Sandwich Monday: The Mighty McRib Returns

[Note: Every year we celebrate the return of the McRib to McDonald's menus by not eating one. Below, our original review, with some updates.]

Once again, the signs outside McDonald's say "McRib is Back!" My girlfriend pointed out that it is indeed back. And front, and other parts probably best not to mention.

Eva: This reminds me of particleboard, but with meat.

Ian: It's Particlemeat.

Mike: In the Garden of Eden, God made Eve out of Adam's rib. Then he made Grimace out of a McRib.

You may notice that this year, the McRib has arrived later than usual. Usually, it shows up on menus in October.

Mike: The Shamrock Shake goes with St.Patrick's Day. Why does the McRib come out in October?

Ian: Halloween. It's non-food wearing a food costume.

Eva: Or because it's the living dead.

Peter: I think it only comes out once a year because you need that long to forget it. Like childbirth.

Mike: Or because the gestation period of whatever freakish animal this comes from is 12 months long.

Mike: What is this? On the box, it should say "No Animals Were Harmed In The Making of this Sandwich."

Peter: Now that I've had a bite, I'd like to go eat my actual lunch, but I'm afraid to eat.

Ian: Your stomach no longer trusts your hands and mouth.

[The verdict: it doesn't matter. The McRib is just something you have to do. Like puberty. The McRib is like puberty.]

[P.S. Check out this piece about the meat science behind the McRib.]

Copyright 2012 National Public Radio. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.