13 Fast Food Items to Avoid, According to Employees

13 Fast Food Items You Should Never Order According To The Employees

I am proud to say that my instincts for self-survival must be pretty good because I’ve never actually ordered any of these other than an occasional popcorn at the movies and hot dogs at a baseball game. I still remember the ads (I think from Burger King) that said “What part of the chicken is the McNugget exactly, anyway?”

Be warned that if you’ve enjoyed any of these foods in the past, you probably never will again after reading this article. So if you’re a big fan of the KFC Barbeque Chicken sandwich, you might want to close your eyes.

When you pull up to a fast food restaurant, all you probably care about is getting some tasty food right away. But a lot goes on to make your food so fast. While some of your fast food favorites are perfectly acceptable treats, there are a few that the people who make them are sure to never order for themselves. These ex-workers are spilling the beans on the worst items you can order from famous restaurants.

MCNUGGETS

The chicken nuggets sit around in the warming bin until they are ordered by a customer instead of being discarded after a certain length of time. The advice from an employee is to use the phrase, “fresh order of McNuggets” every time you order.

TACO BELL STEAK AND BEANS
One Taco Bell employee warns any customer to stay away from items containing beans or steak at the famous Mexican-style fast food chain. The beans are made from a rehydrated mix of ingredients and when the steak sits too long then it starts to take on the consistency of hair gel.
- PANERA PASTA
  
  None of the pasta is made fresh at the restaurant, instead it is brought in frozen. The frozen pasta is then microwaved and served, even the macaroni and cheese. Stick to the actually freshly made sandwiches and salads.
- WENDY’S CHILI
  
  The chili is made from hamburger meat from the grill that has not been used. The meat gets collected in a container until there is enough to make a batch of chili with rehydrated beans and water.
- STARBUCKS “SECRET MENU” ITEMS
  
  They are a secret because the barista gets to make up their own concoction and try it out on you. No two drinks will ever be the same. A good idea for the adventurous, but not so much for anyone with a specific order in mind.
  
  KFC BARBEQUE SANDWICHES
  
  One long-time Kentucky Fried Chicken worker warns against ordering the chain’s barbeque sandwiches. Apparently, the chicken used in them is so stale that it couldn’t even be given to homeless shelters. Instead of throwing it out, workers soak it in barbeque sauce and leave it in the heater for a month.
  
  EGGS FROM EINSTEIN BAGELS
  
  The bagel shop does not use fresh eggs on their sandwiches. The eggs are microwaved and then placed in a warming bin until they are ordered, which could literally be hours after they have been nuked.
  
  DONUTS FROM DUNKIN’ DONUTS
  
  Sorry, guys, but your favorite one-stop donut shop isn’t as great as you may think. The doughnuts are delivered to the store frozen and then cooked on the premises.
  
  BASEBALL STADIUM HOT DOGS
  
  Hot dogs and baseball just go together, but unfortunately this meaty treat is not always best prepared at concession stands. Employees say that they are kept hydrated in warming water and the unused portion gets refrigerated and recycled for the next event. That’s right, you could be munching on a month-old hot dog.
  
  MOVIE THEATER POPCORN
  
  Of course you want to get popcorn at the movies, but be sure that you’re doing it at a late showing. If you are seeing an early show, then chances are that the popcorn was kept in a garbage bag overnight and simply reheated in the morning.
  
  RESTAURANT LEMONS
  
  If the waiter/waitress puts a slice of lemon on each cup of water that is routinely brought to the table, then you might want to think twice about drinking it. There are a lot of reports about the fact that lemons are not handled up to code in restaurants. It could turn your water into a bacterial cocktail.
  
  MCCAFE DRINKS
  
  According to a longtime McDonalds employee, the McCafe machine is the most neglected part of the cleaning process. Apparently, most employees and even manager aren’t trained in how to properly clean these machines, so the drinks that come out of them travel through some not-so-clean tubes.
  
  CHIPOTLE QUESORITO
  
  People went crazy when they found out that you could order a burrito that with a quesadilla shell at Chipotle. While it may taste great, you might want to think twice before you order it. The item takes extra-long to make, so ordering it during peak hours can bring the line to a standstill, and both employees and other customers will hate you. Try it out when the store is empty.
  
  PANERA PASTRIES
  
  Freshly baked everyday? Nope. Former Panera employees admit that they receive the cupcakes and coffee cakes frozen. All the employees simply stick them in the toaster to warm them up.
  
  SONIC’S CHICKEN SANDWICH
  
  What’s right with Sonic’s chicken. It isn’t true chicken, it comes frozen, and it sits in the fridge for a while since it is not a very popular item.