Many people agree that Five Guys has one of the best burgers, as well as the best peanuts, real potato fries fried in peanut oil, and malted milkshakes. I remember that when Shake Shack first opened in Atlanta, people thought it was great, but they always said Five Guys was better. I am sure the #1 burger joint conversation is debatable, but one thing is for sure, Five Guys makes one heck of a burger with a few key factors you don’t find many places. Today, when we make Thee BEST Five Guys Burger Copycat Recipe, we’ll talk about what makes this burger special.
This weekend is our first real holiday in our new home! We are still recovering from having my parents over from Portland and having a party to celebrate our move. Well, that was actually all the fun parts. We are still getting over ALL the projects and housework that seemed to never end that had to be done before we hosted my parents and had a party. Some people say it can take months or even a year to really get used to your new home. Well, we tried to cram all these plans into our first month in the house. Insane, I know!.
We aren’t doing much for July 4th, but I had to still cook. Honestly, I am never not cooking unless there is something major going on in our lives. This weekend I wanted to do something casual but epic at the same time. Since one of my passions is re-creating restaurant food, this Five Guys copycat burger came to mind. I spent a lot of time researching, going to Five Guys (which was disappointing), and cooking for a few hours. I’m happy to say that I have come up with what I think is the best Five Guys burger recipe.
As a burger connoisseur, I’m always curious about where my favorite burger joints source their beef. The quality of the meat makes a huge difference in that first juicy bite. So what’s the story behind the fresh beef Five Guys uses for their mouthwatering burgers?
In this article, we’ll take a close look at:
- The specific type of beef used at Five Guys
- Where Five Guys sources their beef
- How the beef is prepared in-store
- Why fresh, never-frozen beef matters
- Five Guys’ commitment to sustainability
Let’s dive into the details behind the irresistible burgers at this wildly popular chain!
Premium Beef for Premium Burgers
So what exactly is the beef that makes Five Guys burgers so tasty and juicy? Five Guys uses fresh, never-frozen ground chuck. Specifically, they use an 80/20 blend, which means 80% lean beef and 20% fat. This ratio provides the perfect balance of juicy flavor.
The chuck comes from cattle raised on small family farms in the Midwest. The cattle are grain-finished to enhance marbling and flavor. According to Five Guys, using 100% fresh beef makes all the difference in taste and texture.
Why Fresh Never Frozen Matters
Speaking of fresh versus frozen, let’s discuss why Five Guys insists on using only fresh, never-frozen beef for their burgers.
Fresh beef provides superior flavor and texture. Since the beef is never frozen the muscle fibers don’t contract and squeeze out moisture. This makes for juicy burgers packed with robust beefy flavor in every bite.
Additionally, fresh beef cooks more evenly since the fibers and fat are distributed naturally. With fresh meat, Five Guys can better control cooking and achieve the perfect level of doneness.
So for optimal texture, juiciness, and flavor development, nothing beats fresh, never-frozen beef.
From Farm to Store: The Five Guys Beef Journey
Now that we know what type of beef Five Guys uses, let’s follow the beef’s journey from farm to store.
It starts at family cattle farms in the Midwest. The cattle are humanely raised and grain-finished for 120 days. This enhances marbling and flavor.
The beef is processed by Schweid and Sons, a trusted Five Guys beef supplier for over 20 years. They deliver fresh beef to Five Guys locations weekly.
Here’s how the beef is handled in each store:
- Meat is stored in coolers, not freezers
- Patties are hand-formed daily
- Griddle smashed to order
- Cooked over open flame grill
No pre-formed patties sitting under heat lamps at Five Guys! The hands-on approach ensures freshness and quality control.
Why Hand-Formed Beef Matters
Let’s talk about why hand-forming each patty to order makes a difference. Rather than using pre-formed frozen patties, Five Guys takes raw chuck and forms it into balls. The balls go on the grill and are smashed down into sizzling patties with a spatula.
This process allows for more control over the final product. Hand-forming also lets grill cooks adjust patties to customers’ specifications. Burgers retain more juices when cooked to order. Smash cooking on the griddle creates crispy, caramelized edges.
