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This Is Hands Down The Worst Burger You Can Order At McDonald's

Yahoo

03-08-2025

General
Yahoo

This Is Hands Down The Worst Burger You Can Order At McDonald's

Sometimes, you bite into a McDonald's burger and think to yourself, "Now this is living!" Other times, it tastes like little more than disappointment. While hitting McDonald's between noon and 2 p.m. or 5 and 7 p.m. might help you score fresher food, at the end of the day, the quality of your experience often boils down to which burger you order. Luckily, we did the leg work by ranking McDonald's burgers from worst to best, so you don't have to suffer through a dreadful meal at the Golden Arches. Before any judgement was cast, each burger was split down the middle and had a hearty bite taken out of it. It was promptly decided that the wimpy patty and unimpressive toppings of the basic hamburger make it the worst sandwich McDonald's has on offer. Differing from the Quarter Pounder with Cheese, which features a fresh beef patty (which many say produces a tastier burger), the hamburger's patty is frozen and significantly smaller. Lots of folks call the classic burger patties bland and tasteless, and it seems to be designed that way, as the only seasoning added is a touch of salt and pepper. Without the addition of a slice of cheese, it's also noticeably dryer than its siblings. The smattering of ketchup, diced onion, and pickle also does little to improve the sad situation. All around, it's an entirely unremarkable burger. Read more: Popular Arby's Menu Items, Ranked Worst To Best The Basic Hamburger Is Just Too Darn Small! Or Is It Too Expensive? Aside from the lack of flavor, one of the biggest complaints about the basic McDonald's hamburger comes down to size. To be fair, it is the exact same burger stuffed inside a kid's Happy Meal, so it can't exactly be expected to satiate most adult appetites. Still, the patty is supremely thin and significantly smaller than the bun. This leads to an absolutely pitiful meat-to-bread ratio, unimproved by any yummy sauce or gooey cheese. As a matter of fact, its sheer tininess has led some people on Reddit to claim it has actually gotten smaller over the years. Others figure the burger has remained the same size, but the price has drastically changed — which doesn't give customers the sense that they're getting a good value. (In case you missed it, the same McDonald's hamburger that can now cost more than $3 once sold for just 15 cents in 1955.) If you're looking for a McDonald's burger that satisfies in terms of size, texture, flavor, toppings, and value, you can't beat the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Read the original article on Mashed. Solve the daily Crossword

Burgers Are the Restaurant World's Safe Haven

Bloomberg

24-07-2025

Business
Bloomberg

Burgers Are the Restaurant World's Safe Haven

With apologies to John Milton, a hamburger is often the final infirmity of a noble restaurant. When times get tough, even the best chefs will succumb to the popular appeal and simple economics of a ground beef patty slid between well-buttered buns. Cheap chopped meat can conceal a lot of shortcomings and do wonders for the bottom line. Nowadays, the financial incentives are more compelling for high-end establishments than burger joints. Inflation has pushed up the cost of beef — as much as 20% over the last 12 months, according to UK's Office for National Statistics — so fancier spots can sell a pricey burger that's still a bargain for their clientele. Depending on how you weight your cost-benefit analysis, you might opt for, say, a Gordon Ramsay burger rather than fast food in a box on a plastic tray. Currently, the two-for-one Whopper deal at Burger King in the UK will set you back about £12 ($16.20). That's with a coupon. Without a promo discount, you may have to lay out almost £8 for just one. Some estimates have the Whopper increasing by a whopping 45% since 2020. In comparison, you can get a posh burger and brag about the famous culinary reputation attached to it for around £18. (Unless you want it with tender wagyu beef, which will cost you extra).

Why Do Burgers From A Restaurant Taste So Much Better Than Homemade?

Yahoo

12-07-2025

General
Yahoo

Why Do Burgers From A Restaurant Taste So Much Better Than Homemade?

A hamburger is a relatively simple thing to cook, but we're always on a quest for the best restaurant burger. From the best high-end steakhouse chain burgers to greasy sacks of sliders (from none other than White Castle, America's quintessential fast food restaurant), we can't get enough. So why are restaurant burgers always so much better than the ones we make at home? Sam Shafer, executive chef of Sacramento's Revival at The Sawyer, lists several reasons why this might be the case. Shafer, 2025 winner of the American River Burger Battle, tells The Takeout, "A restaurant burger's superior quality comes from a combination of expertly selected ingredients, careful preparation, and attention to detail at every stop." For one thing, a restaurant may be able to purchase better beef and might opt for a blend of different cuts like brisket, short rib, and sirloin. It might even work in a bit of dry-aged beef, which isn't something you can find in most supermarket meat departments. Shafer also points out, "Since restaurants cook far more burgers than home cooks, they usually do not overcook and have perfected the timing." One thing about cooking your own burgers, though, is that they're bound to be a lot more affordable. If you're looking to save money by learning to make a better burger at home, Shafer says this goal is attainable. "There are a few common mistakes [people] make when prepping and cooking burgers," he explains. "By avoiding these common mistakes and using proper cooking techniques, you can improve your homemade burgers to achieve a restaurant-quality burger." Read more: Yellow Mustard Brands Ranked From Worst To Best Improving the quality of your homemade burgers starts with the right meat. Choosing the best beef for a burger, not a steak, means prioritizing higher fat content. Sam Shafer says one way people mess up their burgers is by using too lean a cut. His advice? "Choose a ground beef with a higher fat content, such as 80/20 ground chuck." Another burger-making mistake is over-seasoning the meat before you form the patties. For one thing, the burgers probably don't need it. According to Shafer, "Restaurants typically want the natural flavor of their burgers to shine, most often with the basic salt and fresh cracked black pepper on [the] top and bottom of their patties." Besides being superfluous, mixing seasonings into ground meat can compromise the texture of your burgers. As Shafer explains, "Seasoning, mixing and then forming patties can lead to tougher, chewier burgers because the salt can break down the protein from the inside out." It might also lead to overworking the meat. "Work the meat as little as possible when forming patties, only until the ingredients are just combined." Cooking technique also counts when it comes to bettering your burger-making. Sam Shafer insists that you need to preheat your frying pan or grill before adding the patties, noting, "A hot cooking surface is essential for achieving a good sear and preventing the burger from sticking." Another big burger boo-boo is flattening the patties as they cook. "Pressing down on the burger with a spatula while it is cooking squeezes out the precious juices and flavor. Let the burgers cook undisturbed, flipping once or twice, but don't press out the juices," Shafer warns. It's also important not to cook burgers to the point where they become dried out, losing all of their flavor. A nice sear or char on the outside is one thing, but incinerating a burger to the point where it turns black and crumbly is a sad waste of meat. Once the burgers come off the heat, don't plop them right on the buns and douse them with ketchup. Instead, allow them to sit for a few minutes. As Shafer recommends, "Allowing the cooked burgers time to rest a few minutes helps the juices redistribute, resulting in a juicer burger." For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout.