Best Fast Food Burgers & Fries

[ERD50]

Sorry for the confusion. Yes, high fructose corn syrup. Yummy stuff! I'm tending to avoid all "food" that contains it.

I don't know why people fear HFCS. As far as ketchup and calories, 1 TBS of ketchup only has 19 calories, that's not gonna break anyone's calorie bank.

HFCS has the same ratio of fructose/glucose as honey. I don't see anyone fearing honey (other than the total calories).

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/food-science/high-fructose-corn-syrup

HFCS has the same number of calories per teaspoon as table sugar (4 calories per gram) and is equal in sweetness to table sugar.

Sorry to ruin your day, but most of the stuff that you're eating, probably has worse stuff than HFCS. A lot of it, you cannot pronounce. ...

I wasn't aware that the pronounce-ability of an ingredient was correlated to its health benefits. Got a link for that?

Lead = good; oxygen = bad?

mold = good; Quinoa = bad?

What about water? You need it, but too much and you drown?

-ERD50

 

[ERD50]

... Still, last Friday I had a delicious burger at home - - thoroughly grilled to my idea of perfection, with no fries, no bun, no cheese, no additions or condiments other than mustard. I don't miss all those extras any more. ...

There is something to be said for the 'minimalist' approach. A bunch of condiments sometimes just blend together and hides the basic, good flavors of a well prepared meat patty.

I don't go that minimalist, but I have trended towards basics - burger, (on a bun) cheese(*), mustard, maybe ketchup, lettuce, and maybe tomato, pickle, onion. But not all of them at the same time.

(*) I know "American cheese' turns people off, but I think it's just right sometimes on a basic burger (or egg sandwich). It's one of those 'basic' flavors that blend well.

I was a bit afraid to admit that, until I saw some high end chefs acknowledge it - the melt, everything is just right for a basic burger.

https://www.seriouseats.com/2016/07/whats-really-in-american-cheese.html

-ERD50

 

[MRG]

I don't know why people fear HFCS. As far as ketchup and calories, 1 TBS of ketchup only has 19 calories, that's not gonna break anyone's calorie bank.

HFCS has the same ratio of fructose/glucose as honey. I don't see anyone fearing honey (other than the total calories).

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/food-science/high-fructose-corn-syrup




I wasn't aware that the pronounce-ability of an ingredient was correlated to its health benefits. Got a link for that?

Lead = good; oxygen = bad?

mold = good; Quinoa = bad?

What about water? You need it, but too much and you drown?

-ERD50

I fear no food, other than the mayo from The Phoenix in KCMO.

Try something new, food without ketchup. You might be surprised about how your food tastes without being covered up in a sugary sauce.

 

[Helena]

For those living in Texas, In-N-Out has a bunch of locations between Dallas/Fort Worth area and San Antonio.

In the mail I received a promotion for the new In and Out in Dallas... a free burger and fires. Hamburger was very dry. The FFs were mostly little hard stale pieces. Awful! Yet, there was a long line waiting to be served? Maybe they all had the free promotion coupon.

I used to go to Wendy's until I saw the employee lick her fingers while she made my frosty. YUK!

Now I only go to Whataburger... they make your burger to order [I order extra mustard and tomatoes] and are constantly good at a reasonable price.

.

 

[Helena]

Whataburger is #1 on my list.

Me too! Whataburger will make your hamburger to order. I like mine with extra mustard and extra tomatoes. So yummy and less expensive than other hamburgers not near as big and delicious.

.

 

[Helena]

.

I know we are not supposed to talk about chicken... but...

I found the best "fast food" fried chicken to be at a local supermarket deli. It's especially handy for a single person because I can buy one piece [large breast = $2] take it home and create my own yummy chicken sandwich.

.

 

[ERD50]

....
Try something new, food without ketchup. You might be surprised about how your food tastes without being covered up in a sugary sauce.

I only put ketchup on a few specific foods - french fries, sometimes a burger, sometimes an "Italian Beef" (that's another Chicago thing). That's all I can even thing of. A bottle of ketchup here probably lasts years. And never on a "Chicago Style" hot dog (if people like ketchup on a hot dog, that's OK - but then it is not a "Chicago Style" dog)!

