The menu at McDonald’s sure is a lot more simple than it used to be. I know the Arch Deluxe from the 90’s is considered to be a bomb, but I thought it was great. Let’s take a look at the details of their most basic (and least expensive) burger options.

There’s a 200 calorie variation here, so what’s the difference? Every one of these burgers comes with ketchup, mustard, onions and (ugh – hot, steamy) pickles. The only additional ingredient between the Hamburger and Cheeseburger is a single slice of cheese, so we can guess that each slice is 50 calories. By the same logic, we can figure each of this style beef patty is 100 calories each. Four different menu items, the only difference being a slice of cheese and/or additional meat.

For same-store cross reference, the McChicken has the same amount of calories as the McDouble, but with far less ingredients. The Filet-O-Fish comes in at 380 calories and The Crispy Chicken Sandwich has 470 calories (again, both with far less ingredients) so going with a non-beef option isn’t really going to help you.

Similar items at Burger King have virtually the exact same amount of calories, which is probably on purpose. It should be noted that those similar sandwiches do not come with onions.

Wendy’s does the same thing, with similar sandwiches at pretty much the exact same amount of calories. If you compare apples to apples (or burgers to burgers), you can get a Bacon Double Stack at Wendy’s with the same ingredients as McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger, but with bacon and 10 less calories. That’s a winner to me.

Lessons Learned:

All four ‘basic’ McDonald’s burgers are very similar.

If you go to another major fast food restaurant, you’ll find pretty much the same thing.

Going with a non-beef option is not going to save you calories.

eric’s opinion:

If I had to pick – well, I am a hungry guy and none of these burgers are particularly large. The thing they have going for them is relative price. Of these four, I  would choose the McDouble considering cost, and you save 50 calories by not getting the extra slice of cheese. Those slimy pickles definitely have to go. I’d just like to point out that you can get a Beef ‘N Cheddar at Arby’s for the same calorie count as the Double Cheeseburger in a vastly superior sandwich.