REVIEW: McDonald’s McRib (2020)

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McDonald s McRib 2020

The McRib is back…for the 57th time! I was surprised to learn it debuted way back in 1981, and that it has apparently been eight years since McDonald’s has offered it nationwide in the U.S.

Even though the McRib is far older than the internet, it might be the perfect food for our social media-focused world. It trends every time McDonald’s unleashes it. Also, furious debates ensue about whether the hype is warranted or just brilliant marketing, and if it is the best or worst fast food item in history. Because on social media, there can be no in-between. But in the frenzy created whenever the restructured boneless pork patty sandwich with BBQ sauce, pickles, and onions is released, an important question is rarely asked.

Does it taste good?

McDonald s McRib 2020 Pickles Onions

It seems like an obvious query, of course, but I’m not sure I’ve ever really thought about it. Like, I’m guessing, the majority of you fine readers of TIB, I’ve had a McRib a few times in my life. But I don’t remember the last time I had one, or even if I enjoyed it.

So I was left to ponder, is it actually a tasty meal? Or do I — and many of you — buy it because of that innate human desire to snatch up limited-time items (even though, when you think about it, everything on Earth is a limited time item)?

I also find it more than a little coincidental that after initially flopping, the McRib was brought back on a limited basis in 1989, the year after the hair band Cinderella taught us, “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone).” Seems like some McDonald’s marketing exec was a Cinderella fan.

So back to the question at hand…does the McRib taste good?

McDonald s McRib 2020 Patty Closeup

Well, not really, but it wasn’t bad either. The texture was not as rubbery as I was expecting, so I guess that’s a positive. The pork patty, complete with fake grill or bone marks (I’m not sure which it’s supposed to be), didn’t have a strong flavor. It was definitely pork-like, but I probably could have been convinced it was chicken or turkey. McDonald’s claims the BBQ sauce is tangy, but that’s a bit of a stretch. It seemed like a generic BBQ sauce. The pickles and onions were fine, and the latter added some nice crunch. Simply put, it was an average-tasting sandwich.

McDonald s McRib 2020 Bite

It reminded me of one of those microwavable sandwiches you get out of those sketchy, old school wheel of misfortune-type vending machines. You know, the ones where you make a selection after spinning the food around and then open that plastic door while hoping to retrieve the vittles with your hand and fingers intact.

Would I ever buy a McRib if it were available year-round, like it is, according to McGoogle, in Germany and, for some reason, Luxembourg? I doubt it, and if McDonald’s announced the McRib as a permanent menu item tomorrow, then the one I just had today would probably be my last. But when they bring it back in a year or two and social media makes me feel like I’m missing out, then yes, I must sheepishly admit that I’ll probably have another. I guess McDonald’s knows a thing or two about marketing.

Purchased Price: $3.39
Size: N/A
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 520 calories, 28 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 75 milligrams of cholesterol, 890 milligrams of sodium, 46 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 13 grams of sugar, and 24 grams of protein.

(Editor’s Note: Starting this year, I’m going to have a different TIB writer review the McRib every time it comes back. Why? Just for fun AND content.

REVIEW: Perdue ThanksNuggets

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Perdue Thanksnuggets Pouch

Thanksgiving might just be the biggest food-related holiday there is. So with that, companies have recently decided to capitalize on it in the most creative ways possible.

For a few years, Pringles was having all the fun with its multitude of coordinating flavors encompassing the full feast. But this year, Perdue decided to throw its hat into the ring, and it is most definitely not messing around. The company has brought a clever name, vibrant packaging, cute themed shapes, and various wildly appropriate flavors.

Perdue Thanksnuggets Shapes

The only disappointment here is the super limited availability, with only 100 bags available on its website. The 100 number was meant to celebrate Perdue’s 100th anniversary, but as you will see below, these deserve to be in way more people’s bellies!

Breaded Breast Meat Turkey Nuggets

Perdue Thanksnuggets Split

These are white meat nuggets in the cutest little shape of a turkey with a secondary sweet potato flavor. They look very much like regular nuggets with a light brown coating, and the inside is chock full of delicious white meat.