And I don't "cover them" in sauce. In fact, we tend to avoid sauces on most of our food. Rarely any 'dressing' on salad - herbs and and maybe some olive oil on most meats.

Geez, what's with some people on this forum taking a comment to extremes, and making claims that they can't possibly know (like since I don't wash my car as regularly as they do, my house and car must be disgusting?).

This is getting weird. Are people peeking in my windows, and checking the food I eat?

-ERD50

 

[audreyh1]

After my parents moved to Corpus Christi in the 80s, my mom raved about the Whataburger jalapeño cheeseburger. We weren’t familiar with the chain before then.

Apparently Whataburger moved their headquarters from Corpus Christi to San Antonio in 2008 due to hurricane exposure concerns.

 

[audreyh1]

Most ketchup to us tastes way, way, way too sweet these days. Have they been increasing the sweetness all this time?

 

[JoeWras]

I only put ketchup on a few specific foods - sometimes an "Italian Beef" (that's another Chicago thing).

That's a sin!

Then again, I go all the way with a Chicago style hotdog and add a little ketchup. Forgive my sin!

BTW, to all those outside of Chicago who try to create a Chicago style hot dog and you neglect to steam a poppy seed bun, please, don't even try. OK? Gotta get that right. And the celery salt. And... Well, ya gotta get it right! Keep the ketchup off and leave it to the sinners to do it themselves.

 

[Fedup]

Ketchup is still one of my vices, especially when I have fries. But one of my kids threw our small bottle away when she’s home. It was outdated, so that means we didn’t eat it enough.

 

[Dtail]

Ketchup is still one of my vices, especially when I have fries.

+1 just with fries.

 

[ERD50]

That's a sin!

Then again, I go all the way with a Chicago style hotdog and add a little ketchup. Forgive my sin!

BTW, to all those outside of Chicago who try to create a Chicago style hot dog and you neglect to steam a poppy seed bun, please, don't even try. OK? Gotta get that right. And the celery salt. And... Well, ya gotta get it right! Keep the ketchup off and leave it to the sinners to do it themselves.

I admit it is weird of me to put ketchup on an Italian Beef, but I like it.

Celery salt is key to the Chicago dog, and some imitators miss that.

-ERD50

 

[JoeWras]

Celery salt is key to the Chicago dog, and some imitators miss that.

YES! This is a very easy way to smoke out the imitators.

 

[Badger]

Red Robin came to my area about a year ago. A short time later I gave it a try and thought it was better than most fast food burgers. Then a few months later it showed up on the weekly restaurant report for many many health infractions.



I haven't been back. I have to say I haven't been back to any other hamburger joints either.


Cheers!

 

[Chuckanut]

I don't know why people fear HFCS. As far as ketchup and calories, 1 TBS of ketchup only has 19 calories, that's not gonna break anyone's calorie bank.

From what I understand, and that is subject to me being smarter tomorrow than I was yesterday, HFCS is much cheaper than other forms of sugar. Because of that food manufacturers are able to use more of it and still meet their financial goals. Thus, more sugar in foods than ever before.

FWIW, the other day I bought a can of 'Organic' tomato sauce to use in a recipe. To my surprise it contained quite a bit of organic sugar. Ugh! My mother used to add a teaspoon or two of sugar to a big pot tomato sauce to counter the acidity. This 14 oz can had 20 g of the stuff, about 4 tsp.

 

[braumeister]

We are so far afield from the actual thread topic now, but I'll just point out that common table sugar (sucrose) is 50% glucose and 50% fructose (one molecule of each).

The dreaded High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) has been in use since the 1960s. It comes in several varieties, and is 24% water. The remainder is glucose and:

• 42% fructose for most processed foods
• 55% fructose for most soft drinks

 

[REWahoo]

We are so far afield from the actual thread topic now, but I'll just point out that common table sugar (sucrose) is 50% glucose and 50% fructose (one molecule of each).

