# White castle hamburgers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [May 27, 2003, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723 "2003-05-27T07:27:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bren_Cameron_1)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/41 "2003-06-01T15:09:50Z")
We call them sliders in St. Louis, too. Never heard the one about the onion crystal, though I seem to recall some article about carcinogens in burgers in which the White Castle rep contacted indignantly asserted that White Castle burgers weren’t grilled but rather steamed on a bed of onions. Having watched the process myself a few times, I’d say they’re both–there’s definitely some burger hitting the grill, and definitely a lot of onions on the grill too. In college they were an essential end to a night of drinking, since they were open 24 hours and quicker and cheaper than Steak n Shake. Mmm, White Caste. ---
**Author:** ![Draggt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@Draggt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draggt)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/42 "2022-07-17T14:08:08Z")
I used to work at a white castle meat factory. I can confirm 100% that it has liver in it. I had to load the machines every day. The amount is small but I seen what went into these things. Meat is pink, liver is dark which was present in the meat I loaded in the machines. I even asked the factory manager, and he confirmed it was liver. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/43 "2022-07-17T16:06:54Z")
Did the liver come from a cow or a zombie? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/44 "2022-07-17T16:47:07Z")
Welcome to the straight dope message board. It’s hard to tell from the weird date format, but you just replied to a thread from 2003. This the joke about zombies (awakening the dead.) But i suppose the recipe probably hasn’t changed. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/45 "2022-07-17T17:05:38Z")
Moving this to cafe society, since it’s about food. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/46 "2022-07-17T18:23:31Z")
I love White Castle hamburgers , but I grew up with them. I can understand why others have to acquire a taste for them. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/47 "2022-07-17T18:29:01Z")
Yes, this. An occasional stop in the morning before work for a few sliders is a good thing. Once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/48 "2022-07-17T18:47:58Z")
> [@Draggt](#): > > I used to work at a white castle meat factory. White Castle has or had its own meat factories? I would think they’d just get meat from one of the large processors. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/49 "2022-07-17T18:56:52Z")
They have special extruders that produce blocks of meat with holes in them, and then slice them into patties. There’s an H2 episode about food in America in which they take you inside a WC processing plant. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/50 "2022-07-17T19:16:45Z")
Growing up in Chicago, I can name 3 that were right in the middle of our late night routes. Especially the one at Belmont and Harlem. I’m not sure I ever ate sliders when the sun was up. Haven’t had the urge to eat one in decades. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/51 "2022-07-17T19:50:46Z")
When I first moved to the Midwest I was introduced to this regional “delicacy” by a woman who’d grown up in that city with them. Her take: > [@](#): > > They’re only good after midnight or under 30. We were both over 30 by that time, and I have to admit she nailed it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/52 "2022-07-17T20:09:45Z")
White Castle still [lists](https://www.whitecastle.com/pdfs/nutrition/WEBSITE%20INGREDIENT%20LIST%2002.16.22.pdf) “100% USDA Beef. Seasoned with salt and pepper.” Non muscle organs, such as liver … and brains, are not considered “beef” by the USDA although “ground beef” is allowed to have fat added. Of note non-skeletal muscle such as [heart and tongue](https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2017/02/usda-says-beef-hearts-are-now-ok-in-ground-beef/) are allowed in ground beef. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/53 "2022-07-17T23:07:21Z")
I stopped at White Castle today and, Nice going, you guys!, it was a response to this thread. I haven’t had White Castle in years, maybe 10 or 15, even though they’re around here. I got a sack of 10 cheeseburgers. Look, these are never going to pass for haute cuisine but I liked them just fine. The onions are very forward, the overall texture is super soft, perhaps even excessively so. I still managed to put away six of the little guys during some errands. I intended to ask for mustard and hot sauce on the side (I’d parked and went into the store) but just plain forgot. The point of the visit was to test for liver. I detected none or any other unexpected flavor. The bag (sack, if you like) they came in is comically greasy, especially at the top, like where you’d roll it shut. I look forward to using if for starting charcoal and I’m sure its going to burn very well, lol. > [@Dinsdale](#): > > Especially the one at Belmont and Harlem. I visited the one at Elston and Addison Avenues today, it’s been there as long as I can remember and it was the one my dad would sometimes surprise us with. It’s difficult to express what a big treat White Caste was 35-40 years ago, certainly more than SuperDawg which is really saying something. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/54 "2022-07-17T23:10:55Z")
Its cute that your refer to them as little guys.🍔 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/55 "2022-07-17T23:12:02Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > I visited the one at Elston and Addison Avenues today, That was the one on the way home from high school. How much does a sack of 10 gutbombs set you back these days? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/56 "2022-07-17T23:15:39Z")
While we’re on the subject, It must be stated for the record: Except for some notable farting, White Castle has never otherwise disturbed my bowels. There. And I attribute the farting to the onions. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/57 "2022-07-17T23:27:36Z")
I just ate two more, cold, and the pickles are really good, too. I wonder if the vintage 1921 sliders they are promoting are any good? > [@Dinsdale](#): > > How much does a sack of 10 gutbombs set you back these days? I happened upon my receipt and it states as follows: 10 CBR 10.90 Grand total: 12.07 It turned out I had a nickel and two pennies and got a flat eight bucks back. It’s really not bad for a hot sack of food I can’t possibly make myself. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/58 "2022-07-17T23:34:19Z")
I’m trying to think what they ran back in the 70s. For some reason 29 cents comes to mind. I think cheese was a whole extra dime, which seemed a ripoff to me. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/59 "2022-07-17T23:45:30Z")
All you can confirm is that somebody told you liver was added. Since no one who has investigated has found this to be true, the most likely explanation is that your supervisor was pulling your leg. And (as someone already brought up) why would they add a more expensive cut of meat? ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723/60 "2022-07-18T00:14:05Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Especially the one at Belmont and Harlem. That’s where I changed buses going home from high school, and if I had a quarter to spare I would buy two sliders to tide me over until dinnertime. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-hamburgers/177723.md?page=4)