McDonald’s Breakfast FAQs

The first meal of the day has some important questions.

Wondering about McDonald's breakfast hours or want to learn more about your favorite Egg McMuffin? Our McDonald's breakfast Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) has all the answers. From dietary concerns, like vegetarian and vegan, to detailed information on calories and nutrition facts for popular breakfast menu items, we've got you covered. Check out our McDonald's breakfast FAQ for all of your answers to questions about our breakfast!

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What time does McDonald's start and stop serving breakfast?

Local breakfast menus and hours may vary by restaurant, which Co-Ops and franchisees decide at their discretion, but you can often get your favorite breakfast item from the time your local restaurant opens until 10:30 or 11:00 AM local time.

What time does McDonald's serve lunch? Is it available all day?

Local lunch menus and hours may vary by restaurant, which Co-Ops and franchisees decide at their discretion, but the lunch menu generally begins serving at the time the breakfast menu changes over.

Is McDonald's Oatmeal gluten-free? Is it vegan?

McDonald's Oatmeal is not gluten-free or vegan. If you'd like more information, check out the Oatmeal ingredients page.

Does McDonald's serve Hash Browns all day?

McDonald's only serves Hash Browns when breakfast menu items are being sold.

Are McDonald's Hash Browns gluten-free?

McDonald's Hash Browns are not gluten-free. If you'd like more information, check out the Hash Browns ingredients page.

Are McDonald's Hash Browns vegan or vegetarian?

McDonald's Hash Browns are not vegan or vegetarian. If you'd like more information, check out the Hash Browns ingredients page.

Why can't I get bagels at my McDonald's restaurant?

Some McDonald's menu items are found regionally in our restaurants and not offered across the U.S.

What's in a McGriddles® Bun?

Actually, it’s not really a bun—it’s a warm griddle cake that has the taste of maple baked right in. Find out more about McGriddles® ingredients and nutrition.

Do you use real butter?

Yes! Just like how you butter toast at home, we use real butter on our English muffins, biscuits and bagels used for some of our breakfast menu items, making mornings extra special.

Do you have vegetarian breakfast options?

Although we don’t have a vegetarian menu, we do offer options without meat, including our Fruit & Maple Oatmeal. We’re also happy to make any of our breakfast sandwiches for you without meat—just ask.

What's the Difference Between Hotcakes and Pancakes?

There is no difference. We just prefer to call them ‘hotcakes’ instead of ‘pancakes.’ Still round, fluffy and topped with real butter. Simple as that.

Still curious? Learn more about our hotcakes.

Are McDonald's eggs microwaved or grilled before serving?

Well, it depends on which egg you’re referring to. Our freshly cracked and scrambled eggs are cooked on the grill with liquid real butter. We also use the grill to heat our folded egg, which is previously cooked in our suppliers’ kitchens before arriving at our restaurants. As for the eggs used in our Sausage Burrito, we cook these in our suppliers’ kitchens then microwave in our restaurants prior to serving.

How Do You Make the Egg on the Egg McMuffin® Round?

With an ingenious tool we call an ‘egg ring.’ That way, the egg effortlessly fits the English muffin and is easy to hold when eating. That Grade A egg comes with extra lean Canadian bacon and a slice of melted American cheese, served on a toasted English muffin with real butter. Cool, huh?

Are Your Eggs Real?

Oh, they’re real alright. Across all five styles of eggs we make, you can feel confident knowing they all start with a real egg.

Learn more about how McDonald’s eggs are prepared.

Does McDonald's use Freshly Cracked Eggs?

We use a freshly cracked, Grade A egg for our famous Egg McMuffin® sandwich. It gets its iconic round shape when we cook it on the grill with an ‘egg ring.’ And that’s just the start of your favorite morning sandwich! Next, we add extra lean Canadian bacon, a slice of melted American cheese, and serve it all on a toasted English muffin with real butter.

How are McDonald's Eggs Prepared?

Good question. Our breakfast menu items are all made with real eggs—they’re just prepared a little differently for each sandwich.

Round Egg
We use a USDA Grade A cracked into an ‘egg ring’ to get that iconic round shape for our Egg McMuffin®.

Scrambled Eggs
Our scrambled eggs are made with liquid eggs that are cooked fresh on our grill with real butter.

Folded Eggs
Our folded eggs, like the ones on a Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, are made with liquid eggs that are pre-cooked and folded before being flash frozen by our suppliers. Once in our kitchens, they’re prepared on the grill with real butter.

Sausage Burrito Eggs
Our suppliers pre-cook liquid eggs with ingredients that include sausage, tomatoes, green chilies, onions and seasonings before flash freezing them to help maintain their taste.

Visit our breakfast menu to get the full list of ingredients in your favorite sandwich.