# McDonalds Apple Pie **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 17, 2001, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247 "2001-04-17T04:27:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jonastheadventurer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@jonastheadventurer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonastheadventurer)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2001, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/1 "2001-04-17T04:27:30Z")
Ive heard claims that the “apple slices” in McDonalds apple pie are really potatoes, just with apple flavoring, what im wondering is if this is really a rumor or is there really is any truth behind this one? ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2001, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/2 "2001-04-17T04:42:58Z")
I don’t know where you heard that…usually the rule of note is, if it’s too absurd to be true it is bogus information just like other rumors… Also, if I remember correctly, big chains are required to show a list of ingredients of their products. [http://www.mcdonalds.com/countries/usa/food/ingredient\_list/desserts/index.html](http://www.mcdonalds.com/countries/usa/food/ingredient_list/desserts/index.html) > [@](#): > > Baked Apple Pie: > Apples, corn syrup, sugar, water, modified corn starch, sorbitol, dextrose, brown sugar, sodium alginate, spices, citric acid, salt, dicalcium phosphate. In a pastry consisting of: Enriched bleached wheat flour (niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), vegetable shortening (partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed oil), water, sugar, less than 2% of salt, yeast, l-cysteine (dough conditioner), lecithin. Topping: sugar, spice, partially hydrogenated soybean oil. No mention of potatoes here…Also, apples are the first ingredient listed. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2001, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/3 "2001-04-17T04:46:51Z")
The way those damn things taste–I wouldn’t put it past a lot of people to mistake them for potatoes. The texture of a potato slice and an apple slice is surprisingly similar. ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2001, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/4 "2001-04-17T04:57:00Z")
I think this is an urban legend, back from the days when they deep fried the pies in the same vat of oil as they made fries. It made the pies taste like french fries. ---
**Author:** ![loislane138](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f19dbf/32.png) [@loislane138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loislane138)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2001, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/5 "2001-04-17T06:26:21Z")
I am a proud employee of Arby’s…well, not so much proud as greatful to have found a place that’ll hire an 18 year old college freshmen…but anyway, I will be more than happy to answer any and all fast food questions. I’ll even do field research! I can dispell any rumors and shed light to anything sinister that may lie lurking in the dark corners of the Arby’s empire! Come on! Ask away! ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2001, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/6 "2001-04-17T06:34:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by loislane138 \* > \*\*I am a proud employee of Arby’s…well, not so much proud as greatful to have found a place that’ll hire an 18 year old college freshmen…but anyway, I will be more than happy to answer any and all fast food questions. I’ll even do field research! I can dispell any rumors and shed light to anything sinister that may lie lurking in the dark corners of the Arby’s empire! Come on! Ask away! \*\* OK, is there any truth to the rumor that Arby’s hires 18 year old college freshmen that nobody else will, then when they’re least expecting it shoves them into the vat, where they become the next day’s “Value Menu Special”? Check into that and let us know, all right? ---
**Author:** ![loislane138](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f19dbf/32.png) [@loislane138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loislane138)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2001, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/7 "2001-04-17T06:55:25Z")
Funny you mention this, last week about four employees were fired and then on good friday Arby’s launched the “Arby’s Lenten $2.99 Fish Combo”. Baton Rouge is a Catholic town. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2001, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/8 "2001-04-17T12:39:26Z")
Anyone care to direct **jonastheadventurer** to Snopes? It’s [right here](http://www.snopes2.com/horrors/food/mcdshake.htm) And welcome to boards! ---
