Why Do McDonald’s Burgers Taste So Good?

McDonald's burgers are seasoned on the grill

At McDonald's, seasonings aren't added at all until the burgers reach their local grills, where the cooks add

salt and pepper

as the patties are grilled to order. According to McDonald's, this “[brings] out all that great beef taste.”

How do restaurants make burgers so good?

Since these and the big restaurants just scrape the excess crumbs down, the

griddle

remains seasoned with the flavor of the burgers each time they are cooked. Since these restaurants are cooking dozens of burgers daily, their griddles will retain the seasoning from the meat adding flavor each time a burger is made.

Why do hamburgers taste better in restaurants?

What gives? As it turns out, it's

all about the kitchen tools

. Most top-notch burger places use a flat-top griddle to cook their burgers. These griddles are set at a consistent temperature, one that allows the burgers to get a sear while cooking evenly on the inside, locking in the juices.

What meat do restaurants use for burgers?

You want

fresh ground chuck

. Ground chuck will typically have the perfect ratio of fat to meat, which is 80/20. Plus, the fat isn't as stringy as brisket can be. I know brisket burgers sound cool because they make you think of BBQ, but they are second-tier.

What makes hamburgers taste good?

You might think it's impossible to improve on grilled burgers, but hiding a tasty surprise in the middle of the patty makes 'em even better. Try some

herb or garlic butter

, a dab of homemade relish or some melted cheese.

What is the secret to a juicy burger?

1. Don't overwork the meat. …
2. Use cold hands. …
3. Be gentle. …
4. Make a thumb print. …
5. Turn up the heat. …
6. Don't move the burgers around. …
7. Don't push down on the burgers. …
8. Let the juicy burgers rest.

How do you make burgers juicy?

If you want a juicy hamburger, it helps to restore some of that lost moisture. The easiest way is to

add water or some other liquid to the burger mixture

. We've found that 2 to 3 tablespoons of ice-cold water mixed into a pound of ground beef greatly increases the juiciness of grilled burgers.

Does Taco Bell use horse meat?

Taco Bell has

officially joined Club Horse Meat

. … The British Food Standards Agency said Taco Bell's products contained more than 1% (pdf) horse meat. “We apologize to our customers and take this matter very seriously as food quality is our highest priority,” a spokesman for the chain said.

Why McDonald's fries taste so good?

To mimic the chain's original oil blend, which was mostly beef tallow, the oil is laced with chemical flavoring to replicate that

mouthwatering smell

. In other words, the delicious scent we know and love is actually the smell of potatoes cooked in beef fat, an aroma so powerful it makes the fries seem even tastier!

What is the pink slime in McDonald's Burgers?

Pink slime (also known as

lean finely textured beef or LFTB

, finely textured beef, or boneless lean beef trimmings or BLBT) is a meat by-product used as a food additive to ground beef and beef-based processed meats, as a filler, or to reduce the overall fat content of ground beef.

What cheese do restaurants use for burgers?

American cheese is a melty classic;

smoked gouda

is delicious on burgers with barbecue sauce. You can't forget cheddar, either, which works with everything from pickled slaw and fried shallots to tarragon Russian dressing.

How do you keep burgers from shrinking?

1. Choose leaner meats with no added water.
2. Cook it slow, on a low temperature.
3. If you're cooking burgers on the grill, don't close the lid. …
4. Form the patties wider than you'd like them to be, and create a small dimple in the center by pressing down with your fingers.

What type of ground beef do restaurants use?

Not only that, it's not going to be chuck all the time, but

sirloin

or even round. It's fine to blend beef and I've certainly ordered by own mix in the past (like chuck, tri tip and sirloin is a fave), but most places are just using ground chuck.

Why put a thumbprint in a burger?

Thumbprint for Even Cooking

To ensure that the meat cooks evenly, make a thumbprint indentation into each patty before it goes on the grill. The indentation

helps the patty hold its shape

—rather than swelling—as it shrinks during cooking.

What can I add to my burger for flavor?

The herbs and spices that make a good complement to beef burgers are

parsley, basil, thyme, oregano, marjoram, savory, garlic, and chili flakes

or powder. For intensifying flavor, try using dill pickles, sweet relish, capers, anchovies or chutney, plus almost any cheese will serve a beef burger well.

What can I add to ground beef for flavor?

For filler and flavor, add

chopped herbs and soaked breadcrumbs

.

Minced garlic, fresh herbs, and dried spices

flavor ground meat so effectively because they get mixed right into the center of the meat, unlike with a steak or roast, where the seasoning just sits on the surface.