Seeded Buns

December 17, 2004 12:30 PM

How come McDonalds cheesburgers don't have sesame seeds on them? I think the Fish thing is the only other one that doesn't have them. So why not the lowly cheeseburger?
posted by zeoslap to Food & Drink (12 answers total)

The McChicken also has the sesame seedless bun. I'm pretty sure that the original, classic bun at McDonalds was the one without the sesame seeds. Part of the selling point of the Big Mac, when it came out (1968), was that it had a sesame seed bun (remember the song?). I'd guess it's simply a matter of not changing the bun used on their older sandwiches (the quarter pounder came out ever later than the Big Mac).
posted by skynxnex at 12:37 PM on December 17, 2004

Response by poster: If that's the case why does the hamburger have sesame seeds on it?
posted by zeoslap at 12:40 PM on December 17, 2004

Response by poster: Okay maybe the hamburger doesn't, thought it did though.
posted by zeoslap at 12:42 PM on December 17, 2004

The "hamburger" has no sesame seeds on it.
Would think the cheaper the burger, no sesame seeds and thus the Big Mac more money, they have them.
posted by thomcatspike at 12:43 PM on December 17, 2004

My guess would be that is has something to do with kids versus adults. Half of my kids hate seeded buns for no apparent reason other than just not liking them -- that makes Wendy's a problem where thay have sesame seeds on the junior burgers. I would guess that McD knows that and uses the seedless buns on hamburgers/cheeseburgers, figuring that adults eat the larger sandwiches.
posted by cgk at 12:44 PM on December 17, 2004

the hamburger doesn't, thought it did though.
Been eating them since the 70's, never had them in my neighborhoods. Recall when the hamburger was 29cents now it's under a buck.
posted by thomcatspike at 12:45 PM on December 17, 2004

The hamburger and cheesburger are identical except for...

wait for it...

A SLICE OF CHEESE!

Seriously, the "sesame seed bun" is considered upscale and is only included on premium sandwiches. They gotta get you to spend more money somehow.
posted by scarabic at 1:11 PM on December 17, 2004

If all the buns were seeded, what would the hacker from AntiTrust eat? Just the fries?
posted by shepd at 1:17 PM on December 17, 2004

From McDonald's website - see which things have the regular bun and which have the sesame seed bun.

I think scarabic has it, though - it's just there to allow you to make a stronger distinction between the menu items.
posted by milkrate at 1:31 PM on December 17, 2004

scarbic, you gave me the laugh of the day. Man, I must be tired.
posted by samh23 at 2:59 PM on December 17, 2004

And here I was thinking cheeseburger meant the patty was made of cheese. Stupid me. :-D
posted by shepd at 3:07 PM on December 17, 2004

And how do they get the seeds to stay on there? They must use some kind of sesame glue! Or else one side is adhesive.

/mitch hedberg
posted by painquale at 6:17 AM on December 18, 2004