Culver's Uses The Most Simple Seasoning Mix On Its Beef

Culver's, the Wisconsin-based restaurant chain, is often considered one of the best fast-food brands in the country. If you've never been before, you might be overwhelmed by all the options, so be sure to check out our ultimate guide to Culver's. One of the star attractions at the restaurant is its iconic ButterBurger. The melted cheese and the butter on the bun that gives the food its name are crucial ingredients in making this burger so delicious, but the meat itself also tastes particularly great. This might suggest some sort of secret blend of spices, but in fact, when it comes to their burger seasoning, Culver's keeps it very simple. They use a mixture of salt and pepper for their burgers, and that's it. 

Culver's is far from unique in its use of salt and pepper. While there are many seasonings that you can use on a burger, salt and pepper are a pretty standard option. McDonald's, for example, also uses this blend on its burgers — specifically 86% salt and 14% pepper, according to a former chef (via People). White Castle seasons its beef with salt and pepper too, as do other chains. But if this seasoning mix is so standard, what exactly is it that sets the ButterBurger apart? 

While salt and pepper are far from a one-of-a-kind seasoning choice, the way Culver's seasons its burgers is somewhat unique in one way: when it puts them on the beef. According to employees' conversations on Reddit, instead of mixing salt and pepper into the ground beef and then putting it on the grill, Culver's starts with unseasoned patties, places them on the grill, and then adds the salt and pepper (five parts salt, one part pepper) to the uncooked side before flipping it. 

Is this timing the reason that ButterBurgers trounce their competitors? It's certainly a factor, but it might have more to do with other aspects of how Culver's prepares its beef. For one thing, the chain always uses fresh beef, never frozen, and its burgers are cooked to order instead of sitting around waiting for someone to purchase them. Culver's patties also use a delicious blend of three particular beef cuts: sirloin, chuck, and plate. And their chefs press and sear the beef in a style similar to a smash burger, locking the flavor in and leading to thin, crispy patties. 

So, the next time you're chowing down on a ButterBurger, keep in mind that sometimes the key to a first-rate fast-food meal is simple ingredients prepared well.