The meat is very tender and the coating is good, but I wish the nuggets could’ve been a little thicker/crisper. The sweet potato starts to emerge as you chew, and it doesn’t let go. The first few nuggets to me were just a tad sweet, but the flavor really developed for me after a few more. Holy cow (or turkey?) these really taste like I am eating a side of sweet potatoes. Yum!

Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (4 Nuggets) 210 calories, 8 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 390 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 17 grams of protein.

Breaded Dark Meat Turkey and Cranberry Nuggets

These are dark meat nuggets are drumstick shaped and inspired by stuffing and cranberry sauce. I was a little hesitant with this flavor because I have never been a huge fan of dark meat, nor have I ever had it in nugget form. The two different flavors as an add-on also seemed a little odd.

Perdue Thanksnuggets Innards

These are much darker in color, but I can’t tell if it is just because of the dark meat interior, because of the actual composition of the breading, or maybe a little bit of both. The dark meat definitely gives these a more intense chicken flavor. But it is heavier too, and I am not sure I’m digging the texture as it is not as consistent as the white meat nuggets. These do have better crunch, though.

Just like the sweet potato with the other, the flavors here are very noteworthy. I can absolutely taste some onion and garlic, which is definitely giving me stuffing vibes. Do you see those little darker specks? They aren’t mystery meat particles. Those are actual cranberry pieces! When you get one, it is rather jolting but also a very nice tart surprise.

Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (4 Nuggets) 220 calories, 9 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 590 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 13 grams of protein.

Perdue came to the Thanksgiving-themed boxing ring and just KO’d the competition! These have a lot going on with the different shapes, meats, and flavors, but all in all, they are creative and delicious. Kids and adults alike would enjoy these, and I hope Perdue brings them back next year for more to try. Fingers crossed that the company doesn’t make us wait until the 200th anniversary for 200 bags to fight over.

Purchased Price: $19.20 (For both flavors)
Size: 24 oz bag
Purchased at: Perduefarms.com

REVIEW: Lay’s Salted Caramel Potato Chips

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Lay s Salted Caramel Potato Chips Bag

Lay’s Salted Caramel Potato Chips might be surprising or unusual to most. But should it be at this point in snack history?

First of all, this isn’t even the first salted caramel-flavored potato chip from a popular brand. That honor goes to the discontinued Salted Caramel Pringles (R.I.P.). On top of that, this isn’t the first out of left field salted caramel-flavored product from a PepsiCo brand. That distinction goes to Salted Caramel Pepsi.

Finally, it’s not surprising to see a sweet flavor from Lay’s, a brand that has offered Cappuccino and Cinnamon Bun flavored potato chips in the past. So if you take all of that into consideration, and the fact they all happened within the past six years, these chips are something we should’ve seen coming.

So are Lay’s Salted Caramel Potato Chips going to brighten your holiday or be the coal in your stocking?

In the photo below, the dark sections make the chips look as if they might’ve been fried in maple syrup. But they look that way due to the lighting. But they’re noticeably darker than original Lay’s potato chips.

Lay s Salted Caramel Potato Chips Closeup

But they definitely don’t smell anything like potato chips. The aroma is intense. It’s sweet, buttery, and salty. If I had someone close their eyes and had them smell what was coming out of the bag, they wouldn’t guess it was coming from potato chips. And when they open their eyes, they would learn that I snuck away.

Its salted caramel flavor isn’t as potent as its aroma, but it’s also sweet, buttery, and, surprisingly, not as salty as I thought it would be. However, unlike with the smell, the underlying potato chip is easily noticed after a few chews with some chips.

While I can totally taste how this might not be everyones’ cup of Bigelow Salted Caramel Tea, especially if you’ve never tried potato chips that are sweet, I think this is a pleasant seasonal snack. Although, I kind of knew I’d like them since I did enjoy the aforementioned Salted Caramel Pringles and Pepsi.

Oh, I should mention I found these chips odd to eat as a sandwich side, which is how I eat potato chips most of the time. So they should be enjoyed on their own. Or maybe crushed on top of ice cream.

If you wish to try Lay’s Salted Caramel Potato Chips (on or off ice cream), there are two things you should know — the flavor is available for a limited time and is a Kroger exclusive.

