The Special Sauce Behind the Big Mac's Success

Weird History Food is discussing the Big Mac. Everyone's favorite burger at McDonald's, the Big Mac is probably the most iconic-looking sandwich out there. We're going to take a look back at Mac's early origins, its surprising tie-in to Bob's Big Boy, and where the Big Mac stands today. Get ready for two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.

#bigmac #foodhistory #weirdhistoryfood

[jdgower]

I'm 57 years old ( but I read on a 58 year old level), and I remember when I was about nine or ten years old that the McDonald's around here ran a promotion where if you could walk up to the counter and say the "Two all beef patties..." jingle in five seconds, you would get the burger for free.
I have always been fairly ambivalent about the burger, but I have always been a huge fan of free food. I trained myself to recite the jingle in three seconds back in the day, and even today with my advanced age (and reading ability), I can do it in about four seconds.
That was a fantastic marketing campaign.

[Lilsushi]

whoever's idea "weird history foods" was deserves a raise. genius spinoff, my personal favorite.

[maenad]

The difference in how the burger looks in the promotional photos compared to how it actually looks in Jim’s hands is hilarious

[Valeforer]

Interesting fact: For several years around 2010, the Big Mac was nowhere to be seen in ads or the overhead menus of Argentinian McDonalds.
If you checked the small menus in the walls to the side, you would find it there prized way, way cheaper than similarly sized combos. It was speculated that this was an agreement with Guillermo Moreno, the then commerce secretary, to modify how Argentina was ranked in the big mac index.
This has been denied by McDonalds, but there is no clear explanation about why the big mac was hidden from the public or priced that cheap. As a person that grew there during that decade, it came to a surprise to me to learn that it was supposedly the flagship product of the brand.

[slottedpig]

I think the Big Mac is pretty solid. However the patties seem a little too small these days for the amount of bread / other ingredients. If they had a patty that was sized in-between their normal cheese burgers (Which is used on the Big Mac) and their Quarter Pounder then I would think it would be more balanced and sell more units.

[peggywoods]

Being a kid in the 60s, I remember when the Big Mac was Introduced. Back then it was a treat to pile into the station wagon and go to McDonald's, Arby's, or A&W.

[chipskylark]

When you started the “ Aristocrats” joke I started screaming “NO! NO!” Lol glad you didn’t finish that one 😂😂

[tp]

Whoever does the voiceover narration is awesome!

[pasqualinamichelaconsiglio]

Big Mac sauce includes: mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish and yellow mustard whisked together with vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika. However, around 2018/2019 McDonald's revamped the sauce by removing potassium, sodium and calicum.

[KayakTN]

I love that the McDonald’s app will let you double the amount of meat on your Big Mac but can’t tell you if the ice cream machine is working.

[Hillbilly]

When I was a kid and I'd walk home from school. The corner McDonald's had only hamburger, cheeseburger, fish and fries. Along with the usual drinks. On Fridays, usually, I got a burger, fries and a coke for 60¢. But that was in 1966. And I still had money to get a comic book and 2 candy bars out of the dollar. I blew my 45¢ for a Big Mac when it first came out. Better to get two hamburgers and have a nickel for something else. LoL. My Dad taught me the value of dollars at an early age. Cheers from Tennessee

[FNHot]

The big mac now doesnt taste the same as it did in the 80's - 90's, it's expensive, AND it's 1/2 the size it once was. It used to be so big if you made it through the whole thing, you were full. Now I could eat 2, and still want nuggets, fries, and a few cheese burgers. It all used to be so much better than it is now, so I rarely ever eat there.

[Lawrence_Talbot]

A Big Mac used to cost 45 cents?? And here I am missing the 1 Dollar Menu 😂

[jonsmith]

When I crave two razor thin patties and a pound of bread accompanied by a flavorless mess of lettuce and onions that are more in the box than on the burger, I grab 8 dollars and run to McDonald’s.

[mariamayub]

That was so interesting and fascinating! I used to get the Big Mac a lot when I was younger, but now that I'm older and have health problems, I can only just dream about it LOL my dad worked at McDonald's in the 60s in Los Angeles and he used to put two hamburgers together with just two buns on his lunch break until coworkers noticed it and thought it would make a good sandwich that's how they started making the double cheeseburger in their location which is now the mcdouble. I don't know if my dad had anything to do with that overall, but I like thinking my dad came up with something new on the menu at McDonald's just because he wanted something different. It's fun to create your own ideas like that!

[MrRezRising]

Arnold: "What's the Secret Sauce?"
Brad: "1000 Island dressing. What's the Secret Sauce at All American burger?"
Arnold: "Ketchup and mayonnaise."
Brad: "Gotcha."

[rockercover]

Both informative and entertaining, thanks! Quarter pounder for the win. 😊

[raziyatheseeker]

Been having burger cravings today, but didn't wanna leave the house because it's the first snow this season. Then I see this in my feed and now I'm munching on burg. Thanks for the peer pressure, WHF. :9

[controlsofquality]

Big Mac has always been my go to burger at McD's

[christopherarnold]

Love these videos! Can you do a cereal video in the future? I remember how many crazy cereal options there were in the late 70’s to the mid 90’s. So much to choose from lol.