Overall, hand-forming beef leads to better texture, cooking, and flavor.
Sustainability Starts at the Source
In addition to premium flavor, Five Guys also cares about sustainability. They partner with suppliers who use ethical, eco-friendly practices.
For example, Schweid and Sons sources beef from smaller family farms. These farmers conserve water, reuse manure for fertilizer, and minimize waste. The cows are also humanely treated.
Five Guys further reduces waste by using the whole cow. Bones go into broth, fat gets turned into cooking oil. They even recycle used oil for biodiesel fuel.
From farm to table, Five Guys makes choices that benefit the environment. Pretty impressive for a burger chain!
Frequently Asked Five Guys Beef Questions
Before we wrap up, let’s answer some common questions about the beef at Five Guys:
Is the beef hormone and antibiotic free? Five Guys beef is free of added hormones and antibiotics. However, their beef is not organic or certified hormone-free.
Is the beef Angus beef? Five Guys uses fresh ground chuck, not Angus beef. But their chuck is high-quality with ample marbling.
Where are the cows from? Cattle are sourced from family farms in the Midwest, mainly Nebraska and Iowa.
Is the beef grass-fed or grain-finished? The cattle are grain-finished for 120 days to enhance marbling.
Juicy Burgers Start with Quality Beef
There you have it – the inside scoop on how Five Guys delivers insanely delicious burgers through quality beef. Their commitment to fresh, hand-formed patties makes a clear difference you can taste in every juicy bite.
Next time you sink your teeth into a Five Guys burger, you’ll know the care and attention that went into sourcing and preparing that premium beef. So savor that perfectly cooked patty knowing it came from happy Midwest cows! Time to satisfy that burger craving the Five Guys way.
What Makes The Five Guys Burgers So Good?
- Great meat that has never been frozen—Five Guys uses Schweid Every morning, they prepare the meat just for that day’s customers.
- pressed thin, flipped, and then smashed—They start by making patties, press them, and then grill them until the edges turn gray. Flip the burger, then smash down with a press. That goes against everything I know about making burgers, but they do it this way, and the burgers are really juicy. every. single. time!.
- Five Guys believes in keeping things simple and fresh, so they don’t have microwaves, freezers, or timers. They cook based on what they feel like, and they never freeze or reheat their food. This badge of honor is only worn by a few restaurants, mostly fast food places.
- Putting together a cheese-to-cheese burger: I think this is one of the simplest but most important steps. When you put the patties on each burger, you put them cheese side to cheese side. This makes the middle of the burger cheesy and gooey.
- The foil wrap keeps the cheese from melting on the patties while they’re cooking. They are put on the patties as soon as they are taken off. Following the burger’s assembly, it is immediately wrapped in foil, which acts as a mini-oven and keeps the heat in while letting the cheeses melt.
- The Cuisinart Smashed Burger Press, Cast Iron CISB-111 is a helpful tool, but it’s not necessary. You can use the bottom of a skillet or any other heavy, flat object to press the patties down.
- Squares of wax paper or parchment paper can be used to separate patties while they are still raw.
- What to use if you don’t have a burger press to press the patties down after you flip them? There is no way a spatula will be heavy enough to press down on the patties. If you have a burger press, use it or another small pan. Press the bottom of the pan onto the patty after you flip it over. If you use this method, put foil over the bottom of the pan so that the food doesn’t get dirty.
- Foil to wrap each burger once it’s assembled.
The Best Five Guys Burger Copycat Recipe Ingredients:
- Schweid & Sons ground beef or ground beef patties
- Martin’s makes the best sesame seed buns I’ve ever seen in a store.
- Five Guys uses Kraft Deli Deluxe American cheese slices, and it makes a difference. Do not buy regular Kraft Singles because they make the burger taste less good.
- Seasoning salt and pepper
- Ketchup, mayo (Duke’s), hot sauce (Louisiana or Texas Pete’s)
- Optional toppings: grilled onions, bacon, mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, pickles, etc.