McDonald’s fish has become a cult classic among people who love the Filet-O-Fish sandwich, but have you ever wondered what fish McDonald’s uses to make their famous sandwich?
We have all of the answers about McDonald’s fish below, so keep reading to learn all about it!
What Fish Does McDonald’s Use?
McDonald’s uses real wild Alaskan Pollock fish that’s been caught from Dutch Harbor, Alaska, for their famous Filet-O-Fish sandwich. Additionally, the fish that McDonald’s uses are filleted and then frozen the fish within 72 hours after being caught. McDonald’s is the only restaurant that uses fish that is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.
There is a lot about McDonald’s fish that you probably don’t know, so read below to find out more!
What Is McDonald’s Fish Made Of?
If you order the Filet-O-Fish sandwich, you’re getting 100% pure wild Alaskan Pollock fish, and the sandwich also contains other ingredients that you might not expect.
These include water, vegetable oil, modified food starch, yellow corn flour, bleached wheat flour, salt, whey, dried yeast, sugar, wheat flour, and dextrose in the Filet-O-Fish.
Additionally, cellulose gum, paprika, natural flavors, and turmeric extract are included.
Is McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish Healthy?
McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish is considered to be unhealthy, especially if you’re looking at the calories per ounce of food and nutrition information as a whole.
Further, it only contains 380 calories but has 18 grams of total fat, which is about 23% of your daily value.
Coming in at a whopping 580 mg of sodium, it’s 25% of the daily value and has 4 grams of saturated fat, which is not at all good for you.
Additionally, it contains 39 grams of carbohydrates and contains 40 mg of cholesterol.
While the fish itself might not be horrible for you, once it’s put onto a sandwich and you add the bun, tartar sauce, and half a slice of American cheese, you’re into unhealthy territory!
Why Is There Only Half a Piece of Cheese on McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish?
McDonald’s is sticking to the original creation Groen came up with back in 1962, which is why the Filet-O-Fish comes with only half a piece of cheese even all these years later.
However, if you’d like a whole piece of cheese on your fish, you can always ask that a whole piece be used, and the restaurant will be happy to do that for you.
What’s the Difference Between Alaskan Pollock and Cod Fish?
Wild Alaskan Pollock, which McDonald’s uses exclusively, is very similar to Pacific Cod, which is a fish you may have had before at other restaurants.
The similarities include that they are both low-fat fish, white, and mild in flavor.
However, Alaskan Pollock is a lot softer than Cod, which makes texture the only major difference between the two fish.
When Did McDonald’s Start Selling the Filet-O-Fish?
McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish story begins In Cincinnati, Ohio, back in 1962, with local McDonald’s owner Lou Groen who owned a restaurant in a predominantly Catholic area.
Groen noticed that his sales were nearly zero during Lent, and he wanted to bring in more customers and make money, so he came up with the fish sandwich.
However, Ray Kroc was also making a burger alternative, which was pineapple and cheese on a bun, so the two had a cook-off to see which sandwich customers wanted more.
The rest, as they say, is history because Groen won that cook-off in a landslide 350 to the 6. By 1965, the Filet-O-Fish was a permanent menu choice.
Additionally, back in 1965, the Filet-O-Fish sandwich only cost $.29!
What Countries Can You Get McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish?
McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish has a cult-like following well beyond the borders of the United States of America, which is surprising to a lot of people.
Furthermore, you can get the Filet-O-Fish sandwich in other countries such as Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and many other countries!
Is McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish Fried?
McDonald’s does fry the Filet-O-Fish, which makes it incredibly good, and the fried outside mixed with the tartar sauce is what people love about the sandwich.
If you are looking to learn more, try to read our related posts if McDonald’s Big Macs are good, where McDonald’s gets their chicken, and what kind of cheese McDonald’s uses.
