Jake Harper
Chicken McNuggets are small, boneless chicken meat pieces that are battered and fried, sold by the international fast-food chain McDonald's. They are available in various portion sizes, depending on the country. In the US, they are sold in packs of 4, 6, 10, 20, and 50 (in selected stores). McDonald's sells billions of Chicken McNuggets every year, with 2.3 billion sold in the US alone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company | McDonald's |
| Type of Food | Fast Food |
| Number Sold Per Year | 2.3 billion |
| Number of Workers | 375,000 |
| Number of Nuggets Sold by Each Worker | 613 |
| Number Sold in the US | 10, 20, 50 |
| Number Sold in the UK | 4, 6, 9, 20 |
| Number Sold in New Zealand and Australia | 3, 4, 6, 9, 20 |
| Number Sold in Canada | 4, 6, 10, 20 |
| Calories in a 4-piece Chicken McNugget | 170 |
| Ingredients | White boneless chicken, water, salt, yeast extract, wheat starch, natural flavoring, safflower oil, lemon juice solids, dextrose, citric acid, sodium phosphates, enriched flour, yellow corn flour, bleached wheat flour, baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate, spices, corn starch |
What You'll Learn
Chicken McNuggets sold in packs of 4, 6, 9, 10, 20, 50
Chicken McNuggets are sold by McDonald's in various portion sizes depending on the country of purchase. In the United States, they are available in packs of 4, 6, 10, 20, and 50 (in selected stores). A 50-piece McNuggets meal deal has occasionally been promoted during special events, such as the NFL Super Bowl.
In the United Kingdom, Chicken McNuggets are sold in packs of 4 (as part of a Happy Meal), 6, 9, or 20 (as a "ShareBox"). In Canada, they are offered in packs of 4 (Happy Meal), 6, 10, and 20, while in Australia and New Zealand, they are also available in 3-piece Happy Meals.
The availability of different pack sizes creates a mathematical curiosity, as discussed by Eric W. Weisstein and Brady Haran. For instance, in the UK, where McNuggets are sold in boxes of 6, 9, or 20, the greatest number of McNuggets that cannot be purchased exactly is 43, known as the Frobenius number for the set {6, 9, 20}. This implies that all natural numbers greater than 43 can be expressed as the sum of some multiple of 6, 9, and 20.
Chicken McNuggets were created by McDonald's first executive chef, René Arend, in 1979. They were introduced in select markets in 1981 and became available worldwide by 1983 after supply issues were resolved. The nuggets underwent a formula change in 2016 to enhance nutritional value and remove artificial preservatives.
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McDonald's sells billions of Chicken McNuggets annually
Chicken McNuggets are sold in various portion sizes depending on the country of purchase. In the United States, they come in packs of 4, 6, 10, 20, and 50 (in selected stores). In some markets, including the United Kingdom, they are sold in packs of 4 (as part of a Happy Meal), 6, 9, or 20 ("ShareBox"). In New Zealand and Australia, they are also available in 3-packs in Happy Meals and Heart Foundation-approved "Tick healthy" meals. A 50-piece McNuggets meal deal has been promoted during special events such as the NFL's Super Bowl.
The popularity of Chicken McNuggets has led to some unique and expensive sales. For example, a woman named Rebekah Speight sold a three-year-old nugget that resembled George Washington for $8,100 on eBay. Additionally, a man in Nerang, Australia, advertised a rare double chicken nugget for sale at $12,345. The most expensive nugget sold was a McDonald's chicken nugget shaped like a character from the video game Among Us, which fetched $99,997 on eBay.
McDonald's has also introduced variations of Chicken McNuggets, such as the Spicy Chicken Nuggets coated in a tempura batter made with cayenne and chili peppers, released in September 2020. In February 2021, the company brought back its limited-time spicy nuggets due to popular demand, with tens of thousands of tweets dedicated to their deliciousness. McDonald's continues to innovate and respond to customer preferences, ensuring the enduring popularity of its Chicken McNuggets.
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Calorie count: 170 calories in a 4-piece Chicken McNugget
Chicken McNuggets are small, reconstituted pieces of boneless chicken meat that have been battered and deep-fried. They were introduced by McDonald's in 1981 and are now available in various portion sizes worldwide. In the United States, they come in packs of 4, 6, 10, 20, and 50 (in selected stores).
A 4-piece serving of Chicken McNuggets contains 170 calories. The calorie count may vary depending on preparation techniques, product testing, and sources of supply. The nutritional information provided by McDonald's is based on standard product formulations and serving sizes.
