# Does Burger King really flame broil?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-burger-king-really-flame-broil/382633
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 2, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-burger-king-really-flame-broil/382633 "2006-12-02T23:30:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-burger-king-really-flame-broil/382633/41 "2012-09-16T04:14:16Z")
> [@Barking\_Dog](#):
>
> The smoke flavor comes from liquid smoke, I’d wager.
I don’t know what it is, but I swear Burger King tastes to me like the hamburgers have been dipped in lighter fluid. I’m only slightly exaggerating. I _hate_ their burgers because of that weird flame-broiled taste. It’s not a woody, grilled flavor; it’s something else. I’ve always suspected they added some kind of flavoring to their patties to enhance the smokiness, but maybe it’s just their flame-broiling process that gives them that odd taste.
---
### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-burger-king-really-flame-broil/382633/42 "2012-09-16T04:18:04Z")
> [@Spud](#):
>
> I don’t know if they do or do not add flavoring (but I’d guess not) but I can guarantee you I can taste the difference between a grilled (flame broiled) and a fried burger.
I think **typoinc** was hitting on the fact that using a gas grill (as opposed to a charcoal grill) doesn’t make it taste smokier. I agree with you–it does make a difference. Even with a direct gas flame, when the fat from the meat hits the fire, it burns and produces a distinct smoky flavor, which is different than a woody smoke flavor. I just call it “fat-in-the-fire” flavor. A burger cooked in a gas grill where the fat occasionally flares up and burns tastes distinct from a griddled burger.
---
### Author:  [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-burger-king-really-flame-broil/382633/43 "2012-09-16T04:38:33Z")
Years ago I read that Queen Elizabeth owned a huge chunk of Burger King through one of her many firms.
That explained BK’s answer to Ronald McDonald, its freakazoid burger “king.”
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-burger-king-really-flame-broil/382633.md?page=2)