The internet loves hearing stories from behind-the-scenes of fast-food restaurants.
Why do we find it so intriguing? It’s a bit of a mystery. While we know in our hearts that many items come prepackaged, or that “preparation” usually just involves throwing something in the deep fryer, we can’t help but find ourselves clicking on videos from McDonald’s kitchens or exposés about how KFC makes its mashed potatoes.
Sometimes, taking a look into a restaurant’s kitchen will make you swear off eating there ever again. Now, a user on TikTok says she’s spilling secrets about what’s going on behind-the-scenes at Applebee’s. But is she correct?
What’s The Deal With Applebee’s Steaks?
In a video with over 278,000 views, TikTok user Nicole Townsend (@nicolebreaksitdown) shares what she says are “secrets” shared by employees of popular chain restaurants.
A few of these secrets stand out. For example, Townsend says that Chipotle’s secret for having tasty rice is using a mix of lemon juice and lime juice. She also says that a tub of movie theater popcorn, which can cost $7 or more, costs the theater just a few cents to produce.
However, one specific “secret” caught the ears of TikTok viewers.
“The steaks from Applebee’s are microwaved,” Townsend states. “They are thrown on the grill for a charred look.”
The Internet Has Doubts
Immediately, internet users in the comments began questioning this claim about Applebee’s.
“Steaks are not microwaved at Applebees,” shared a user in the comments. “False information.”
“As somebody that worked at Applebee’s for 7 years, at no point were steaks ever microwaved. They were always cooked on the grill,” declared another.
“I worked at an Applebee’s off and in for about three years and I never once microwaved a steak,” wrote a third.
So, Is This True?
In an email, an Applebee’s spokesperson confirmed that the chain’s steaks are grilled.
“Our kitchen standards are simple: every steak on our menu is hand-seasoned, cooked to order, and grilled over an open-flame char broiler,” the spokesperson wrote.
It should also be noted that Townsend isn’t exactly a reliable source on the topic. To start, this video is a repost of her own video from over a year ago. Next, this isn’t original research on her part. Instead, she’s simply summarizing a Bored Panda article from April 2025—which itself is simply rehosting answers from a 14-year-old Reddit thread.
There’s just no evidence to suggest that Applebee’s consistently cooks its steaks in the microwave—and a decent amount to suggest it doesn’t.
Numerous Reddit threads from other alleged Applebee’s workers described grilling steaks as among their restaurant duties. Applebee’s itself claims that its steaks are grilled, writing in the restaurant menu description that its 6-ounce top sirloin is “served hot off the grill.”
So, if you’re visiting Applebee’s soon, you can order a steak confidently knowing that it (probably) hasn’t seen a microwave.
@nicolebreaksitdown I love when employees spill secrets! #restaurant #foodtok #chipotle #fyp #employeesecrets
BroBible reached out to Townsend via email and Instagram direct message.