The $13 Store-Bought Pickles That Are 'Identical' To McDonald's

There are a variety of reasons that make McDonald's the most popular fast food chain in the world; some people can't get enough of the crispy, thin, but always flavorful french fries, while others say it's all about the Big Mac Sauce – but we're here to make sure McDonald's pickles don't fly under the radar. Many people agree that there's something uniquely special about the balance of vinegar, crunch, and sweetness in McDonald's pickles. Made with cucumbers that are drowned in brine and fermented, only to eventually become the thinly sliced sour dill pickles you see hiding under your golden burger buns. These marinated munchies don't stray far from the traditional pickling process, yet they're impossible to find in grocery stores, until today.

Thanks to the sleuthing of Mike Haracz, a former McDonald's corporate chef who has been giving McDonald's fans a peek behind the culinary curtain, a grocery store McDonald's pickle dupe has been revealed. According to Haracz's professional opinion, the closest copycat to McDonald's pickles are Best Maid Hamburger Slices, which he says "taste almost absolutely identical" to what you'll get at the fast food chain. They are sold in 80 fluid-ounce jars for around $17 or you can get them in a 32 fluid-ounce jar for under $6. One thing to note, though, is that the Best Maid Hamburger Slices are crinkle cut so if the texture is a deal-breaker for you, then you may not find these as satisfying on that front.

In order to find the most accurate McDonald's pickle dupe, it's helpful to do a side-by-side of the ingredients. According to McDonald's nutritional information, these pickles are made with, cucumbers, water, distilled vinegar, salt, calcium chloride, and alum, along with some of the preservatives and colorings you'd typically see in fast food condiments. Best Maid Hamburger Slices basically has the same ingredients, albeit in a slightly different order.

One tip Chef Haracz gives when looking for similar offerings is to skip the refrigerated pickle section at the grocery store where the higher-end pickles are kept. Although these pickles might boast more complex flavors, freshness, and overall better quality, they're not going to match up with what you find at McDonald's. To get more fast-food-y pickles, you should go to the dressing and canned goods aisle where the heat-treated pickles are stored. These pickles are processed with heat and therefore have a longer shelf-life and a softer texture. If you're interested in attempting to make your own version of sour dill pickles we highly recommend you give this classic dill pickle recipe a try — it won't taste like McDonald's pickles but they may just be your new favorites.