McDonald's burger and fries
FOOD NEWS
McDonald's Quarter Pounder Facts You Didn't Know
BY Neala Broderick
A 1971 Creation
Known as the "hamburger king" in Fremont, California, franchise owner Al Bernardin created the Quarter Pounder in 1971 by beefing up the burger to a quarter pound.
When asked about the inspiration behind the juicy burger, Bernardin said, "I felt there was a void in our menu vis-à-vis the adult who wanted a higher ratio of meat to bun."
National Menu
In 1973, the Quarter Pounder hit the chain's national menu. It was an instant hit, especially because of the somewhat limited menu McDonald's had at the time.
The 4-ounce patty was a step up from the cheeseburger and even the Big Mac, which has two 1.6-ounce patties. The Quarter Pounder was quick to pop up on menus all over the world.
Various Names
The burger's name varies by country. In Japan, before being discontinued, it was called Kwōtā Paundā — a direct translation, like Mexico's Cuarto de Libra.
Australia and New Zealand call it the Quarter Pounder but mention the weight is "113 grams," as they don't use the imperial system. In France, it's called the Royal Cheeseburger.
2.8 Ounces
While the burger is proven to weigh a quarter pound before being tossed on the grill, it ends up weighing only 2.8 ounces after it's grilled and flipped to perfection.
However, McDonald's appealed to its patrons by adding an extra 1/4 ounce to the patty in 2015, bringing the new burger to 4.25 ounces before being knocked down a tad on the grill.
Barely Artificial
In the United States, McDonald's Quarter Pounder prides itself on its use of genuine ingredients and containing nothing artificial other than the pickles.
With the exception of the pickles, the hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, McDouble, and Big Mac are free of artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors.