LIST: The Most and Least Calorific Burgers in the United States
There’s no doubt that cheeseburgers are a national favorite, but a new study found which fast-food chains in America offer the highest and lowest calorie burgers.
Food sensitivity specialists YorkTest looked at hundreds of burgers on the menus of some of the most popular fast-food chains, revealing that Burger King is home to both the highest and the lowest calorie burger.
In the research, Burger King was found to have the highest and the lowest-calorie burger. The Bacon King, featuring two patties, bacon, and American cheese, comes in at 2,102 calories, according to Burger King’s website. But out of all of the burgers in America’s fast food joints, Burger King’s hamburger also had the fewest calories out of all 20, at just 241 calories per burger. YorkTest collected the data by analyzing the nutritional information provided by each fast-food chain on their website, to reveal the highest and lowest calorie burger on each menu.
The 10 burgers with the highest number of calories in each chain:
1 – Burger King – Bacon King – 2,102 calories
2 – Fatburger – XXXL Triple Kingburger – 1,859* calories
3 – Wendy’s – Big Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger Triple – 1,420 calories
4 – Smashburger – Double smoked bacon brisket burger – 1,290 calories
5 – Carl’s Jr – The Really Big Carl – 1,180 calories
6 – Sonic Drive-In – Supersonic Bacon Double Cheeseburger with Mayo – 1,140 calories
7 – Whataburger – Mushroom Swiss Burger – 1,110 calories
8 – Culvers – The Culver’s Bacon Deluxe Triple – 1,090 calories
9 – Five Guys – Bacon Cheeseburger – 1,060 calories
10 – Steak n’ Shake – Bacon ‘n Cheese Triple – 1,030 calories
*We have used the average of the calorie range provided by the chain.
Double and triple cheeseburgers from Burger King, Fatburger, and Wendy’s dominated the top three, with their offerings featuring lashings of patties, cheese, bacon, and sauce. Interestingly, the top 10 all featured beef burgers, with the highest offerings from chicken-joints such as KFC and Popeyes missing the list.
The 10 lowest-calorie burgers in fast food chains are:
1 – Burger King – Hamburger – 241 calories
2 – McDonald’s – Hamburger – 250 calories
=2 – Wendy’s – Jr. Hamburger – 250 calories
4 – Whataburger – Whataburger Jr. – 310 calories
5 – Steak n’ Shake – Single steakburger without cheese – 320 calories
=5 – Chick-fil-A – Grilled Chicken Sandwich – 320 calories
7 – A&W – Hamburger – 350 calories
=7 – Dairy Queen – Hamburger – 350 calories
=7 – KFC – Honey BBQ sandwich – 350 calories
10 – Arby’s – Classic roast beef and roast buffalo chicken sandwich – 360 calories
Hamburgers and chicken burgers ruled the list of the lowest calorie burgers, including those from Burger King, Wendy’s, and Chick-fil-A. Many fast-food chains started out with humble hamburgers, including the McDonald brothers, who opened their first McDonald’s restaurant in 1948. Each burger selected was taken from the nutritional information for each burger as it was stated on the website, not taking into account any extra add-ons or items being removed. Children’s burgers or sliders also were omitted from the list.
Kerri Ferraioli, nutritionist at YorkTest said: “It’s no surprise that fast food burgers often have a high number of calories, but our research shows the stark contrast between many burgers and how your choice can cover your standard calorie daily recommendations. According to YorkTest, “Burgers at fast-food restaurants are often nothing short of delicious, but they often have a high number of calories. When these stark numbers come to light, some burgers are more than your daily calorie allowance. I would suggest being mindful of your food choices when it comes to consuming fast food regularly.
“While having a higher number of calories from time to time isn’t a bad thing, it can increase your chances of gaining weight in the long term. Chicken burgers often had a lower calorie count due to their reduction in saturated fat and higher amounts of omega-6 fatty acids than other animal meats, alongside being high in protein.” According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, moderately active women should consume up to 2,200 calories per day, while men should limit themselves to around 2,800, depending on their age and lifestyle.
Alexis Zarycki is your average girl with the hopes of leaving an everlasting impact on the world. Follow her on Instagram @official_lexpaige
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