You can now grab almost anything from a drive-thru window these days. We have tacos and ice cream and even full stir-fry meals ready in minutes. But honestly nothing really hits the spot quite like a classic fast-food burger when you are hungry. I recently asked four amazing chefs to share their top picks for the best fast-food burger out there. Here is what they had to say about what makes a burger truly great.
Fresh Ingredients Really Matter Most
The chefs all agree that having fresh toppings and fresh beef that has never been frozen is the big secret to a juicy patty. Frozen meat loses moisture and flavor so starting with fresh stuff keeps the burger from tasting dry and bland.
Getting The Bun Ratio Right
You really do not want a tiny piece of meat sitting inside a massive thick bun because it ruins the whole bite. The chefs say a four to five inch bun is perfect because it holds everything together without making you feel like you are just eating bread.
Building The Burger Perfectly Centered
It is super frustrating when you get a burger and all the pickles and sauces are sliding right out the back. A properly made sandwich keeps everything right in the middle so you can actually taste every single ingredient in every single bite.
Happy Workers Make Better Food
This point is actually more about the whole restaurant vibe because chefs say that a happy staff makes a huge difference. Places that pay well and treat their team right usually end up serving much better food because the employees actually care about your order.
Shake Shack Keeps Things Classic
Shake Shack tied for the number one spot because their ShackBurger just always hits the spot with its Angus beef and soft potato bun. The chefs really love that these burgers are a little bit smaller so you do not feel completely stuffed after eating one.
In-N-Out Wins The West Coast
The other top winner was In-N-Out and their famous Animal Style burger is a huge favorite for anyone visiting California. This order comes with a beef patty piled high with grilled onions and extra spread which makes it incredibly juicy and flavorful.
Mustard Frying Adds Huge Flavor
One of the best chef secrets at In-N-Out is asking the cooks to mustard fry your beef right on the flat grill. They literally cook the patty inside a layer of yellow mustard and it adds this crazy amount of extra flavor to the meat.
Culver’s Brings The Buttered Buns
Whenever the chefs are in the Midwest they always make sure to grab a ButterBurger from Culver’s because the overall quality is so good. They put a nice dash of real dairy butter right on the toasted bun which makes the fresh beef taste even better.
Wendy’s Square Patties Deserve Respect
Wendy’s got a very special honorable mention from the chefs because their classic square patties are totally different from the smash burgers. The chefs really respect that Wendy’s uses fresh beef and one chef even suggests adding bacon to take that simple burger to the next level.
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