**Author:** ![Arken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@Arken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arken)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2001, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/9 "2001-04-17T13:17:49Z")
In my experience, no matter what the ingredients say, McDonald’s apple pies are made from molten lava. And I won’t even attempt to go into their coffee. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2001, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/10 "2001-04-17T21:12:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arken \* > \*\*In my experience, no matter what the ingredients say, McDonald’s apple pies are made from molten lava. > > And I won’t even attempt to go into their coffee. \*\* Okay, their pies are rather gross, but I like McD’s coffee. I think it’s pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![wooba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@wooba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wooba)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2001, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/11 "2001-04-17T22:58:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chas.E \* > \*\*I think this is an urban legend, back from the days when they deep fried the pies in the same vat of oil as they made fries. It made the pies taste like french fries. \*\* I used to work at McD’s back when they fried pies… this is just an UL… They use a different kind of shortning for fries. The chicken, fish, nuggets & pies used their own type… one was called Formula 47 or something like that… I forget what the other one was called… On the very rare occasion that the food vats could not be used, we would cook stuff in the fry vats, but never pies… people just had to do without… ---
**Author:** ![Arken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@Arken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arken)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2001, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/12 "2001-04-17T23:34:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Okay, their pies are rather gross, but I like McD’s coffee. I think it’s pretty good I was referring to the temperature, not the taste. Because the top layer of my tongue has been seared off every time in my life I dared to try either pie or coffee, I couldn’t tell you WHAT they tasted like. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2001, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/13 "2001-04-17T23:47:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arken \* > \*\*I was referring to the temperature, not the taste. > Because the top layer of my tongue has been seared off every time in my life I dared to try either pie or coffee, I couldn’t tell you WHAT they tasted like. \*\* Oh. Okay. Molten lava…Hot…ouch…can’t taste it. Duh. Sheesh, what a dope. I’m usually not that slow. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![suziek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@suziek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suziek)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/14 "2001-04-18T06:28:07Z")
Off the subject, when I was a kid my mom used to make apple pie with Ritz crackers, and it tasted just like an apple pie, I swear. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/15 "2001-04-21T03:37:41Z")
suziek, you mean your mom made the crust using Ritz crackers right? You’re not suggesting that she somehow simulated the apples that way? ---
**Author:** ![suziek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@suziek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suziek)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/16 "2001-04-21T04:16:49Z")
I swear it’s true. She used Ritz crackers in place of apples. I’m going to see if I can find that old recipe. It used to be on the box. ---
**Author:** ![suziek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@suziek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suziek)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/17 "2001-04-21T04:24:00Z")
Well, that didn’t take long. Here it is for anyone who wants to try. If you close your eyes you won’t know the difference. [http://www.ioa.com/~stanner/mockpie.htm](http://www.ioa.com/~stanner/mockpie.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/18 "2001-04-21T04:30:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by suziek \* > \*\* If you close your eyes you won’t know the difference. > \*\* **Cough** Not for nothing, but that statement has applications that go FAR BEYOND that of Ritz Crackers. Happy Tactile Sensation Day. Reach out and caress someone today !!! 🙂 Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![excitableboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@excitableboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excitableboy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/19 "2001-04-21T05:38:13Z")
I have had the mock apple pie. All I have to say is that it will pass for apple pie in the taste test, but why buy a box of ritz crackers, when you can buy apples? Also, this makes a convincing argument that soylent green really could be made from people. ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247/20 "2001-04-21T06:28:35Z")
Have to throw in a plug for one of my favorite cookbook authors, Al Sicherman. His book “Caramel Knowledge” is a collection of food columns he did for one of the Minnesota newspapers (he’s still a food writer and general columnist, but doesn’t do recipes anymore). His columns consist of coming up with oddball themes and digging up recipes for them. (Thread approaching!) He whipped up a mock meal that contained the Ritz Cracker/Apple Pie, as well as mock turtle soup, mock chicken (using veal) and other dishes (my books are packed away, which might be a good thing else I’d start quoting.). He also delved into the mysteries of making Hostess products, including Twinkies, Ho-Hos and cupcakes, foods you’d find at the state fair (corn dogs and cheese curls), and some foods involving terrible puns, as one may guess from the book’s title. The book is out of print, but a lot are listed used on bibliofind for $7+. Well worth reading. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-apple-pie/62247.md?page=2)