With over 1,500 locations across North America and counting, Five Guys has become one of the most popular burger chains around. Their simple, no-fuss burgers have garnered a cult-like following, with fans raving about the fresh and juicy patties.
But what exactly goes into making those burgers so mouthwatering? More specifically, where does Five Guys get the high-quality beef that they carefully grill and tuck into those sesame seed buns?
In this article we’ll dive into the origins of the beef that makes Five Guys burgers so crave-worthy. Read on to learn about their suppliers meat standards, and commitment to quality.
An Overview Of Five Guys’ Beef Supply Chain
Five Guys does not own any cattle farms or processing facilities. Instead they focus on the restaurant side of the business and outsource the supply of beef and other ingredients.
The burger chain has corporate and regional distributors across North America that supply their locations with various products, including beef patties. These distributors source beef from numerous slaughterhouses and meat processing plants across the U.S.
Five Guys maintains strong vendor standards that suppliers must adhere to, but they do not have exclusive contracts with any single provider for their beef. By diversifying suppliers, they can maintain a consistent beef inventory as demands fluctuate.
Five Guys’ Standards For Beef
According to Five Guys corporate, they have strict specifications that their beef suppliers must meet:
-
USDA Grade: Only fresh 80/20 ground chuck beef of USDA Grade A or higher is used. No meat trimmings, fillers, or preservatives are added.
-
Origins: Beef is sourced domestically within the U.S. from major beef processing regions like the Midwest. Imported beef is not used.
-
Traceability: Suppliers must have traceback capabilities from source farm all the way through processing and delivery.
-
Handling: Cold chain temperature compliance is enforced, ensuring beef patties are kept chilled.
-
Testing: Regular microbiological testing verifies pathogen-free status.
-
Animal Welfare: Cattle must be humanely raised and handled per industry guidelines. Use of added hormones or routine antibiotics is discouraged.
-
Sustainability: Suppliers who employ sustainable practices are preferred.
Why Fresh, Never Frozen Beef?
From the beginning, Five Guys made the unconventional decision to use only fresh, never frozen beef for their burgers. Most chains use frozen patties for logistical and cost considerations, but Five Guys committed to maximizing flavor and texture by avoiding freezing.
The fresh beef gets delivered multiple times per week to each location and is hand-formed into patties on-site. Their unique semi-open kitchen layout lets customers see the beef being diligently grilled to juicy perfection right before their eyes.
Misconceptions About Five Guys’ Beef Sources
Despite Five Guys’ commitment to responsible and sustainable sourcing, some consumer misconceptions still exist about their beef supply:
Myth: Five Guys uses organic, grass-fed beef
Fact: Their beef is neither certified organic nor 100% grass-fed. Their focus is on flavor, freshness, food safety, and humane animal treatment.
Myth: Beef comes from humanely raised, free-range cattle
Fact: Cattle likely come from conventional feedlots, not free-range. But animal welfare guidelines still apply.
Myth: All beef is local or family farmed
Fact: Beef comes from major U.S. meatpackers across various states, not small local ranchers or farms.
The Bottom Line On Five Guys’ Beef
While some consumers demand organic, grass-fed, or local beef, Five Guys does not make these production methods a requirement for their suppliers. Rather, their priorities are on freshness, food safety, taste, and monitoring welfare standards during handling and processing.
By keeping specifications open to wider sourcing options across approved U.S. meatpackers, Five Guys can provide a consistently delicious burger on their menu at a reasonable price point. They leave the romanticized farm-to-table concept to other chains and stay laser-focused on delivering an unmatched burger experience with each visit.
So next time you sink your teeth into a Five Guys burger, you can rest assured the quality beef inside aligns with their commitments to responsible sourcing and public transparency. Those indulgent burgers start with good old-fashioned fresh ground chuck from cattle raised right here in the good ‘ole U.S. of A.
The chain takes food safety seriously, so I washed my hands before prepping the meat.
Five Guys doesn’t use a timer or clock to keep track of how long people wash their hands, but they do follow the general rule that you should wash your hands for 20 seconds in water that’s about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Amy Cryzter, Five Guys’ director of training, was on-site to help me with my fake shift. She told me that employees need to wash their hands whenever it makes sense, not just when they change gloves.
One sink is in the back kitchen and the other is in the front kitchen, which serves customers. This way, employees don’t have to walk back and forth every time they need to wash their hands. Advertisement.
Once clear juices run from the cooked patty, it’s time to add the cheese and pull it from the grill.
Five Guys’ regular cheeseburger has two patties. An employee will put two slices of cheese on one patty and then stack the second patty on top of it. Then, that stack is quickly moved to a bottom bun that has already been dressed, and anyone blocking the way is told, “Coming through!”
One slice of cheese is melted on the grill for no more than three seconds for a little burger with only one patty. The cheese is then added to the cooked meat and put on the bun. Advertisement.
How It’s Made: Five Guys Burgers
FAQ
What meat is used at Five Guys?
Does Five Guys use 100% beef?
Do Five Guys make their own patties?
Is Five Guys a Good Burger?
One reason why a burger from Five Guys is so tasty compared to other fast food offerings is that it is pure, unadulterated beef, with no fillers involved. “The burger is made out of just 80/20 USDA ground beef. That is it,” nutritionist Amy Shapiro said. “It comes in at about 300 calories and 17 grams of fat. All from the beef.
How are Five Guys Burgers made?
The burgers are made from fresh ground beef, prepared by hand in the restaurant, and never frozen. Of course, the key ingredient to a delicious burger is the precise preparation and cooking, and the specific way burgers are made at Five Guys is a big part of what creates their unique taste and feel.
Is a five guys Burger a celery stick?
Well, let’s just say a burger from Five Guys is hardly a celery stick or other light snack. One reason why a burger from Five Guys is so tasty compared to other fast food offerings is that it is pure, unadulterated beef, with no fillers involved. “The burger is made out of just 80/20 USDA ground beef. That is it,” nutritionist Amy Shapiro said.
Does five guys use 100% fresh beef?
Little surprise that the “guys” who don’t even have freezers at their restaurants, only refrigerators, use “100% fresh beef [with] no fillers or preservatives,” right? Five Guys is even committed to sourcing fresh, 100% pure beef from farms that are as close as possible to the restaurants.