UPDATE: I just learned that this YouTube video from The Internet Celebrities is where the idea for the $1 Big Mac came from. Its from 2006. Seems legit to me.
I don’t remember where I was when I first heard about McDonald’s $1 Poor Man’s Big Mac Deal, but I thought it was a great idea. Heres the deal.
Depending on where you are, a Big Mac sandwich costs around $4 to $4. 50. On the other hand, most McDonalds offer a McDouble on their dollar menu. These days, all fast food places let you customize your food the way you want it. To get a pretty close replica of a real Big Mac, minus the sesame seeds and the middle bun, all you have to do is order a McDouble without the mustard and ketchup and ask them to add shredded lettuce and Big Mac sauce. Some McDonald’s will even charge you an extra quarter for the sauce.
Does this really work? Is it that easy? I don’t usually look at the big picture, and I only eat at McDonald’s for the fries, but for the sake of science, I decided to do a side-by-side comparison and a full breakdown of what you get for your money.
McDonald’s McDouble burger is one of their most popular menu items. With its iconic two beef patties, slice of melted cheese, onions, pickles, ketchup and mustard, it’s a tasty and filling sandwich for an affordable price. But have you ever wondered exactly how much beef is in a McDouble? In this article, we’ll break down the ingredients to find out
A Closer Look at the McDouble
The McDonald’s McDouble features two 100% pure beef hamburger patties. According to McDonald’s each patty weighs 1.6 ounces. So two patties total 3.2 ounces of beef. That’s not a huge amount of meat but when combined with the other ingredients it makes for a satisfying burger.
In addition to the two small patties, the McDouble contains:
- One slice of melty American cheese
- Onions
- Tangy pickles
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- A regular hamburger bun
The meat patties provide protein while the cheese adds creaminess The onions and pickles give a nice crunch and acidic punch And the ketchup and mustard bring sweet and savory flavors.
How the McDouble Compares to Other McDonald’s Burgers
The 3.2 ounces of beef in a McDouble is less than some of McDonald’s other burgers. For comparison:
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The Quarter Pounder has one 4 ounce patty, so double the meat of a McDouble patty.
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The Double Quarter Pounder has two 4 ounce patties, for a total of 8 ounces of beef.
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The Big Mac also has two patties, but they are slightly smaller at around 2.8 ounces each. So a Big Mac has around 5.6 ounces of beef.
So the amount of meat decreases from the Double Quarter Pounder to the Big Mac to the McDouble. But the McDouble still provides a good amount of protein and satisfaction for an affordable cost.
The History of the McDouble
McDonald’s first introduced the McDouble in the mid-1990s. It was created as a cheaper alternative to the Double Cheeseburger. By using only one slice of cheese instead of two, McDonald’s was able to offer it at a lower price point.
The original name of the sandwich was the “McValue Meal Double Cheeseburger”. But customers found the lengthy name confusing. So in 2006 McDonald’s officially renamed it the “McDouble”.
Over the years McDonald’s has periodically removed the McDouble from its menu when beef prices rose. But it usually brings the budget-friendly burger back once prices stabilized because it’s so popular.
In 2013 McDonald’s even added the McDouble to its permanent Dollar Menu lineup in the United States. It fit the qualifications of being a filling, enjoyable sandwich that could be profitably sold for just $1.00.
Why the McDouble is an Economical Option
With its almost cult-like following, the McDouble remains popular because it provides a good amount of food for an affordable cost. Two beef patties, cheese and all the burger toppings for under $3 is a great value to many consumers. Especially considering some restaurant burgers cost $10 or more.
McDonald’s is able to keep the McDouble inexpensive in a few ways:
- Smaller beef patties than premium burgers like the Quarter Pounder
- Only one slice of cheese instead of two
- Less labor-intensive toppings like onions and pickles rather than vegetables like tomato or lettuce
- Bulk-purchased ingredients benefitting from McDonald’s huge economies of scale
- Very quick preparation assembly keeping labor costs low
So ordering a McDouble lets customers enjoy a satisfying McDonald’s cheeseburger experience on a tight budget.
Should You Order the McDouble?
If you’re looking for an affordable but filling burger option, the McDouble is hard to beat. With two patties and cheese, it provides more protein than a basic hamburger. And at only around 400 calories, it can fit into most diet plans in moderation.
Some tips if you plan to order a McDouble:
- Stick with the standard toppings, since extras like bacon or guacamole quickly increase the cost
- Opt for a small side like a kids fry instead of super-sizing your meal
- Split it with a friend or only eat one patty if watching your calories
- Be aware of your sodium intake as fast food burgers do contain high amounts
Overall the McDouble is a tasty choice when you want classic McDonald’s flavor without breaking the bank. Just don’t expect a gourmet beef burger loaded with fixings. Enjoy it for what it is – an affordable American cheeseburger with nostalgic appeal.
