# Why do freshly made burgers you grill yourself taste better than chain resturant/fast food burgers?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-freshly-made-burgers-you-grill-yourself-taste-better-than-chain-resturant-fast-food-burgers/930791
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** food-cooking
**Created:** [January 18, 2021, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-freshly-made-burgers-you-grill-yourself-taste-better-than-chain-resturant-fast-food-burgers/930791 "2021-01-18T09:31:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 7

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### Author: ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2021, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-freshly-made-burgers-you-grill-yourself-taste-better-than-chain-resturant-fast-food-burgers/930791/7 "2021-01-18T12:40:04Z")

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I’m not sure I entirely agree with the OP, but they are different. I’m going to try to link to an old post of mine:

> [@Best Restaurant That Advertises Extensively](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-restaurant-that-advertises-extensively/924377/48):
>
> Slight hijack, but this comes down to something I’ve said for years: There are burgers and there are sliders\*. \*\* Burgers are thick, cooked to order (i.e., rare, med rare, etc), often a “better” quality of meat, may include other things besides meat in the patty. Red Robin has a burger, as do most local burger joints - such as the oddly named Bird’s Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack here in Tallahassee which makes a burger that is a contender for best I’ve ever eaten. Certainly best in town. Damn fine …

Most fast-food restaurants serve sliders. One thing I didn’t note in my post above is that sliders are usually cooked on a flat-top or griddle which doesn’t char the meat and doesn’t have a “taste”. Whereas your backyard BBQ is flame (either gas or charcoal). Charcoal imparts a strong taste itself, but even a gas grill picks up a “flavor” over years of cooking - especially if you don’t clean the flame diverters or bottom of the grill after each use.

I personally prefer a burger cooked over flame, but there are times when only 5 Guys will satisfy the craving I have (much like I occasionally NEED Taco Bell, and only Taco Bell will do).

@Two_Many_Cats2 - BK is unusual in that it cooked over open flame. It could be you just prefer a flame-cooked burger.

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