Big ol' Burger Comparison Thread

glitch · 17 Mar 2017 at 11:15

TS7 said:
Do the normal meat burgers contain cucumbers to? Cucumbers have no place in a burger, I had to pick them all out. Cold and watery is not what I want in a bun!

Not what you want in any burger - just look at the size of them in their promo shot! Blergh.

http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/product_nutrition.vegetarianmain.1613.spicy-vegetable-deluxe.html

TS7 · 17 Mar 2017 at 11:37

glitch said:
Not what you want in any burger - just look at the size of them in their promo shot! Blergh.

http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/product_nutrition.vegetarianmain.1613.spicy-vegetable-deluxe.html

*Shudder*

Anyway, to correct the wrong that was the McDonalds burger I had a lovely burger at a pub, all was very nice but I'm beginning to think the whole triple cooked chips thing is a sham. Do they actually fry, allow to cool, fry, allow to cool and fry again? As if they do, that's a lot of effort for what results in fairly normal fried chips, perhaps slightly more crunchy. My expectations are always super crunchy shell with fluffy inside, that's never how it actually is.

the-evaluator · 17 Mar 2017 at 12:40

Head to Hawksmoor or a Heston Blumenthal restaurant for divine triple cooked chips. The triple cooked chips you get most places are quite disappointing but when they're done well they're excellent.

glitch · 17 Mar 2017 at 13:39

Good chips are good chips, period. Whether they are single, double or triple-fried, it is all in the execution - something that the overwhelming majority of kitchens simply cannot do.

A good triple-fried chip is exactly what you expect it to be - crunchy, crispy shell with a fluffy interior. It should crack in half like a Chipstick does!

Siliconslave · 17 Mar 2017 at 14:53

always thought the triple cooked thing was that you boiled them once, then fried twice, in fact it looks like that was the original Heston method:
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/.../articles/all/triple-cooked-chips-recipe/1796

That way you get the soft fluffy inside and the super crunchie outside - divine

the-evaluator · 17 Mar 2017 at 15:17

That's the way we do them at home and the end results are fantastic. It's a bit of a faff so we very rarely do it but when we do cook them they come out brilliantly.

ci_newman · 18 Mar 2017 at 23:06

So I have a few hours to kill in London on Monday on my own, on company expenses (within reason!). Where should I go for the best burger?

Scam · 19 Mar 2017 at 10:09

Scam said:
Most answered question in this thread

- Honest Burger
- Patty & Bun
- Big Fernand
- Meat Liquor

Bleeker is probably up there too.

Although if you're on expenses just get yourself to Hawksmoor, don't be a prude

Glaucus · 19 Mar 2017 at 10:12

cucumber has every place in such fast food places, McDonalds burgers are so god damn dry, cucumber would vastly improve their normal range. Even their gherkins doesnt bring enough water and freshness to the table.

TS7 · 19 Mar 2017 at 11:42

This may be of interest to some of you

http://burgerlad.com

I've only had a brief browse so unsure if it's one man doing them all or a team.

Scam · 20 Mar 2017 at 11:34

Glaucus said:
cucumber has every place in such fast food places, McDonalds burgers are so god damn dry, cucumber would vastly improve their normal range. Even their gherkins doesnt bring enough water and freshness to the table.

I wouldn't want both though. Gherkins > cucumber. I've decided that tomato has a no place in a burger. Slips around too much and makes the whole thing messy. Plus most "good" burgers have some sort of relish which is far more preferable. And of course you don't need both, the flavour would clash.

TS7 · 20 Mar 2017 at 14:36

Scam said:
I wouldn't want both though. Gherkins > cucumber. I've decided that tomato has a no place in a burger. Slips around too much and makes the whole thing messy. Plus most "good" burgers have some sort of relish which is far more preferable. And of course you don't need both, the flavour would clash.

+1 much like cucumber, tomatoes make the who bun/burger too wet/sloppy and not in a good way. If the restaurant is having to rely on tomato or cucumber to ensure the whole composition isn't dry then it's probably a terrible burger anyway. Gherkins are fine as they don't produce any watery residue.

Just had a lovely falafel burger which contained a spicy salsa and some rocket with a tub of mustard on the side. Lovely.

ci_newman · 20 Mar 2017 at 16:49

I tried Honest Burgers this afternoon, I much preferred Five Guys to be honest, especially their spicy fries.

glitch · 20 Mar 2017 at 17:30

Glaucus said:
cucumber has every place in such fast food places, McDonalds burgers are so god damn dry, cucumber would vastly improve their normal range. Even their gherkins doesnt bring enough water and freshness to the table.

Cucumber has only one place in a burger - pickled and fermented.

If your burger is too dry, you're either eating at the wrong place or you need to up your condiment game.

Glaucus · 20 Mar 2017 at 17:32

glitch said:
If your burger is too dry, you're either eating at the wrong place or you need to up your condiment game.

or as i said wrong place, namely mcdonalds, like the person i quoted.
where gherkins and their sauce is not enough to overcome the dryness. It makes more sense if you don't skip over half the sentence.

james.miller · 20 Mar 2017 at 18:01

as a rule McDonalds burgers arent dry at all, but i guess if they've been left there a while...

FrenchTart · 20 Mar 2017 at 18:44

The burgers themselves are pretty dry usually (admittedly less so when super 'fresh'). The whole experience tends to be kind of "sloppy" though :eek:

DrToffnar · 21 Mar 2017 at 11:47

Went to Beefy Boys in Hereford on Saturday eve. Ordered the Bacon Boy with a side of bacon fries and deep fried mac and cheese balls. One of the best meals I've had in years. The burger was so rich with flavour (I determinedly separated a piece from all the sauces, cheese etc.) and all it's component part where just as good. Wasn't too big either which can often be annoying. Only problem is that it's an hours drive from home :/

Scam · 21 Mar 2017 at 14:08

ci_newman said:
I tried Honest Burgers this afternoon, I much preferred Five Guys to be honest, especially their spicy fries.

You mad bro.

FrenchTart · 21 Mar 2017 at 14:31

Agreed. That's a crazy preference.