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I tried the signature burgers from McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King. The Big Mac was my least favorite.

September 18, 20240

I tried the signature burgers from McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider; McDonald’s; Wendy’s; Burger King

I tried the signature burgers from three fast-food chains: McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King.
I thought McDonald’s Big Mac was underwhelming and needed more sauce.
I liked the smoky flavor of Burger King’s Whopper, even though it was the priciest burger.

As a fast-food reporter, I’ve tried and tested many fast-food burgers over the years.

While I’ve tested the biggest burgers at fast-food chains and practically every fast-food double cheeseburger that exists, I decided to go back to the basics and try the signature burgers from three of the most beloved chains in America.

McDonald’s sold roughly 75 burgers every second, or 4,500 burgers every minute, USA Today reported in 2013. Among those burgers, many of them are Big Macs — the chain’s signature burger and arguably its most famous menu item.

Other chains, including Wendy’s and Burger King, have their own signature burgers. But how do they stack up?

I tried the McDonald’s Big Mac, Wendy’s Dave’s Single, and the Burger King Whopper to determine which classic fast-food burger is best based on taste and value.

My least favorite of the signature burgers I tried was McDonald’s Big Mac.

The burger came topped with lettuce, pickles, and Big Mac sauce.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The Big Mac cost me $7.49, excluding tax, at my local McDonald’s in Brooklyn, New York.

Right away, I wasn’t obsessed with the flavors or texture of this burger.

The burger could have used more sauce.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The mouthfeel of the burger was noticeably dry, and I think a lot of that could be remedied if the burger wasn’t so bottom-heavy with its toppings.

The cheese and layers of Big Mac sauce were all toward the bottom of the burger, rather than the top, which meant the dry bun and burger were hitting the roof of my mouth with little to no flavor or moisture happening.

While I understand that this is the most iconic burger on the McDonald’s menu, it is by no means my favorite. Next time, I’ll order a Quarter Pounder.

My second-favorite burger was the Dave’s Single from Wendy’s.

The burger came with classic toppings like cheese, lettuce, and tomato.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burger cost me $8.74, excluding tax, from my local Wendy’s in Brooklyn, which made it the most expensive burger I tried.

The burger was noticeably saucier than both the Whopper and the Big Mac.

The burger checked a lot of boxes.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

However, if I had to change one thing, I might remove or ask for a half-serving of mayonnaise.

I thought it was an overall solid choice for a late-night snack — though I’m not sure it was worth the high price tag.

My favorite burger was the Whopper with cheese from Burger King.

The burger came without cheese, but I added it to my order.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

For the sake of this experiment, I decided to order a Whopper with cheese so that it would be a fair comparison with the other signature burgers.

The Whopper cost me $8.29, excluding tax, at my local Burger King in Brooklyn.

A Whopper comes with a quarter-pound beef patty, pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mayonnaise on a sesame-seed bun.

This burger impressed me with its smoky flavor and size.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The lettuce, tomatoes, and onions all tasted very fresh, and they added a delicious crunch to the burger.

The burger patties had a smoky, savory flavor that made the sandwich taste fresh off the grill. I also thought the patty’s shape, which was larger in circumference but flatter than some of the other burgers, made the sandwich easier to eat.

Overall, I think the burger was worth the slightly higher price tag — and it still wasn’t the most expensive burger I tried.

When comparing the three signature burgers, I found myself feeling like a fast-food-eating Goldilocks: One burger was too dry, one was too moist, and one was just right.

Read the original article on Business Insider

source:https://www.businessinsider.com/review-signature-burgers-mcdonalds-burger-king-wendys-2023-4