Quick Summary

A breakdown of the ingredients used in McDonald's eggs. Details vary by product, with the Egg McMuffin featuring freshly cracked eggs and others like folded and scrambled eggs containing additional components such as milk and stabilizers.

Key Points

Variety of Eggs: McDonald's uses different egg preparations for various breakfast items, each with a unique ingredient list.
Fresh Cracked Egg: The Egg McMuffin is made with a freshly cracked, Grade A egg, cooked with clarified butter in a round ring.
Folded Egg Ingredients: The folded egg contains ingredients like nonfat milk, modified food starch, and citric acid, in addition to eggs.
Scrambled Egg Ingredients: The scrambled eggs use a liquid egg product with citric acid and are cooked with clarified butter.
Additives' Role: Added ingredients such as citric acid and modified food starch are used for preservation, texture, and consistency in some egg products.
Sustainability Efforts: McDonald's has committed to using 100% cage-free eggs in the U.S. and Canada, improving its sourcing standards.

Deciphering the Different Types of Eggs

Many customers assume all McDonald's breakfast eggs are the same, but the reality is more complex. The fast-food chain uses several distinct egg preparations for its various menu items, each with a unique set of ingredients. Understanding these differences can help you make a more informed choice about your breakfast order. From the simple, fresh-cracked egg to the pre-cooked, folded patty, McDonald's employs specific processes to ensure consistency and speed across its thousands of restaurants.

The 'Round Egg' for the Egg McMuffin

This is perhaps the simplest and most well-known of McDonald's egg offerings. The 'round egg' used in the classic Egg McMuffin is made from a freshly cracked, Grade A egg. It is cooked on the grill in a specialized, round ring to achieve its signature shape. The only addition during the cooking process is butter, used on the grill.

Key Ingredient: Fresh, Grade A egg
Preparation: Cooked in-house on the grill in a ring mold
Additives: Cooked with butter

The 'Folded Egg' for Biscuits and McGriddles

The folded egg is used in many of McDonald's other breakfast sandwiches, such as the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit and McGriddles. Unlike the round egg, this version is pre-cooked and flash-frozen by a supplier before being shipped to restaurants. Once in the restaurant, it is reheated on the grill with butter. The ingredient list for the folded egg includes more than just egg:

Ingredients: Eggs, nonfat milk, modified food starch, salt, citric acid
Additives Purpose: The added ingredients serve to stabilize the product, ensure a consistent texture, and preserve freshness.

The Scrambled Eggs for the Big Breakfast

If you order a Big Breakfast, you'll receive scrambled eggs made from a liquid egg product. This mixture is cooked fresh on the grill with clarified butter. The list of ingredients is surprisingly short but still includes an additive.

Ingredients: Eggs, citric acid
Additive Purpose: Citric acid is used as a preservative.

The Egg White Delight McMuffin

For those seeking a lighter option, the Egg White Delight McMuffin features an egg white patty. This is made with 100% egg whites and cooked fresh in a ring, similar to the round egg. As the name suggests, it contains only egg whites and is cooked with real butter.

The Sausage Burrito Eggs

The breakfast burrito is an outlier, as its egg mixture is pre-cooked with other ingredients. Suppliers combine liquid eggs with sausage, tomatoes, green chilies, onions, and seasonings before flash-freezing the mixture. The final product includes a range of seasonings and stabilizers to maintain its flavor and texture.

Comparison of McDonald's Egg Ingredients


Egg Type	Menu Item	Freshly Cracked?	Added Ingredients	Preparation Method
Round Egg	Egg McMuffin	Yes	Clarified Butter	Cooked in-house in a ring
Folded Egg	McGriddles, Biscuits	No	Nonfat Milk, Modified Food Starch, Salt, Citric Acid	Pre-cooked and frozen, then reheated in-store
Scrambled Eggs	Big Breakfast	No	Citric Acid, Clarified Butter	Cooked fresh from liquid egg mix in-store
Sausage Burrito Eggs	Sausage Burrito	No	Nonfat Milk, Tomatoes, Green Chilies, Onions, Seasonings, Stabilizers	Pre-cooked and frozen with other ingredients
Egg Whites	Egg White Delight McMuffin	No	Clarified Butter	Cooked fresh from liquid egg whites in-store

Why McDonald's Uses Different Egg Preparations

The variation in McDonald's egg preparation is a result of balancing customer demand, efficiency, and cost. The freshly cracked egg for the Egg McMuffin is a signature item and a point of pride, justifying the slightly longer preparation time. Conversely, for items like the folded egg, pre-cooking and freezing streamlines the process during the busy morning rush, ensuring every sandwich is made quickly and consistently. This strategy allows McDonald's to serve a wide range of breakfast items efficiently, from a simple McMuffin to a complex burrito filling.

How Additives Impact the Eggs

The additives found in the liquid and folded egg products, such as modified food starch, citric acid, and milk, serve specific functions. Modified food starch acts as a thickener and stabilizer, preventing the egg from becoming watery or falling apart. Citric acid functions as a natural preservative and can enhance flavor. Nonfat milk adds creaminess and contributes to a softer texture. While some may prefer a simpler, freshly-cracked egg, these additions are standard in the food industry to ensure product quality and consistency at a large scale. The company has also made strides toward ingredient transparency and sustainability, announcing in recent years a transition to 100% cage-free eggs in the U.S. and Canada.

Conclusion

McDonald's offers a variety of egg preparations, and the ingredients differ significantly depending on the menu item. The Egg McMuffin contains a freshly cracked, Grade A egg with minimal additions, while the scrambled and folded eggs are made from a liquid egg product with stabilizers and other ingredients for consistency and shelf-life. This approach allows the restaurant to serve a wide variety of breakfast options quickly and efficiently. For customers who prioritize fresh, simple ingredients, the Egg McMuffin is the best choice, while other items offer convenience and a slightly more complex ingredient list.

For more information on McDonald's ingredient sourcing and nutrition, you can visit their official website to view specific product information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, McDonald's uses real eggs across its breakfast menu, but they are prepared differently depending on the menu item. The Egg McMuffin is made with a freshly cracked, Grade A egg, while other items like the folded egg and scrambled eggs are made from liquid egg products with additional ingredients.

The folded eggs at McDonald's are made from a liquid egg mix that includes eggs, nonfat milk, modified food starch, salt, and citric acid. They are pre-cooked, flash-frozen by a supplier, and reheated on the grill in restaurants.

Yes, the eggs in an Egg McMuffin are freshly cracked, Grade A eggs. They are cooked in a round ring on the grill with butter right in the restaurant.

McDonald's uses different egg preparations to achieve specific textures for different menu items and to ensure speed and consistency in a high-volume setting. Freshly cracking eggs for every item would significantly slow down service.

Citric acid is used in McDonald's liquid egg products primarily as a preservative. It helps maintain the quality and freshness of the eggs, especially those that are pre-cooked and frozen.

The main difference is the preparation. The round egg is a freshly cracked egg cooked in-store, while the folded egg is a pre-cooked, flash-frozen liquid egg product with added ingredients, reheated in-store.

Yes, as part of a recent sustainability effort, McDonald's has transitioned to using 100% cage-free eggs in the U.S. and Canada.

McDonald's scrambled eggs are made from a liquid egg product containing eggs and citric acid. They are cooked on the grill with clarified butter, which is milk-based, so there is milk present in the preparation.