The ingredients of Chicken McNuggets within the United States include white boneless chicken, water, salt, and various seasonings. The formula was changed in 2016 to remove artificial preservatives and improve nutritional value. Now, Chicken McNuggets are made with all white meat chicken and contain no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
The portion sizes of Chicken McNuggets vary internationally. In the United Kingdom, they are sold in packs of 4 (as part of a Happy Meal), 6, 9, or 20 (as a "ShareBox"). In New Zealand and Australia, 3-piece packs are available in Happy Meals, while in Canada, they are sold in packs of 4, 6, 10, and 20.
While Chicken McNuggets are convenient and tasty, it's important to consider their nutritional value and how they fit within an individual's daily calorie intake. The recommended daily calorie intake varies depending on factors such as age, gender, and activity level.
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Ingredients: white boneless chicken, vitamins, and unusual ingredients
Chicken McNuggets are small pieces of reconstituted boneless chicken meat that are battered and deep-fried. They were introduced by McDonald's in select markets in 1981 and made available worldwide by 1983.
The ingredients of Chicken McNuggets vary slightly depending on the region. In the United States, as of August 1, 2016, the ingredients include white boneless chicken, water, salt, and various seasonings and preservatives. The chicken is battered and breaded with enriched flour, yellow corn flour, bleached wheat flour, and other ingredients.
McDonald's removed artificial preservatives from its Chicken McNuggets formula in 2016 and started using white meat chicken with no artificial colours or flavours. The nuggets are prepared in vegetable oil, including canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, and hydrogenated soybean oil.
Chicken McNuggets also contain vitamins and some unusual ingredients. These include extracts of rosemary and vitamins such as niacin, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid, which are common in enriched flour. Leavening agents such as baking soda and calcium lactate are also used.
While McDonald's has removed artificial preservatives, some ingredients in Chicken McNuggets are not typically used by home cooks. These include TBHQ and polydimethylsiloxane, which was previously used to prevent the frying oil from foaming.
Chicken McNuggets are sold in various portion sizes, including packs of 4, 6, 9, 10, 20, and 50 in selected stores.
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McNuggets are available in select markets as Halal
Chicken McNuggets are small pieces of reconstituted boneless chicken meat that have been battered and deep-fried. They were conceived by Keystone Foods in the late 1970s and introduced in select markets in 1981. They became available worldwide by 1983. The Chicken McNugget is a small piece of processed chicken meat that is fried in batter and flash-frozen at a central manufacturing facility, then shipped out and sold at McDonald's restaurants.
Chicken McNuggets are sold in various portion sizes depending on the country of purchase. In the United States, they come in packs of 4, 6, 10, 20 and 50 (in selected stores). In some markets, including the United Kingdom, they are sold in packs of 4 (as part of a Happy Meal), 6, 9 or 20 (as a "ShareBox"). In New Zealand and Australia, they are also available in 3-packs in Happy Meals and Heart Foundation-approved "Tick healthy" meals. In Canada, Chicken McNuggets are sold in packs of 4 (as part of a Happy Meal), 6, 10, and 20. A 50-piece McNuggets meal deal has been promoted at times for special events such as the NFL's Super Bowl. They have also been introduced in India, first as a part of its "Breakfast Meal" and later as part of the regular menu in May 2009.
A halal version of the McNuggets has been sold at two franchises in Dearborn, Michigan, since the early 2000s, bringing in double the average McNuggets sales. McDonald's UAE also offers halal McNuggets.
Chicken McNuggets are made with all white meat chicken and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. The ingredients within the United States, as of August 1, 2016, are as follows: White boneless chicken, water, salt, seasoning (yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring, safflower oil, lemon juice solids, dextrose, citric acid), sodium phosphates. They are battered and breaded with water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, bleached wheat flour, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, dextrose, corn starch.
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Frequently asked questions
McDonald's sells billions of Chicken McNuggets every year. In the US, one estimate puts the number at 2.3 billion.
Chicken McNuggets are made from white boneless chicken meat, battered and deep-fried. The ingredients list also includes water, salt, and various seasonings. The formula was changed in 2016 to remove artificial preservatives and improve nutritional value.
In the US, Chicken McNuggets come in packs of 4, 6, 10, 20 and 50 (in selected stores). In the UK, they are sold in packs of 4 (Happy Meal), 6, 9 or 20 ("ShareBox"). Portion sizes vary depending on the country of purchase.
There are 170 calories in a 4-piece serving of Chicken McNuggets.
Chicken McNuggets were introduced in select markets in 1981 and made available worldwide by 1983. McDonald's has since launched various flavours, including spicy nuggets in some countries. Chicken McNuggets have also been sold on eBay for thousands of dollars, with one nugget shaped like a character from the video game Among Us selling for $99,997.
