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I’m a chef at McDonald’s. Trump has no idea how hard it is to be a chip chef

Vaseline October 19, 2024

Manning the fries at McDonald’s is no small feat.

Pennsylvania mom Rayanne, an employee at the fast-food chain, tells The Post that she often clocks in for shifts at 4 a.m., prepping the kitchen to serve up those crunchy heavenly treats around lunchtime.

It’s a job fast food fan Donald Trump has been confirmed to tackle in her home state this weekend.

The Republican presidential candidate has promised to shake things up by shaking up some chip baskets at a local Mickey D’s during a campaign stop in Philadelphia on Sunday.

“I’m going to do everything,” Trump (78) promised on “Fox and Friends” on Friday.

“A friend of mine has a McDonald’s somewhere,” the former head of state added. “Oh, I’m going.”

His strenuous work in the swing state will likely demonstrate his ability to work “longer and harder” than Oval Office opponent Kamala Harris, 59, who previously revealed she worked as a McDonald’s fry cook while pursuing her career in the 1980s. obtained a bachelor’s degree.

It’s a claim that Trump has deemed “fake.”

But before the Donald takes on the chip daddy duties, he better listen: A Golden Arches guru warns that it’s not a piece of cake.

“Being a McDonald’s employee is harder than many people think,” Mike Haracz, a former chef at the restaurant chain, told The Post, raising doubts about white-collar Trump’s upcoming crackdown.

“Unless the scenario is concocted in his favor, he won’t do well.”

A former manager of culinary innovation for American Menu, Haracz, 40, from Chicago, tells The Post that there is a certain je ne sais quoi excel at the potato post.

“Maintaining a cool temperament is key,” Haracz advised the often reactive former president. “As a fry cook, all kinds of things can go wrong, and that’s difficult because almost every McDonald’s order contains fries.

“You have to be mindful of the oil and only fry a few batches at a time to ensure customers get fresh boxes instead of boxes held under heat lamps,” he continued. “And make sure each batch is seasoned with just the right amount of salt for consistency.”

Kitchen crew members have shared the step-by-steps for preparing the perfect package of those Mickey D treats, which recently hit No. 1 in the US.

A popular TikTok tutorial shows a short-term chef gently dropping a basket of frozen French fries into a vat of hot oil for 30 seconds. The worker then removes the semi-crowned treats from the grease and shakes them a few times before plunging the fries back into the bubbling oil.

Once the fryer beeps, indicating the food is done, the fries are allowed to drain the excess fat for “no longer than 10 seconds” so they remain light and crispy.

Then the professional adds salt, using a cordless shaker to dust the savory treats from a distance of about 8 inches.

Finally, after another shake around the cooling plate, the McDonald’s master scoops the fries into small red and yellow boxes and sets them out for the food runners to hand them to “I’m lovin’ it” fans.

But unlike the average fry cook – who typically has to deal with a flood of orders, short-staffed shifts and grumpy customers – Haracz says it is likely that Trump is strategically prepared for success.

“I don’t think he’s ever worked in a restaurant in any capacity,” says Haracz, a McWhisperer known for revealing the company’s secrets on TikTok, including how to make their world-famous fries at home.

“He will likely have a fully staffed, if not overly staffed, kitchen, with the best crew members around him,” the authority continued. “It is likely that things will also be done to ensure no disgruntled customers shout at him over the counter for their fries.”

And he’s pretty sure any presidential candidate would get the same courtesies if he gave fry cooking a shot for publicity.

“But I don’t think he would be very good in that position on a normal day,” Haracz said of Trump.

And according to McDonald’s 9-to-5ers online, a normal workday — one that isn’t a photo op with swarms of Secret Service agents ready to protect the presidential candidate from impending grease splatter — can involve a long line. of challenges.

From being pelted with pickles by customers to being reprimanded about faulty ice cream machines, the busy bees behind the counter face pressure, extremely tight deadlines and the watchful eye of those who operate them.

Haracz even says that people in high political positions might be able to identify.

“Depending on your position in the restaurant, you can get the job done or motivate others to do their best,” he said, comparing the role of a McDonald’s employee — not that of power or prestige — to that of people in the restaurant. government.

And should Trump actually get his hands dirty salting and slinging the hut’s finger-licking fries, he would be wise to do so with a smile. When something goes wrong, a good cook must still prepare the best portion of pudding – and quickly.

“It’s a high-volume, high-velocity position in the restaurant,” Haracz emphasized. “And because McDonald’s is the gold standard, they take great care to ensure every order meets the standard.”

Trump’s impending attempt to seize the opportunity as commander-in-chiefchief Beyond that, Haracz hopes fast-food restaurants across the country will show the men and women at the fryer a little more respect.

“You have no idea what goes on in the life of a fry cook,” he said, reminding grumpy grubs to be considerate and patient with McDonald’s workers. “That person may be struggling to pay for college, or feed their children, or keep a roof over their head.”

“They are doing their best,” Haracz added. “Be nice.”

Tips from a chip pro for Trump:

Keep your head together. “It’s critical that you maintain a cool temperament,” says Haracz.
Also important: make smaller, fresher batches to prevent fries from becoming soggy and limp under heat lamps. “You have to take the oil into account.”
Trump will certainly get a lot of kitchen support in his first attempt, so any success shouldn’t go to his head. “I don’t think he would be very good in that position on a normal day.”
If something goes wrong, he better suck it up and still get the job done right. “It’s a high-volume, high-velocity position in the restaurant.”
Above all, do the work with a smile. “You have no idea what goes on in the life of a fry cook,” Haracz advised. ‘They are doing their best. Be kind.”