McDonald’s and Burger King are both iconic and known for their signature burgers, which are Big Mac and Whopper, respectively. This blog post will look at Big Mac vs. Whopper, which will help you decide which is the best burger to buy!
Big Mac is the winner of the Big Mac and the Whopper. There are some factors where Whopper is the better option, but overall based on the detailed comparison we will be doing later, Big Mac is the winner.
McDonald’s and Burger King have been each other’s rivals for a long time. They both have a substantial international presence and one in the United States. As the two chains became popular worldwide, they also had signature bestsellers.
As you may have guessed, these bestsellers are the Big Mac and Whopper for McDonald’s and Burger King, respectively. Over the years, there has been a lot of debate.
Have you also wondered which one of these two burgers and whether McDonald’s or Burger King is the better option? Here, we will be breaking down every point about the same to decide the eventual winner, so let’s get started!
What’s The Difference Between A Big Mac and A Whopper?
There are fundamental differences between the Big Mac from McDonald’s and the Whopper from Burger King. We will be discussing all these differences in detail. But before that, look at this table that points out the brief differences between these two classic burgers.
Basis Of Difference | Big Mac | Whopper |
---|---|---|
Ingredients | Two patties and special sauce | One patty with mayonnaise |
Price | Cheaper | Expensive |
Quantity Of Beef | Less | More |
Size | Smaller | Bigger |
Nutritional Value | Fewer calories | More calories |
Differences In The Ingredients Of A Big Mac and A Whopper
The first fundamental difference between a Big Mac and a Whopper is the basic building blocks of these burgers: the ingredients. Although the meat used in both burgers is the same, beef and the other ingredients are quite different.
Ingredients in Big Mac:
- Two thin beef patties.
- Sesame bun with a middle bun in the center.
- Special Big Mac sauce
- Lettuce, onions, and cheese
Ingredients in Whopper:
- Single beef patty, large.
- Large sesame seed bun.
- Mayonnaise
- Ketchup
- Pickles
- Lettuce
- Onion
These ingredients are more standard in the Whopper than in the Big Mac; hence, there lies a difference in the flavors of these two fast food staple burgers.
Winner – Big Mac, because of the special Big Mac sauce.
Differences In The Prices Of A Big Mac and A Whopper
Because both the Big Mac and Whopper are from fast food restaurants, the prices of these burgers are low. Although they are both very moderately priced, there is a minute difference between them.
The introductory price of the Big Mac is $ 4.39, while the whoppers are $ 4.99. It can differ a bit as per the location. However, it may be similar to the price mentioned above.
Winner – Big Mac, as it is cheaper, is considered more valuable for money.
Which Burger Has More Meat?
As mentioned in the ingredients section, the base or meat for these burgers remains the same as beef. However, the amount of meat in these two burgers is very different from each other and sets these burgers apart.
Big Mac has two beef patties, with a middle bun in the center, whereas Whopper has just a single beef patty. However, two beef patties mean something other than that the quantity of meat is more in the Big Mac!
The patties in the big mac are fragile, and their total weight is not even ¼ of a pound. However, the beef patty for the Whopper is much thicker and more extensive than the ones used in a Big Mac. A single beef patty is ¼ lbs in weight, which is much more than that in the Big Mac. It eventually results in a meatier burger.
Winner – Whopper, much meatier than the Big Mac.
Which Burger Is Bigger In Terms Of Size?
This basis of comparison can be tricky since Big Mac and Whopper are the enormous burgers offered at their respective fast food joints. It may be tough to determine which of these burgers is more considerable, after all!
But let’s look at some facts that can help us reach this conclusion. It has to be the Big Mac if you’d talk about which burger is more significant in height. Unlike the Whopper, Big Mac has two patties and a secret weapon, the third bun in the center.
This is why the Big Mac is a much taller burger and, in some cases, can look more extensive. The Whopper to is a giant burger, but it is flat instead of elevated. The patty, as it is ¼ lbs in weight, is more balanced and more significant than the Big Mac.
Comparing the weight of the two, the Big Mac is 7.5 ounces, and the Whopper is 7.5 ounces. So, if you compare them by weight and size, we have a clear winner.
Winner – Whopper, as it has a giant patty and is more extensive.
Nutritional Values Of Both The Burgers
The final difference between a Big Mac and a Whopper is based on nutritional values. Before we get into the nitty gritty of this section, look at the table below to know the nutritional values of both these burgers.
Calories | Total Fat | Carbohydrates | Protein | Sugar | Cholesterol | Calcium | Iron | |
Big Mac | 550 cal | 30 g | 45 g | 25 g | 9 g | 80 mg | 120 mg | 4.5 mg |
Whopper | 610 cal | 33 g | 47 g | 31 g | 11 g | 89 mg | 124 mg | 8.1 mg |
- Calories – The Whopper has more calories as compared to the Big Mac. One of the biggest reasons behind this is that the Whopper has a giant beef patty, which accounts for extra calories from protein.
- Total Fat – Whopper has more fat than Big Mac, mainly because of the quantities of meat and the sauces that go into each of them.
- Carbohydrates – The next is carbohydrates, where Whopper has higher content. It can be surprising since the Big Mac has an extra bun in the center. However, since the bun for a Whopper is more significant, it accounts for a slightly higher amount of carbohydrates.
- Protein – As the Whopper has a thicker beef patty and generally has more beef, the amount of protein is higher than the Big Mac. This is also where quite a lot of the calories come from.
- Sugar – Both Big Mac and Whopper have a relatively low quantity of sugar. However, Big Mac is slightly better than the Whopper since it contains less sugar.
- Cholesterol – The beef patty for the Whopper is thicker than the Big Mac, and it also has more sauces, which accounts for a little more cholesterol in the Whopper than the Big Mac.
- Calcium – Whopper has a slightly higher calcium content than the classic Big Mac.
- Iron – Lastly, there is a minor difference in the iron content of the two burgers, but the Whopper takes the cake here as it has a higher iron content.
Winner – Big Mac as it has fewer calories and is more nutritious in some ways.
Which Burger Is Better, Big Mac or Whopper?
Finally, now that we have discussed all the differences between the two burgers from these fast food legends, we can conclude which of these two burgers is the better option. Based on the analysis that we have done, it is clear that Big Mac won this battle.
However, there is a huge factor that is worth considering here. The Big Mac and Whopper are made differently and have slightly different flavor profiles. Both burgers are rich and delicious and probably the perfect solution for your fast-food burger craving.
But, if you are looking for a cheaper and slightly more nutritious option, then the Big Mac is what you should go for. If you want to know more about which burger is better, check out our articles on Quarter Pounder vs. Big Mac, Grand Big Mac vs. Big Mac, and McGriddle vs. McMuffin.Â
Which of these burgers do you like better? Let me know in the comments, and until then, have a great burger meal!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which burger has better ingredients?Â
Both burgers have lovely ingredients. However, Big Mac has a special sauce curated for the burger, which sets it apart from the Whopper.Â
Which burger is more expensive?Â
Whopper is always about 50 cents more expensive than the Big Mac.Â
Which of these burgers was released first?Â
Whopper was released in 1957, whereas Big Mac debuted in 1967, which makes Whopper the older burger of the two.Â
Is McDonald’s more popular than Burger King?Â
Both McDonald’s and Burger King are famous. However, McDonald’s has a much more significant presence in the world than Burger King.
Which of these is more nutritious?Â
Technically, neither can be considered nutritious since they are both fast food burgers. However, in terms of calories, Big Mac has a lower amount of calories than Whopper.Â