What kind of beef does McDonald's use in your hamburgers? (2024)

FAQs

What kind of beef does McDonald's use in your hamburgers? ›

Every one of our McDonald's burgers is made with 100% pure beef and cooked and prepared with salt, pepper and nothing else—no fillers, no additives, no preservatives. We use the trimmings of cuts like the chuck, round and sirloin for our burgers, which are ground and formed into our hamburger patties.

All McDonald's Burgers Are Made With The Same Beef

McDonald's uses excess portions from different cuts of beef, such as chuck, round, and sirloin. These pieces are ground together without fillers or preservatives and then flash-frozen to maintain quality for a few weeks before consumption.

What are McDonald's burgers made of? Here are the facts: All of our burger patties in the U.S. are always made with 100% USDA-inspected beef. That's the only ingredient: 100% real beef.

The Classic McDonald's Hamburger starts with a 100% pure beef patty seasoned with just a pinch of salt and pepper. Then, the McDonald's burger is topped with a tangy pickle, chopped onions, ketchup, and mustard. What's the difference between a Hamburger and a Cheeseburger, you ask?

Ground Sirloin (90/10)

Ground sirloin is considered the leanest type of ground beef. It comes from the sirloin primal, which is located in the mid-back region of the steer.

Fewer burgers are placed on the grill, which somehow results in a hotter, juicier, tastier burger, and the diced white onions are added to the beef patties on the grill as they are cooking, rather than afterwards at the prep table. The cheese has been “tempered” longer to make it meltier as well, Schafer says.

If you like your burgers from one of Burger King's over 6,000 locations in the U.S., you'll be happy to learn the chain only serves 100% ground beef patties in their burgers.

McDonald's has made small modifications to the way it cooks and prepares its much-loved beef burgers, enhancing all the elements customers enjoy most. From adding onions to patties at the grill for extra flavour, to changing the sear of the beef patties – it all adds up to its most delicious burgers yet.

In the US, the product is allowed to be used in ground beef, and it can be used in other meat products such as beef-based processed meats.

The beef patties are 100% British and Irish beef and are made in Sc*nthorpe or Republic of Ireland, where they are made and instantly frozen. They are then sent to each store for use in our burgers. Once at our restaurants, the patties are cooked and assembled into the finished product.

What is the healthiest ground beef to buy? ›

Ground sirloin is 90 to 92 percent lean (8 to 10 percent fat). This is the leanest type of ground beef, often referred to as “extra-lean” and a great option if you are looking for a healthier choice.

Filet Mignon is cut from the tip of the Tenderloin, a delicate and tender area of the loin primal. It's also an incredibly lean part of the animal, which means you'll enjoy a fork-tender steak without much fat or connective tissue. These qualities have made Filet Mignon one of the most prized cuts of beef.

According to the FSIS, beef heart and beef tongue meat have always been permitted in ground beef, along with other organ meats, despite a 1981 published policy memo (#027) that states otherwise (PDF).

The McDonald's Big Mac® is a 100% beef burger with a taste like no other. The mouthwatering perfection starts with two 100% pure all beef patties and Big Mac® sauce sandwiched between a sesame seed bun. It's topped off with pickles, crisp shredded lettuce, finely chopped onion, and a slice of American cheese.

View Ingredients and Allergens

Ingredients: 100% pure beef.

Breakfast Steak Pattie

Ingredients: Beef, Water, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Natural Flavor. Seasoned With Salt, Spices, Dried Garlic, Soybean Oil, Natural Flavor.