7 Fast Food Chains That Actually Have Made-From-Scratch Menu Items - Tasting Table

"When it comes to food, fast and fresh are concepts not typically associated with each other. Today, convenience is king, and the pace and predictability relied upon by fast food consumers is often the result of mass production. Fast food chains are less restaurants and more assemblage points where pre-packaged and frozen items are reheated and served with an efficiency that mostly overrides quality."

"While it seems to contradict everything we know about fast food, several chains have reimagined preparation by offering made-from-scratch items, even boasting fresh ingredients and on-site production as core tenets of their marketing. From freshly baked biscuits, homemade sauces, and unprocessed ingredients, to hand-breaded chicken and daily made salsas, these chains prove that convenience and quality can coexist harmoniously. These are the seven fast food chains that actually serve made-from-scratch menu items."

"The brand, with its California cool aesthetic, is centered on making food the old-fashioned way, pledging that its food is never microwaved, frozen, or pre-packaged. While many fast food chains offer only a few made-from-scratch items, if any, In-N-Out's quality promise spans the whole menu. Notorious for having a limited menu, with secret items, this limitation actually works in the chain's favor, allowing for a consistently high standard across the board."

Fast food historically prioritized convenience through mass production, with pre-packaged and frozen items reheated quickly. Assembly-line systems and standardized preparation enabled predictable speed and efficiency. Rising consumer concern for nutrition, ingredients, and sustainability has led many chains to change practices. Several chains now prepare made-from-scratch items using fresh, unprocessed ingredients and on-site production while preserving fast service. Examples include freshly baked biscuits, homemade sauces, hand-breaded chicken, and daily-made salsas. Menu limitation and focused preparation help maintain consistent quality. In-N-Out emphasizes whole-chunk beef patties and vows not to microwave, freeze, or pre-package its food.

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