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McDonald's made headlines in 2018 by introducing fresh, never-frozen beef for its Quarter Pounder, making it the only burger on the menu cooked fresh to order. This change elevated the Quarter Pounder's taste, providing a juicier, hotter option compared to its pre-prepped counterparts.
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Stands Out as the Only Burger Cooked Fresh to Order with Never-Frozen Beef
McDonald's, one of the most popular fast-food chains globally, has served its iconic burgers and world-famous fries since 1940. As a pioneer in the industry, McDonald's has perfected its approach to fast food. While the chain’s burgers are widely beloved, one stands out for being cooked fresh to order: the Quarter Pound.
Speed is the essence of fast food, which means many menu items at McDonald's are pre-prepped to ensure they can be served quickly after an order is placed. Most of McDonald's 100% beef patties, including those used in the famous Big Mac, are flash-frozen to maintain flavor and stored in warming cabinets until served. However, in 2018, McDonald’s made a significant shift by announcing that Quarter Pounders would be cooked using fresh, never-frozen beef, made to order.
McDonald’s Shift to Fresh Beef for the Quarter Pounder Brings a ‘Hotter, Juicier’ Upgrade
In a press release, McDonald's explained that the change aimed to provide customers with a "hotter and juicier" burger. This move marked a significant upgrade for the chain, as the freshly cooked Quarter Pounder offered a noticeable improvement in taste compared to its predecessor. However, it’s still not on par with gourmet burger offerings from upscale restaurants.
The decision to switch to fresh beef for the Quarter Pounder came as McDonald's sought to remain competitive with rival chains such as Wendy’s and In-N-Out, known for using fresh ingredients. Given the Quarter Pounder’s thick patty, it became the natural candidate for this upgrade.
Implementing this change was a complex process, requiring extensive staff training to handle fresh beef properly, convincing franchisees of the benefits, and making adjustments throughout the supply chain to accommodate the fresh beef rollout.
Although the Quarter Pounder has yet to surpass the Big Mac in popularity, the switch to fresh beef has made it a standout on the menu. Since the change, Quarter Pounder sales have increased, and customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. While it remains to be seen whether McDonald's will eventually transition all of its burgers to fresh-cooked beef, the success of the Quarter Pounder suggests that this could be a possibility in the future.
