Not all fast food burgers are created equal. Sometimes the smallest details make the biggest difference, like whether or not your burger is made with fresh or frozen beef.

Although it may be more economical for a fast food chain to use frozen beef patties When preparing your burgers, since frozen beef can be stored longer, fresh beef often offers a better taste and texture experience.

If you prefer to eat fast food burgers made with only fresh, never frozen beef, you’re in luck. There are many restaurant chains that do this. From a popular spot that carefully selects its cattle partners and emphasizes animal quality and care to a West Coast-based restaurant that has its own patty-making facilities, here are the fast food chains that don’t never freeze their hamburgers.

Wendy’s

Wendy’s takes its burgers seriously, promising “fresh, never frozen” beef on its website. That’s not all that sets beef apart from the chain, however. Wendy’s also selects its beef partners, ensuring that each of its suppliers values ​​”quality, animal care and safety of products and work environment.” The best part? This approach is not limited to red meat. Wendy’s is also committed to holding its pork, chicken, egg and dairy suppliers to these same high standards as well.

Every Wendy’s Burger, tasted and ranked for 2024

Input-N-Output

In-N-Out shares on its website that it never uses “frozen, prepackaged, or microwaved foods,” which is great news if you want to dig into a prepared fast food burger only with the freshest meat. In fact, the process of making the chain’s hamburger patties is quite simple: The patties are prepared at the brand’s patty manufacturing facilities in California and Texas, then delivered fresh to In-N-Out stores. They are individually inspected, made from 100% USDA ground chuck from premium cattle and contain no additives, preservatives or fillers. That’s all there is to say.

Five guys

The shortlist of facts on the Five Guys website is simple. First, the chain only cooks with peanut oil. Second, there are no freezers in Five Guys stores, only coolers. And third, only fresh ground beef is used. Founded in the 1980s by Jerry and Janie Murrell and their sons, the chain is synonymous with delicious burgers and crispy fries, so it’s no surprise that “frozen beef” isn’t a thing here. Try the chain’s famous burger, hand-formed and served on a soft, toasted sesame seed bun with as many toppings as your heart desires, or opt for the Bacon Cheeseburger with applewood-smoked bacon and American-style cheese.

I’ve tried 11 fast food cheeseburgers and one can’t be beat

Culver’s

Whether you order a Culver’s ButterBurger, made with Wisconsin-made American cheese and a lightly buttered toasted bun, or the Mushroom and Swiss, made with button mushrooms sautéed in butter, garlic, parsley and peppers, one thing is certain: the beef is always “fresh, never frozen,” according to the company. But that’s not all. Culver’s also uses only whole white meat chicken from American family farms, family farm fresh dairy for its ice cream, and cheese from Wisconsin dairy farms.

I tried all the burgers at Culver’s and the best one was meaty and buttery

Smashburger

“Fresh, flavorful and fun” are three words Smashburger uses to describe its menu offerings. This makes perfect sense since the chain, which started in Denver in 2007, only uses fresh beef that does not contain “questionable origins,” as its website explains. Smashbuger serves only certified Angus beef from family-owned farms and ranches in the United States that prioritize sustainability, climate-friendly practices, and humane animal care. One of the brand’s suppliers is Walter Angus, a family-owned Colorado cattle breeding, breeding and veal operation famous for its premium meat.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Shake the cabin

Shake Shack is all about quality, which is why it makes burgers that use only a fresh, never frozen Angus beef blend that contains no hormones or antibiotics, according to the chain. Plus, Shake Shack’s beef comes from animals raised humanely in the United States. The chain applies these same standards in its chicken dishes, which are made only with fresh, never frozen, whole white meat that contains no antibiotics.

12 Fast Food Chains That Use 100% Ground Beef in Their Burgers

Homecoming Burgers

Since 1991, Wayback Burgers, formerly known as Jake’s Wayback Burgers before changing its name in 2008, has been serving high-quality burgers, milkshakes, fried chicken sandwiches and more in a welcoming, casual setting. The chain, which now has 170 locations in more than 20 countries, prides itself on serving burgers that are “always fresh and made to order,” according to its website. Whether you order the classic double beef patty option topped with Heinz mustard and ketchup or the double bacon burger with four strips of bacon, any option on the menu makes for a great meal.

Hopdaddy

Over a decade ago, four friends joined forces to create a burger bar that serves craft beer and innovative burger options using only the highest quality ingredients. This burger bar is Hopdaddy. Hopdoddy’s beef is verified all-natural, free of hormones, steroids and antibiotics, and is always fresh, never frozen. And if you’re wondering where the name “Hopdoddy” comes from, it’s a combination of hops, a type of flower used to make beer, and “doddy,” a nickname for Black Angus cattle.

The 21 Best Burgers in America, According to Chefs

Big hamburger

For more than 70 years, Fatburger has been dishing out juicy burgers made only from hand-pressed, never-frozen beef patties that, according to its menu, are freshly hand-ground and contain 100% lean beef. Beyond high-quality beef, Fatburger also uses fresh, never frozen chicken for its chicken wings, makes its chili from scratch, and hand-scoops the ice cream for its milkshakes. There are currently over 200 Fatburger locations in over 20 countries. One of them may not be too far from you.

Habit Burger & Grill

Habit is another burger restaurant with a long history of preparing high-quality food. It was founded in 1969 in Santa Barbara, California as a family business and quickly became the place to enjoy a juicy burger or chicken sandwich. Today, the restaurant continues to adhere to the same quality standards it committed to over 50 years ago. According to its website, Habit only serves “fresh, never frozen” burgers, made from “100% pure ground beef, with no additives, preservatives or fillers of any kind.” Each burger is also cooked over an open flame and is made to order to your liking.

I tried Smash Burgers at 5 popular chains and the best one was pure bliss

Johnny Rockets

Simply put, Johnny Rockets has a lot going for it. The popular restaurant chain offers a menu filled with delicious options, has nostalgia-tinged dining rooms, and is committed to making burgers with high-quality beef. For example, the brand only uses 100% certified Angus beef patties that are “fresh, never frozen,” according to the menu. Each burger is grilled in-house, served on a brioche bun and topped with flavorful ingredients like crisp lettuce, chopped onion, relish and a special house sauce. For the best effect, order it with one of the chain’s famous milkshakes, made only with real ice cream.

Robin

Check out Red Robin’s gourmet burger options for a satisfying burger made with 100% fresh, never frozen beef. These burgers are thicker and juicier than the chain’s other burger offerings and are made with innovative ingredients. For example, there’s the gourmet Lava Queso burger topped with chipotle aioli and caramelized onions and the Whiskey River BBQ burger, filled with crispy onion straws and topped with Whiskey River barbecue sauce. For something more streamlined, try the Keep It Simple burger, served with pickles, onion, lettuce and tomato.

Subscribe to our newsletter!