The Major Difference Between McDonald's And Wendy's Beef - Tasting Table

"It's no secret that Wendy's uses fresh, never-frozen beef at every one of its North American restaurants; that fact has been openly touted by the Dave Thomas-founded establishment since the first location opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969. Even after more than half a century of near-exponential growth, Wendy's has never wavered from its commitment to serving burgers prepared with never-frozen beef on all menu items, from the iconic Dave's Single to the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger."

"If we were writing this article prior to 2018, we might not need to elaborate any further on the major difference between the beef from McDonald's versus Wendy's. After all, before that year, any and all burgers on its menu were prepared with frozen beef. But with an eye toward retaining customers in the long run while somewhat boosting the reputation of its food among the general public, McDonald's opted to begin using fresh beef for its Quarter Pounder with (or without) Cheese in 2018."

McDonald's and Wendy's are major quick-service chains serving cheeseburgers and fries to large numbers of customers. Wendy's has used fresh, never-frozen beef at every North American restaurant since the first location opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969, and maintains that practice across all menu items, including the Dave's Single and the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger. McDonald's historically prepared its burgers with frozen beef patties for most menu items. In 2018, McDonald's began using fresh beef specifically for the Quarter Pounder with or without Cheese. The two chains therefore differ primarily in their beef sourcing and preparation practices.

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