10 Reasons McDonald's Burgers Are Some Of The Best

Are you dreaming of a McDonald's burger? If so, you're not alone. McDonald's makes some crave-worthy burgers, from the juicy patties to the toasted buns and everything in between. These burgers appeal to the masses and manage to strike the perfect balance of salty, sweet, and umami flavors.

Whether you keep it classic with a hamburger or go all out with a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, these burgers consistently hit the spot — and that reliability has paid off. According to Title Max, McDonald's leads the pack as the highest-grossing fast-food chain in the States. This comes as no surprise seeing how many believe the restaurant boasts some of the best fast-food fries out there. That being said, its burgers also deserve some love. After all, the company has been grilling delicious burgers since 1948, and it continues to improve the quality and taste of its patties, buns, and toppings.

I've had my fair share of McDonald's burgers, as I'm sure most of us have. After many personal taste tests, I can confirm that the fast-food chain also makes some of the best burgers. As far as I'm concerned, the Golden Arches gets a gold star in the burger department, and I'm here to explain exactly why. So if you're wondering what makes these burgers so special, keep reading for the juicy details.

When it comes to fast food, preseasoned patties can shave several seconds off prep time — but McDonald's isn't one to take shortcuts when it comes to flavor. When biting into a McDonald's burger, you can taste the fresh salt and pepper on the meat. It's a simply seasoned patty, but each meaty bite is somehow super reliable, which begs the question, what's the chain's secret?

Unlike many other fast-food companies, McDonald's adds salt and pepper to the meat patties only after they're cooked, not beforehand. The chain also uses a sprinkler designed for even distribution, which explains why I've never had a chunk that was bland or overly seasoned. Instead, each scrumptious bite is juuust right. Rumor has it that each branch adjusts the amount of seasoning to suit its customer base's taste preference, like adding more salt Stateside than they would in Europe.

But that's not all McDonald's has done to produce quality meat. As part of the company's Best Burger initiative, staff are limiting grills to six burgers at a time instead of eight, per CNBC. The idea is that more breathing room will make the meat more flavorsome. The difference is subtle and it's near impossible to do a taste test, but the effort doesn't go unnoticed. The company is doing something right, and with perfectly seasoned, flavorful burgers, I can't complain.

Do you prefer a higher ratio of meat to bun on your burger? Enter the McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese. The beauty of this burger is in its simplicity, and it's exactly as it sounds; the ¼ pound of freshly grilled pure beef is sandwiched between two slices of melted cheese and topped with chopped onions, pickles, ketchup, and mustard on a sesame seed bun. Because you get more meat, the patty fills the bun right to the edge, and there's something very satisfying about having meat in every bite. You don't have to wait to get to the good stuff.

As a meat-lover, this is my go-to McDonald's burger, and not just because of the meat-to-bun math. As previously mentioned, Quarter Pounders are some of McDonald's freshest burgers because they're not frozen. They're also grilled-to-order, meaning they aren't sitting out long. In fact, a Quarter Pounder won't hit the stovetop until you order it. This often results in the patty's edges being slightly burnt, creating that tasty Maillard effect we all love.

Another reason to love the Quarter Pounder is because there are a few variations available. Want even more meat? Order the Double for a half pound of beef. Extra goodies? The Deluxe has you covered with crisp shredded lettuce and tomatoes. And if you have a penchant for bacon, you'll love the Quarter Pounder with Cheese Bacon.

Are you a fan of onions on your burger? If not, McDonald's might change your mind as it did mine. I find raw onions can often be pungent and spicy on a burger, but McDonald's onions are anything but. They're juicy and have a rich caramelized taste, and since they're finely chopped and well distributed, you can enjoy crispy, flavorful onions in every bite.

So how does McDonald's achieve such delicious onions? The secret is all in the preparation. McDonald's chopped white onions aren't cooked or carmelized, but dehydrated, then rehydrated to maintain flavor and moisture. Next, the onions are added on top of the patties as they're being cooked, so they stay warm and soak up some of the meat's flavor. 

One Reddit user described these onions well, saying, "They add such a nice, sweet flavor to the burger and they give each bite a very satisfying little crunch. I would much rather have onions like that instead of pulling a 6-inch-long onion slice off my burger, ruining the construction of it." Turns out, it wasn't an unpopular opinion at all. Most commenters agreed, and I don't blame them.

Cold pizza tastes surprisingly good, but cold burgers? Not so much. Burgers are meant to be hot, and thank goodness McDonald's delivers on this. The restaurant's burgers are served piping hot because individual components, from the toasted bun to the perfectly melted cheese, are heated or cooked before coming together. What's more, a BNN Breaking news article reports that as part of the chain's Best Burger initiative, burgers are kept hotter before being served, to ensure customer satisfaction.

Mind you, the temperature and freshness still depend on the particular location and day. According to a former McDonald's employee on Reddit, burgers are cooked and kept on a warming tray for a maximum of 10 minutes. So if you don't see orders flying out quickly, there are some workarounds. Order a Quarter Pounder (which is always grilled on the spot), request an alteration to avoid pre-cooked items, or simply ask your cashier to make your burger fresh.

Is the customer always right? Probably not, but the staff at McDonald's might make you think so. In my experience, they don't blink an eye when you ask for menu modifications. This can come in handy if you have dietary restrictions. If you're watching your sodium levels, ask them not to salt your burger. If you're a vegetarian, order a cheeseburger without meat, and voila, you've got a grilled cheese sandwich! And while McDonald's doesn't offer gluten-free options, they can make that burger without a bun.

Requesting extra sauce or no onions is one thing, but some customers get to the point where they're inventing entirely new menu items altogether. One such item is the Denali Big Mac. While available in Alaska, the rest of the country uses a clever hack to create this colossal sandwich. Basically, order a classic Big Mac and substitute the standard beef patties for Quarter Pounder patties. The result is a half-pound beef burger with all the makings of a Big Mac, including that signature sauce.

Generally speaking, staff members are fairly flexible and don't make a big fuss. After all, the company's slogan was once "We Love To See You Smile." So if you're headed to McDonald's and you want to tweak your burger, this is a safe place to do so. Omit, sub, add, or modify as you please because ultimately, the restaurant chain wants you to leave smiling and singing, "I'm lovin' it."