Key Takeaways
- Four professional chefs evaluated fast food cheeseburgers based on the quality and freshness of the beef, as well as the toppings.
- All the chefs agreed: one California-based burger chain takes top spot every time.
There are options abound in the wide world of hamburgers. Whether you like them beefy or vegan, restaurant-style or backyard barbecue-approved, Allrecipes has no shortage of burger recipes for you to try. We’ve even stretched the boundaries of what qualifies as a burger, taking inspiration from Beef Wellington, chicken Parmesan, and even Thanksgiving leftovers.
But when it comes to one category of burger—fast food cheeseburgers—most of us are usually looking for the same thing. We asked four culinary pros to weigh in on the best fast food cheeseburger—and, to our surprise, they all agreed.
Our Panel of Fast Food Cheeseburger-Rating Chefs
Qualities of a Good Fast Food Cheeseburger
Priority number one? The meat. According to Jim Perillo, the beef should always be fresh, not frozen, since “frozen patties tend to be dryer. They lose moisture through the thawing process. Pre-cooked frozen patties that have been sitting also leave much to be desired. Nothing beats a fresh burger,” he says.
The best burgers are well-seasoned and rocking a satisfying “crust,” adds Dominic Iannarelli. This usually comes from being grilled, smashed, or seared. Caroline Chambers chimes in with a vote for a thin patty, which allows for “a perfect balance. I basically want equal parts cheese to patty to bun.”
As for that bun, it better not distract from the real star of the show, says Dan Pelosi. It should be soft so it’s able to “hug the burger,” Pelosi says, but toasted to stand up to any sauces.
When it comes to the toppings, less is more. Every topping should have a reason for being invited to the party, according to Iannarelli.
Overall, a good clue that a burger is high-quality is the fact that it’s one of few sandwiches on the menu, Pelosi adds. “The sign of a confident burger is when she is not afraid to be one of the very few options available.”
The Best Fast Food Cheeseburger, According to Chefs
So after hearing all of those criteria, which fast food burger comes out on top? In-N-Out’s Double-Double Animal Style.
Described by the chain as featuring two 100% American beef patties, lettuce, tomato, pickle chips, grilled onions, the brand’s “special sauce” (a riff on Thousand Island dressing) and a soft bun that comes toasted by default (although you can ask for it “no toast”), this not-so-secret menu item checks all our chefs’ boxes.
Allrecipes
“In-N-Out stands out due to the quality of the patties and balance of toppings. This is especially noticeable when ordered with two or three patties,” Iannarelli says.
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of “animal style,” it means that the beef patties are “mustard-fried,” or griddled with mustard on them, “which is something I do at home as well to add extra flavor,” Pelosi says.
But the mustard doesn’t mask the flavor of the beef. As we mentioned in our deep dive into what makes In-N-Out burgers unique, In-N-Out grinds its own 100% USDA ground chuck for their signature thin smash burgers. Each location gets a shipment daily of the never-frozen beef, In-N-Out’s president Lynsi Snyder told Forbes in 2018.
While the quality of the meat is the top reason why this burger is “perfection” for Pelosi, the fact that every element on the burger is fresh is what captures Perillo’s heart.
“On top of using the freshest ingredients, In-N-Out’s staff training is excellent. Their restaurants are always clean and their staff is always smiling,” Perillo says. “I only wish they would come to New York.” (Unfortunately, that’s unlikely, per the latest expansion announcement by In-N-Out’s CEO.)
But you need not wait until a location of the fast food franchise opens up in your neck of the woods to enjoy this chef-approved burger. We tested and perfected a Copycat In-N-Out Double-Double Animal Style Burger so you can have one any time, any place.
The only thing missing? A side of fries. Animal style, if you like (we do!)
