Fast Food Face-Off is an occasional Lifehacker feature where we compare two seemingly identical takeaway products from rival stores to determine which offers the best value. Today: McDonald’s Bacon & Egg McMuffin versus Hungry Jack’s Bacon & Egg Muffin!
For better or worse, the bacon and egg muffin has become a regular breakfast staple for thousands of Australians on their daily commute to work. It’s relatively affordable, big enough to fill a hole without making you feel bloated and can be eaten with one hand while driving. (This is stupid and dangerous, but then, so is most fast food.)
The majority of fast food chains that open for breakfast offer a variant of this snack, but the most popular choices remain McDonald’s Bacon & Egg McMuffin and, to a lesser extent, Hungry Jack’s Bacon & Egg Muffin. On first glance, both products seem pretty indistinguishable: each is comprised of a toasted English muffin, a single rasher of bacon, cheese and a disc-shaped egg.
Left: Hungry Jack’s. Right: McDonald’s.
However, there are some significant differences in price, appearance, nutritional value and taste that become readily apparent in a side-by-side comparison. Let’s take a look at each in turn.
Price
McDonald’s Bacon & Egg McMuffin commands an asking price of $4. Hungry Jack’s Bacon & Egg Muffin, meanwhile, costs a slightly more reasonable $3.35. Even if you only buy one McDonald’s McMuffin per week, that’s still a not inconsiderable markup of $33.80 each year. As we have demonstrated in the past, Hungry Jack’s also lets you add tomato, onion, lettuce and beetroot to any muffin free of charge, thus upping the value even higher.
When it comes to value for money, Hungry Jack’s Bacon & Egg Muffin is the clear winner.
Appearance
As you can see from the below photo, neither muffin looks particularly mouth-watering: this is breakfast fuel churned off the production line, plain and simple.
Left: Hungry Jack’s. Right: McDonald’s.
With that said, the McDonald’s McMuffin (right) does look slightly more palatable thanks to its darker cheese and well-cooked bacon — there’s even a trace of frying pan charcoal on the meat. By contrast, the Hungry Jack’s bacon looks soft and pale, almost as if it’s been steamed.
When judged on looks alone, the McDonald’s McMuffin comes out on top.
Nutritional breakdown
Energy | Fat | Sugars | Sodium | |
---|---|---|---|---|
McDonald’s Bacon & Egg McMuffin |
1240kJ | 13.2g | 1.9g | 698mg |
Hungry Jack’s Bacon & Egg Muffin |
1255kJ | 12.7g | 3.1g | 790mg |
As you can see, the Hungry Jack’s Bacon & Egg Muffin is a slightly naughtier choice. On the other hand, it gives you more energy for a smaller asking price, which could be a plus in some circumstances. We’ll let you make the call on this round depending on your lifestyle.
Taste
They say you get what you pay for, and that’s certainly true of egg and bacon muffins. The McDonald’s version simply tasted better. We especially preferred the texture of the bread which was both crisper and fluffier. The bacon was pleasantly firm and there was a lot more flavour in the cheese.
Left: McDonald’s. Right: Hungry Jack’s.
The only things the Hungry Jack’s Bacon & Egg Muffin had going for it was its slightly bigger size. Otherwise, it was trumped by the McMuffin in almost every area. The bread barely felt toasted which is bound to be disappointing if you don’t have a sandwich press handy. (The egg, meanwhile, was equally bland on both muffins.)
Winner: McDonald’s Bacon & Egg McMuffin (just)
It was a close thing, but in the end we had to crown McDonald’s the winner due to the McMuffin’s superior flavour and texture. It also wins points for being available 24/7 – not just during breakfast hours.
With that said, if you’re a stickler for value though, go for the Hungry Jack’s version!
What would you like to see in the next face-off? Share your suggestions in the comments section below.
Comments
7 responses to “Muffin Face-Off: McDonald’s Vs Hungry Jack’s”
Iv recently switched to HJ’s hash browns over Maccas ones.
the $1 price is great compared to the $2+ at maccas and I find the HJ ones have a nice crisp to it compared to the maccas saggy / sloppy version that sticks to the bag and you have to dissemble it with a knife and fork.
When it comes to food, cost is excluded from the equation as its 100% about the taste.
If time availability becomes a factor in all of these from now on, can you please point out that Hungry Jacks’ full menu is available at all times, even running alongside the breakfast menu? This has been a real lifesaver at 6 am sometimes when I am in the mood for a burger and fries instead of a muffin or pancakes.
HJ wins simply because of the Eggs Benny muffin *long sloppy drool*
Perform the same test with the Sausage & Egg Muffins. I think HJ will win that battle.
I’m not a bacon and egg muffin aficionado but I do pride myself on knowing a good sausage and egg muffin. For me, the Macca’s version romps it in over the HJ’s versions. The gap is so large that I look forward to the Macca’s version, whereas I’d need to be pretty hungry to choose the HJ’s option.
Totally agree – I’ve sometimes gone to HJ for these since they’re usually cheaper, but the meat is so bland and tasteless, not even close to the taste of the Maccas one!
When it comes to burgers, I much prefer HJ’s as they are just better. HJ’s breakfast options though have always seemed not quite as good as McDonald’s though, although their hash browns are pretty good.
Nothing beats the bacon and egg roll I can get from my local cafe in the morning though, that thing is a beast.