Differences Between Gourmet Burgers And Fast Food Burgers

What is one of the most popular, most purchased foods in the world? The burger! Most everyone enjoys having a hot, juicy hamburger or cheeseburger every once in a while. You can grill your own burgers at your home, or, like so many people, you can go to a restaurant and have a burger prepared for you. There are so many choices of where to go to eat, from fast food such as McDonald’s or Burger King, to upscale restaurants like Tavern on the Green. A wide range of burgers exists also, from fast food to gourmet burgers.

There are many differences between gourmet and fast food burgers. Fast food burgers are normally uniformly shaped, highly processed, inexpensive, easy to eat while on the run, and high in fat and salt content. Meat of questionable origins and quality is often used for fast food burgers. They are usually prepared with the common condiments of ketchup, mustard, and mayo, and served on a basic white bun. American cheese normally graces a fast food cheeseburger, and sometimes lettuce and onions may be used as toppings. The most “exotic” toppings I have heard of on a fast food burger are onion rings, French fries, and barbecue sauce.

Gourmet burgers are much more expensive than fast food burgers, but are well worth the extra cost. A variety of meats is used for gourmet burgers, such as beef, chicken, venison, lamb, turkey, salmon, crab meat, shrimp, and even bison. For veggie lovers, patties can be made from Portobello mushrooms or other vegetables. The patties are normally hand-ground, such as the burgers at The Daily Grind Bangsar. Instead of the patties always being presented on a basic bun, gourmet burgers come on a variety of breads, including English muffins, flat breads, and lettuce wraps.

The variety of toppings for gourmet burgers seems endless and quite intriguing. Exotic, unique flavors, and creative combinations grace many gourmet burgers. Starting with the cheese on a cheeseburger, gourmet burgers go far beyond the fast food standard of American cheese. Some cheeses I have seen on gourmet burgers are mozzarella, feta, pepper jack, blue cheese, Gorgonzola, and ricotta. After the cheese, a plethora of flavorful toppings are available. Some innovative toppings are fried eggs, pineapple, avocado, olives, onion cranberry jam, cheese fondue, basil pine nut pesto, chicken liver pate, pickled red onions, pickled cucumber, grilled eggplant, yogurt, sprouts, celery, and even mint. The possibilities seem to be endless!

Even the condiments for gourmet burgers far outshine those for fast food burgers. Instead of the basic ketchup, mustard, and mayo, you can experience sour cream, aioli, wasabi mayo, and special homemade ketchup and mustard.

Try a gourmet burger today, and indulge in a tastier, healthier option.