[dropcap]J[/dropcap]ust like the Rolling Stones (I can't begin to count how many times they've announced farewell tours over the years) The McDonald's McRib is coming out of retirement for a limited time. According to McDonald's the fan-favorite is making its way across the entire nation this year. That's right, the McRib is back baby for its 40th anniversary.
Last year the saucy and tangy McRib was released in all McDonald's restaurants in the United States. Normally the fast food chain only released the beloved menu item to a few locations, prompting long lines, however this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McDonald's brought back the sandwich to all locations to abide by social distancing measures.
McRib season is back for a limited time starting November 1! Hitting a drive-thru near you.
What is a McDonald's McRib Sandwich?
Introduced in 1981 as a limited-time menu item, the barbecue sauce-slathered Sandwich was actually invented by McDonald's first Executive Chef René Arend, who also invented the Chicken McNuggets a few months prior. Chicken sales were going through the roof and causing a chicken shortage. Chef Arend decided to create a pork patty in the shape of a slab of ribs as a new product to alleviate some of the chicken sales. At first, the McDonald's McRib Sandwich wasn't a surefire winner until in the summer of 1994 when the fast-food sandwich was added nationally to the McDonald's Menu as part of a promotion with The Flintstones film release. After that, the boneless pork sandwich was only released as limited-time offerings.
What's in a McRib?
The sandwich is simple: a boneless McRib pork patty topped with bbq McRib sauce, tart pickles slices, and slivered onions all served on a hoagie style bun. The boneless pork patty is an easier way to enjoy a rack of ribs without the mess. Pair the ease with a tangy barbecue sauce and you've got yourself a winner for McRib fans nationwide!
If It's So Popular, Why Isn't it on the Menu Permanently?
Two words: supply and demand. Look at it this way, if the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks was available year-round, do you think people would make such a big deal out of it? Not a chance. Instead, businesses like Starbucks and McDonald's rely on limited-time items to bring in a burst of customers and because of that, the McRib will never be on the permanent menu.
There's no saying how long these sandwiches will last, so if you have a hankering for one, head to your closest McDonald's to snag a bite of this menu innovation.
