Why It Pays To Order A Customized Filet-O-Fish Sandwich At McDonald's

We love McDonald's all the time, but there's nothing like the Golden Arches when it is fresh. French fries, for instance, have the ability to make us ascend to the heavens when they are hot and crispy straight from the fryer, proving that most of McD's entrees are tastier when they haven't been subject to the not-so-tender mercies of the heat lamp for an extended period. In the same vein, Filet-O-Fish sandwiches are a markedly different product when they are fresh compared to when they're even just 10 minutes old. The steamed bun is pillowy and warm, the Alaska pollock (that's the type of fish in a Filet-O-Fish) is tender and juicy with a delicate crust, and a schmear of tartar sauce oozes deliciously from the edges. After sitting for some time, we've found that the sandwich all too often becomes tougher and less flavorful.

Luckily, one of the best McDonald's Filet-O-Fish hacks involves customizing your sandwich for the freshest specimen. And, no, you don't have to resort to trickery like requesting no cheese or tartar sauce to bamboozle employees into making you a fresh item. All you have to do is go up the counter and nicely ask for a cooked-to-order Filet-O-Fish. Yes, that's it. Approximately five minutes later, a perfectly succulent fish sammie will be yours. Any McDonald's item can be requested fresh, provided that you are willing to place your order with a human, since it's currently not an option at the in-store kiosk or on the mobile app. And, of course, you will have to be polite and wait out the cooking time.

If you are going to wait for a fresh Filet-O-Fish, you might as well tweak the details of your sandwich to get it exactly the way that you want. Some common Filet-O-Fish customizations involve extra cheese, since it comes standard with only a half-slice of yellow American, or adding extra tartar sauce, since everyone knows the spillage in the box is the best for dipping fries! You can hack a triple Filet-O-Fish by adding patties for a bigger sandwich that will guarantee you leave with your belly full. Or, you can really get out there with the ingredient swaps — have you, for instance, ever considered replacing the tartar sauce with Big Mac sauce?

McDonald's employees are generally able to manipulate your order in almost any way you can imagine to get you the food that you want. Of course, as in all social situations, a smile and some politeness go a long way. If you have an order with multiple customizations, it might be most considerate of your fellow customers to visit the lobby instead of tying up a screen at the drive-thru while you recite a whole notebook of requests. And, of course, you may wish to keep these special requests to times outside of the usual meal rushes. Other than those common-sense courtesies, however, feel free to order your McDonald's feast however makes you happy.