Does Five Guys Use Grass-Fed Beef?

Five Guys is known for serving up delicious burgers and fries. Many customers rave about the incredible flavor of Five Guys burgers. This leads to the question – what makes their beef so tasty? Specifically, does Five Guys use grass-fed beef for their burgers?

Why Grass-Fed Beef Matters

The type of beef used at a restaurant can make a big difference in the flavor and quality of the final product. Grass-fed beef comes from cows that are allowed to graze on open pastures and eat grass for most or all of their lives. This contrasts with conventional grain-fed beef, where cows are kept in feedlots and fed a grain-based diet of corn, soy, and other supplements to fatten them up quickly.

Proponents of grass-fed beef say it offers several advantages over conventional beef:

• More natural diet – Cows evolved to eat grass, not grains. The grass diet is healthier for their digestive systems.

• Increased antioxidants – Grass-fed beef contains higher levels of antioxidants like vitamin E and beta-carotene

• Better fatty acid profile – Grass-fed beef has higher levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.

• More complex flavor—The pasture grazing makes the beef flavors more complex and robust.

So grass-fed beef offers some nutritional and flavor benefits compared to feedlot-raised beef. Many picky burger fans like the hearty, mineral-rich taste of high-quality grass-fed beef patties better. This is why Five Guys’ beef type matters

Digging Into Five Guys’ Beef Supply

So, does Five Guys use grass-fed beef? Based on what the company has said, here’s what we know about their beef supply:

• Fresh, never frozen beef – Five Guys proudly advertises that their burgers are made from fresh ground beef that is never frozen. Meat is delivered fresh and hand-formed into patties at each restaurant location.

• No fillers or preservatives – Their beef contains no added hormones, steroids, fillers, or preservatives.

• Sourced from USDA inspected farms – Five Guys states their burgers are made from beef sourced from USDA-inspected farms. This follows food safety protocols.

• No official grass-fed designation – While their beef is free of additives, Five Guys does not make any specific claims that their beef is “grass-fed”. There is no official certification or label.

Based on this information from the company, there is no definitive answer on whether Five Guys uses grass-fed beef. Their beef is fresh and additive-free, but not designated as grass-fed. It appears to be conventionally-raised grain-fed beef.

Clues Point to Grain-Fed Beef Supply

Lacking an official confirmation from Five Guys, we can look for clues in their beef’s qualities:

• Fat content – Grass-fed beef is typically leaner with a lower fat content than grain-fed beef. Five Guys burgers are known for being higher in fat, suggesting grain feeding.

• Cost – Grass-fed beef usually costs more than conventional beef. Given Five Guys’ very reasonable burger prices, grass-fed seems unlikely.

• Supply volume – Grass-fed cattle are still a very small percentage of the beef industry. Securing enough grass-fed beef to supply Five Guys’ 750+ locations could be challenging.

• Flavors – Reviews praise Five Guys for its juicy, beefy, well-marbled flavor. These traits are more associated with grain-fed beef.

While not conclusive, these hints indicate Five Guys probably uses conventionally raised grain-fed beef for their burgers rather than premium grass-fed beef.

Why Five Guys Doesn’t Emphasize Grass-Fed

Five Guys likely chooses not to trumpet any “grass-fed” claims for their beef supply for a few reasons:

Cost – Sourcing enough grass-fed beef would increase their expenses considerably. This would drive up burger prices, straying from Five Guys’ value-pricing model.

Regional variability – With hundreds of locations nationwide, sourcing consistent grass-fed beef across all regions would be nearly impossible. Availability and quality would vary.

Food safety – As a chain, Five Guys emphasizes food safety and consistency. USDA grading protocols for commodity beef help achieve this reliably.

Secret sauce – For Five Guys, it’s not all about the beef. Their reputation rests heavily on their hand-cut fries and free toppings bar. Grass-fed beef may not be essential.

Flavor preference – Many customers genuinely like the indulgent flavor of grain-fed American beef. Its marbling and fat content are part of Five Guys’ appeal.

For these reasons, Five Guys has likely calculated that signaling grass-fed beef is unnecessary for their brand and business model. Their focus is delivering a tasty indulgent burger at an affordable nationwide scale. Grass-fed beef does not factor into that equation.

Can You Request Grass-Fed?

Since Five Guys does not advertise or confirm using grass-fed beef, customers cannot request it. Individual Five Guys locations do not have control over the beef supply and simply use the fresh beef patties delivered to each restaurant.

That said, some customers have tried ordering a burger or hot dog without the bun to reduce carbs. So you may be able to request an unfried “protein-style” burger, but getting one with verified grass-fed meat is not possible. Five Guys stands by its conventional beef supply for delivering the flavor profile it has built its reputation on.

Is Five Guys Still Worth A Try?

Absolutely! Even without grass-fed beef, Five Guys serves up widely beloved burgers for good reason. Here’s why it remains a tasty option:

• Fresh never-frozen beef – Their strict rules against freezing beef means every patty is made with fresh ground meat for a juicy texture.

• Signature flavor – That hot griddle sears in plenty of savory flavor into Five Guys’ well-seasoned burgers. Their dishes please a diversity of palettes.

• Generous toppings – Burgers come with two free toppings, but you can load up on any extras you want for no additional cost. Go wild with cheese, mushrooms, grilled onions, etc.

• Cajun fries – Don’t miss out on the hand-cut fries cooked in peanut oil with Cajun kick or malt vinegar. They’re arguably the main attraction.

• Nut and dairy allergy friendly – All frying is done in pure peanut oil with no contamination. Many menu items are dairy and nut free.

• Reasonable prices – Burgers, fries, and shakes can be ordered a la carte. Combo meals are affordable compared to similar chains.

The bottom line – while Five Guys doesn’t offer grass-fed beef, their juicy burgers and free toppings deliver a satisfying honest meal. If you’re craving a classic burger and fries, Five Guys has you covered. Just don’t expect specialty boutique beef – this is hearty, old-fashioned American comfort food done right. Judging by the perpetually long lines, they don’t need to change their beef to win over fans.