Fast Food Critic - Reviews, News and Nutrition Information about Fast Food.

I grew up eating McDonald’s food, and no matter what anybody else says about them, there will always be a place in my heart (no heart-attack jokes please) for items like the Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets and their world famous French Fries.

These classic favorites from my past are showing their age, but it’s nice to visit the old friends to see how they are doing. Today it’s the QPC from MickeyD’s.

The Quarter Pounder with Cheese from McDonald’s is a 1/4 pound beef patty, 2 slices of processed American cheese, sliced onions, pickles, mustard and ketchup, on a sesame seed bun. There is no lettuce, tomato, bacon or anything else to get in the way of the feature trio: meat, cheese and bread. To that end, even the onions and pickles that are included in the deal, are small in size and few in number.

It’s a good size burger. The 1/4 pound meat patty is substantial, and on first inspection looks attractive enough, playing the role of the leading man in our fast food story. But a closer look, and one bite — and you know this plot is going to have some twists and turns. The burger looked identical to the last one I bought. Sure, I realize that fast food burgers these days are produced in an assembly-line fashion, with ingredients and proportions that have been carefully planned and measured, but even the meat patties themselves looked exactly the same, like twin brothers. Not so much in the cute happy way, more the (creepy) my brother has been cloned… way. I guess that’s the results of mass produced, pre-formed, frozen or freeze-dried burger patties. As a kid I didn’t notice these things, but as an adult I can say it doesn’t look or feel natural to me.

The meat is a little soft and mushy, and it doesn’t feel as substantial as it looks. It appears over-processed compared to a fresh home-cooked burger. However, it’s got a pleasant taste, and despite the lack of trimmings, this basic meat, cheese and bread package comes together to create a fair amount of flavor. I think seasoning plays a big role here, which is an area McDonald’s has long excelled.

Another area where they excel is consistency. From the first bite, to the last bite, and the bites I remember from 10 years ago — they all taste the same. Nobody mass produces burgers with the quality and consistency of Mickey D’s. I think in some ways, McDonald’s has become the ‘comfort’ food of the fast-food industry.

I want to make note of the buns. They tasted fresh, and were toasted just the right amount. There was a micro-thin layer of crunchy shell followed by a soft pillowy center. You can see from my photo above, it’s a good looking roll.

The Quarter Pounder with Cheese from McDonald’s is not going to win any best burger awards, but it’s still a decent burger for a decent price of $2.89. In the world of fast food, it’s a tried-and-tested product, and one that can be enjoyed exactly the same from coast to coast. Some people may be turned-off by that clone-like quality, but it’s a formula that’s worked well, and helped to make McDonald’s into a McGiant.

Price: $2.89 / Website: McDonalds.com

Fast Food Critic Score: C

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese.

Calories - 510
Calories from Fat - 230
Total Fat - 26 grams
Carbs - 40 grams
Saturated Fat - 12 grams
Trans Fat - 1.5 gram
Cholesterol - 90 milligrams
Sodium - 1190 milligrams