The McFlurry spoon is square and hollow because it's designed to attach to a machine that mixes the toppings into the ice cream, acting as a drill bit to blend it all together efficiently before being served. This design saves employees time and cleaning, as the spoon itself does the mixing, eliminating the need for a separate tool and ensuring an even mix in every bite.
The McFlurry spoon, which sparked confusion among its fans for being hollow, is being phased out as the fast food chain says it seeks more sustainable alternatives. The clear plastic spoon doubled as a spindle, with the utensil being inserted into the McFlurry machine to mix in the toppings into the ice cream.
Fans of the Golden Arches were happy to fill the user in on the secrets of the iconic spoon. “It's quite literally a drill bit spoon. They attach that spoon to a machine through that hole and it stirs the mcflurry to get a perfect mix,” someone explained.
Many people assumed they could use the hollow spoon like a straw. But because the McFlurry is so thick, the ice cream just couldn't make it up. So why exactly would the spoon be hollow? It turns out, McDonald's used the spoons to help blend the McFlurry.
It was created in 1995 by Ron McLellan, a Canadian McDonald's franchise owner in Bathurst, New Brunswick, and later introduced to the United States in 1997.
Many speculate the change is tied to the phasing out of the oversized plastic spoon, which doubled as a mixing tool. Without it, the blending process appears to have been abandoned at some locations.
Paper flaps around the paper-based cup's neck will serve as a closure, replacing the plastic lid and reducing single-use plastic to advance McDonald's sustainability goals.
Therefore, a spoon with a hole in the middle lets ingredients move freely, making it easier to mix everything evenly. It also reduces resistance, so you don't have to work as hard when stirring thick sauces. Even if you're not a huge risotto fan, this type of spoon can also be useful for other purposes, like mashing.
McDonald's says that, in an effort to be more sustainable, it is phasing out plastic McFlurry cup lids, meaning that both the Mini and Regular McFlurry will here on be served in a more environmentally-friendly four-flap cup.
After dispensing the ice cream and adding toppings like Oreo crumbles or mini M&Ms, McDonald's workers are supposed to blend the concoction together. They do this by inserting part of the McFlurry machine into the hollow straw and turning it on.
A slotted spoon is a spoon implement used in food preparation. The term can be used to describe any spoon with slots, holes or other openings in the bowl of the spoon which let liquid pass through while preserving the larger solids on top.
While many people have wondered over the years why McDonald's McFlurry spoons are shaped the way they are — hollow with a square hole on top — the answer was surprisingly simple and self-explanatory: The hole attached to the ice cream machine's blending mechanism, creating a spindle that mixed the ice cream and ...
MCDONALD'S is to roll out McFlurry spoons made from a sustainable, paper-based material. It comes as the fast food chain replaces all its plastic cutlery with the 'resilient', renewable, FSC-certified pressed-paper recyclable and compostable cutlery.
Once the mixing magic is complete, your McFlurry will be served with a smaller black spoon that uses less plastic (the same one that comes with our Sundaes). This small change will help reduce single-use plastic waste in restaurants – while giving customers the same delicious McFlurry they know and love.
But in 1977, Sid & Marty Krofft sued McDonald's claiming Mayor McCheese was a rip-off of their character H.R. Pufnstuf. The court agreed the similarities weren't a coincidence. McDonald's had to pay damages, and Mayor McCheese was quietly phased out of ads by the late 80s.
McDonald's collectible cups available online, with no meal
You can score a collectible cup without ever stepping foot at McDonald's, but be warned that an adult Happy Meal will not be included with your purchase.
CosMc's was a short-lived, beverage-focused spinoff restaurant from McDonald's, named after an old alien mascot, designed to compete with Starbucks by offering specialty drinks and snacks in a smaller format. Launched in late 2023 as a "learning lab," it featured custom iced teas, lemonades, blended coffees, and unique treats like McPops and pretzel bites, but all locations were slated to close by mid-2025 due to performance issues, though some popular drinks might appear at regular McDonald's.
According to the McDonald's press release, the offering is designed to appeal to those who just want a small treat in the middle of their day. “Got a friend who always wants 'just a bite'? Instead of grabbing an extra spoon, you can grab them a Mini McFlurry of their own,” the press release says.
McFlurry (snacksize)
The Mcflurry has less calories, sodium, carbohydrates, sugar, protein, vitamin A, calcium, and iron. But the Blizzard has less trans fat, fiber, and a smaller portion for their snack size.
The ice cream machines that make McFlurries are notorious for breaking down. Brittany Cronin, from our daily economics podcast The Indicator from Planet Money, explains why getting one fixed is far from simple.
🍦 The McFlurry is mostly sugar and fat, with little fibre, vitamins or minerals. It gives your body energy, but not much else.
The McFlurry was created by Ron McLellan in Bathurst, Canada. The very first McFlurry, which was an Oreo flavor, was sold on June 7, 1995.
And for dessert…
Our final Secret Menu item is a match made in dessert heaven – introducing the mythical Apple Pie Mini McFlurry® 🍏🥧. This combination is made up of two separate items, served individually: soft dairy ice cream swirled with caramel sauce, paired with the iconic warm Apple Pie, ready for dipping.