What is the 4:00 AM "Biscuit Maker" Shift Like at Hardee's / Carl's Jr.?

While many fast-food chains use frozen, pre-baked biscuits that they just warm up in an oven, Hardee’s (and Carl’s Jr.) prides itself on “Made from Scratch” biscuits.

Because they are made entirely from scratch, the franchise requires a dedicated employee known as the Biscuit Maker. This is a revered, highly specialized position that requires getting out of bed while the rest of the city is asleep.

The 4:00 AM Start Time

To have fresh biscuits ready for the 6:00 AM breakfast rush, the Biscuit Maker must arrive at the store by 4:00 AM.

You unlock the dark store with the opening manager, turn on the massive convection ovens, and get your station ready. Your station is a massive stainless steel table covered in flour, equipped with a heavy rolling pin and specialized biscuit cutters.

The From-Scratch Process

• The Mix: You dump massive bags of proprietary biscuit mix (which contains flour, baking powder, and shortening) into a large bin. You pour in gallons of real, cold buttermilk.
• The Knead: You use your bare, heavily washed and sanitized hands to mix the dough. You cannot over-mix it, or the biscuits will become tough and dense instead of light and fluffy.
• The Roll: You dump the massive ball of dough onto the floured table and roll it out to the exact required thickness.
• The Cut: Using a metal biscuit cutter, you punch out the circular biscuits, laying them onto greased baking sheets.

The 15-Minute Rule

You do not just make one massive batch of biscuits at 4:00 AM and serve them until 11:00 AM. Corporate policy dictates that biscuits must be baked fresh continuously.

A good Biscuit Maker is rolling, cutting, and baking a new tray of biscuits every 15 to 20 minutes for their entire 8-hour shift. It is exhausting, highly physical work. Your forearms will ache, and you will go home completely coated in a layer of white flour. However, Biscuit Makers are often the most respected employees in the building, and they get to clock out by 12:00 PM and enjoy the rest of their afternoon.