So next time you’re craving a cheeseburger and value deal, consider the McDouble. With two patties providing 3.2 ounces of 100% beef, melty cheese and traditional toppings, it’s a filling meal. And knowing exactly what’s inside can help you enjoy the McDouble even more.
The Poor Man’s Big Mac
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Two beef patties, a slice of American cheese, re-hydrated dried onions, ketchup, mustard, and pickles are on a toasted regular bun in a standard McDouble. The beef patties and cheese are completely identical to those found in the Big Mac. This is what you get if you ask for it without the ketchup and mustard and with lettuce and Mac sauce:
- Top bun, soft and sweet, lightly toasted, no sesame seeds
- Two pickle chips
- Shredded iceberg lettuce, semi-fresh
- Re-hydrated dehydrated onions
- Big Mac sauce is a sweet, pickle-flavored mixture of mustard and mayonnaise. It’s NOT Thousand Island as is often said—there’s no ketchup in this!
- A 1.6 ounce beef patty, well-seasoned, none-too-beefy
- Vaguely melted American cheese
- Another 1.6 ounce beef patty
- A bottom bun, lightly toasted
As you can immediately see, theres a pretty significant difference in the order of construction. This all comes down to the way the McDonalds assembly line is set up. The top and bottom halves of a Big Mac are built upside down so that they can fit in the same container as they move down the line. That’s why the toppings go under the patties when the lid is shut and the top is turned over that way.
When you order a McDouble, on the other hand, the beef is on the bottom and all the toppings are on top.
You can taste the difference in the burger even though the structure hasn’t changed much. When the beef is very juicy, it’s almost always best to put the toppings under the burger (should they be called “underlings”) so the beef juice doesn’t soak the bun. McDonald’s doesn’t have a problem with juiciness, but I still like the toppings under the beef so that they hit your tongue first and get it ready for the beef. It also makes for a sandwich with a bit more structure.
But in one key way, the construction is superior: You end up with nicely melted cheese.
The Big Mac
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We know the drill. Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions all on a sesame seed bun. In terms of actual breakdown, heres what you get from the top down:
- Top bun, soft and sweet, lightly toasted, with sesame seeds
- A 1.6 ounce beef patty, well-seasoned, none-too-beefy
- Shredded iceberg lettuce, semi-fresh
- Re-hydrated dehydrated onions
- Big Mac sauce is a sweet, pickle-flavored mixture of mustard and mayonnaise. It’s NOT Thousand Island as is often said—there’s no ketchup in this!
- A middle bun, toasted on the top side only
- Another 1.6 ounce beef patty
- Vaguely melted American cheese
- Two pickle chips
- More shredded iceberg lettuce
- More re-hydrated dehydrated onions
- More Big Mac sauce
- A bottom bun, lightly toasted
In all, its a pretty well-balanced sandwich. It’s not about the beef on McDonald’s burgers (which is a good thing). It’s about the sweet, soft buns and how the fat and pickles play off of each other. To be honest, a Big Mac is a well-made and well-thought-out sandwich that mostly just has bad ingredients. (By the way, you can fix that by building your own).
McDonalds POV: Double Cheeseburger VS. McDouble
FAQ
What kind of meat is in a McDouble?
How much beef is in a double cheeseburger?
Does a McDouble have the same amount of meat as a Big Mac?
How much meat is in a double Big Mac?
How many calories are in a McDonald’s McDouble?
A McDonald’s McDouble contains 390 calories, 18 grams of fat and 33 grams of carbohydrates. Keep reading to see the full nutrition facts and Weight Watchers points for a McDouble from McDonald’s. *All percent daily value figures are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. There are 390 calories in a McDouble from McDonald’s.
What is in a McDonald’s McDouble?
The McDonald’s McDouble consists of two 100% pure beef patties, pickles, chopped onions, ketchup, mustard and a single slice of American cheese between two regular buns. Curious how many calories are in a McDouble when ordered by itself?
Does McDouble have cheese?
The McDouble is a very popular burger offered by McDonald’s which contains a bun, two beef patties, American cheese, pickles, onions, and ketchup. It is a type of hamburger and contains 100% beef. It was first introduced by the popular fast-food chain in the year 1997. The first of these burgers didn’t contain cheese.
How many calories in a bacon McDouble?
There are 470 calories in a Bacon McDouble. Order your beef bacon burger today from our full menu in the app using contactless Mobile Order & Pay * with Curbside pickup. *At participating McDonald’s. At McDonald’s, we take great care to serve quality, great-tasting menu items to our customers each and every time they visit our restaurants.