Purchased Price: Way too much on eBay
Size: 7 3/4 oz bag
Purchased at: eBay (but it’s a Kroger exclusive)
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (about 15 chips/28 g) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Snickers Peanut Brownie Squares

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Snickers Peanut Brownie Squares WrapperSnickers Peanut Brownie Squares Wrapper

What is Snickers Peanut Brownie?

It’s a candy bar featuring individual squares with a luscious caramel layer and a chewy peanut-brownie filling all coated in milk chocolate.

How is it?

Snickers Peanut Brownie Squares Coating

The Snickers name carries a lot of weight to it. It’s supposedly the world’s best-selling candy bar, and in a decade, it will be an entire century old!!! That is a big shadow for any candy bar, let alone one in the same family. So, I guess I’m trying to soften the blow that this is, well, just okay.

It is a good sugary confection and a nice little treat. It is undoubtedly chocolatey. Is it an ooey-gooey just baked brownie chocolatey? No, not really. The Fudge Brownie M&M’s are far superior in that regard.

Snickers Peanut Brownie Squares Interior

The two key components from the original also seem to be a little lackluster. The caramel is there but just doesn’t seem as thick of a layer as I remember and gets lost a bit. However, I was able to do that lovely trick where you pull two pieces apart and the caramel gloriously slowly separates. I’m sad about the peanuts, though. In one of my squares, there was maybe one full nut, and the other had maybe one and a half. It is really nice when you get one as the crunch and peanut flavor is superb. They also offset all the sweet chocolate, but there are just not enough!

Anything else you need to know?

You’ll be able to grab them in single-serving packs with two squares, share sizes with four, and also sharing stand up pouches with even more. If you are feeling extra hungry or want to be your co-worker’s best friend, you can also order an entire box from Walmart.com.

Conclusion:

I thought these were going to be Snickers bars, except delete the nougat and add in the delicious fudge brownie center from the recent Fudge Brownie M&M’s. Unfortunately, they fall a little short. Together, the four components are still a good mix and worth a try if you like the OG Snickers.

We owe it that, at least, because the brand had to fight in both World Wars and walk to school two miles in the snow! Just lower your expectations a bit before you dig in.

Purchased Price: 88 cents
Size: 1.20 OZ
Purchased at: Walgreens
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 Package – 2 Squares) 180 calories, 8 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 85 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 18 grams of sugar and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Rockstar Limited Edition Samurai Cola

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Rockstar Limited Edition Samurai Cola Can

What is Rockstar Limited Edition Samurai Cola?

A cherry cola-flavored energy drink that promotes the highly anticipated video game Cyberpunk 2077. It’s a game I will not play because I do not own a machine that can run it, and I’m still nauseous from playing DOOM back in the 90s.

How is it?

It tastes better than Cherry Coca-Cola Energy, which is an energy drink I found to be underwhelming. What’s disappointing about it is that it tastes more like an energy drink than a Cherry Coke. Okay, I imagine some of you are yelling at your screen something like, “Of course, it tastes that way! It’s. An. Energy. Drink.”

I get what you’re yelling, but here’s the thing, energy drink companies, like Rockstar and Monster, are now excellent at making their products not taste like energy drinks. They are using flavor and/or sugar to mask those bitter, energy-giving ingredients. And that’s what Rockstar did with its Samurai Cola, which has a strong, guarana-masking fruity flavor.

Rockstar Limited Edition Samurai Cola Rocks

While I think it’s tasty and easy to drink, I’ll admit some folks might find the syrupy cherry flavor to be a bit too heavy, taking things into cough syrup territory, and the overall taste is a tad below Cherry Coke and Wild Cherry Pepsi.

Anything else you need to know?

240 milligrams of caffeine per can.

Also, T79HC628FHKL and K3928VH6N67X.

Conclusion:

With limited edition products, a question I ask myself is, “Would I want this to come back or be permanent?” My answer for Rockstar Limited Edition Samurai Cola is yes. I enjoyed it, and I feel we need more highly caffeinated colas in the world.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 16 fl oz can
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 250 calories, 0 grams of fat, 15 milligrams of sodium, 63 grams of carbohydrates, 63 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

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