The dreaded High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) has been in use since the 1960s. It comes in several varieties, and is 24% water. The remainder is glucose and:

• 42% fructose for most processed foods
• 55% fructose for most soft drinks

You failed to disclose the percentage of arsenic and cyanide.

 

[UnrealizedPotential]

I forgot to mention Carl's Jr too. It's not my favorite, however I like it much more than BK, McD's. What I like about Carl's Jr. is that it is the shortest driving distance from my house and I like their burger and fries. When the closest fast food is nine miles one way with the exception of one only 5 miles one way, then sometimes I give the one closer to me preference.



Some day I hope to be able to try Whataburger , Shake Shack, and Five Guys.

 

[Cut-Throat]

Some day I hope to be able to try Whataburger , Shake Shack, and Five Guys.

I've tried all of them Mentioned here that are Chains..... For myself no Chain Burger beats a Smashburger -- They don't use frozen meat..... Try a "Classic Smash'

 

[UnrealizedPotential]

I've tried all of them Mentioned here that are Chains..... For myself no Chain Burger beats a Smashburger -- They don't use frozen meat..... Try a "Classic Smash'

Yeah, that's another one on my list to try. Someday when I move perhaps I will have the opportunity to do that. Unfortunately, that won't be anytime soon.

 

[audreyh1]

From what I understand, and that is subject to me being smarter tomorrow than I was yesterday, HFCS is much cheaper than other forms of sugar. Because of that food manufacturers are able to use more of it and still meet their financial goals. Thus, more sugar in foods than ever before.

FWIW, the other day I bought a can of 'Organic' tomato sauce to use in a recipe. To my surprise it contained quite a bit of organic sugar. Ugh! My mother used to add a teaspoon or two of sugar to a big pot tomato sauce to counter the acidity. This 14 oz can had 20 g of the stuff, about 4 tsp.

Tomatoes contain a lot of sugar. It's a fruit after all. Are you sure that a big part of that 20g wasn't the sugar already in the tomatoes?

 

[Midpack]

From what I understand, and that is subject to me being smarter tomorrow than I was yesterday, HFCS is much cheaper than other forms of sugar. Because of that food manufacturers are able to use more of it and still meet their financial goals. Thus, more sugar in foods than ever before.

FWIW, the other day I bought a can of 'Organic' tomato sauce to use in a recipe. To my surprise it contained quite a bit of organic sugar. Ugh! My mother used to add a teaspoon or two of sugar to a big pot tomato sauce to counter the acidity. This 14 oz can had 20 g of the stuff, about 4 tsp.

Tomatoes contain a lot of sugar. It's a fruit after all. Are you sure that a big part of that 20g wasn't the sugar already in the tomatoes?

I’m curious what brand of tomato sauce that was, appears to be some added sugar. Here’s Hunt’s Organic Tomato Sauce with 14g sugar in a full can, none added.

https://smartlabel.labelinsight.com/product/4461819/nutrition

 

[swakyaby]

Wow, 23 pages devoted to favorite fast food hamburgers and fries!

I haven’t had the fortune to live near any Whataburgers, Shake Shacks, Steak-n-Shake, Culver’s, or White Castles. Are these east coast and Midwest?

I enjoy Smashburger and The Habit. And inside my local Whole Foods market, there is a pub and grill that makes a very satisfying burger and fries.

I’ve had disappointing hamburgers at Sonic, Five Guys, In-n-Out, and McD, but I do like the fries at Five Guys, In-n-Out, and McD.

 

[aja8888]

Wow, 23 pages devoted to favorite fast food hamburgers and fries!

I haven’t had the fortune to live near any Whataburgers, Shake Shacks, Steak-n-Shake, Culver’s, or White Castles. Are these east coast and Midwest?

I enjoy Smashburger and The Habit. And inside my local Whole Foods market, there is a pub and grill that makes a very satisfying burger and fries.

I’ve had disappointing hamburgers at Sonic, Five Guys, In-n-Out, and McD, but I do like the fries at Five Guys, In-n-Out, and McD.

Whataburger is Texas only (no sense spreading the goodness).