XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
http://blog.zagat.com/2012/11/burger-survey-results-revealed-toppings_7.html
It's Burger Week on the blog and - newsflash - you can't get enough of them, at least according to the results of our just-released Burger Survey, which polled over 1,000 avid diners. It was a carnivorous crowd, with the respondents reporting that they eat the favorite foodstuff an average of 4.3 times each month, which basically boils down to once a week. There was a gender divide represented in the results, with women eating an average of 3.4 burgers each month versus 4.9 for the gents.
Medium Rare Please, and No Thanks on That Veggie Burger (At Least for Guys)
A plurality of burger lovers prefer their meat to be a little pink, with 38% reporting that they like their patty to be medium rare, followed by 36% who enjoy medium. It turns out that a well-done burger (aka a "hockey puck") really does turn people off, with only 6% saying they like it cooked to a crisp.
The gender divide also was evident when it came to veggie burgers. While 50% of females said they enjoy a meatless option on occasion, only 33% of guys admit to eating these.
The Stats: How Do You Like Your Burger Cooked?
Medium Rare: 38%
Medium: 36%
Medium Well: 16%
Well Done: 6%
Rare: 4%
Specialty Restaurants Rock
While 14% report heading to a fast-food joint to get their fix, 50% say they prefer to go to a specialty burger restaurant, showing that efforts to trick out patties (Wagyu beef! Stuffed with foie gras!) have some merit. Carnivores also prep custom versions at home (14%) and head to everyday restaurants that may happen to serve a burger (18%).
With these stats, it should come as no surprise that 69% of people report that they've eaten a burger with gourmet ingredients like truffles or foie gras.
The Stats: Where Do You Typically Go?
Specialty Burger Restaurant: 15%
More General Restaurant: 18%
Fast-Food Spot: 14%
Make at Home: 14%
Other: 3%
The Toppings: More Is Better (and Break Out the Fancy Buns)
When it comes to choosing toppings, the correct answer seems to be "all of them." Cheese, lettuce, bacon, tomatoes, grilled onions and pickles all proved popular. There were some turnoffs, including jalapenos, raw onions and mushrooms, but folks don't seem hesitant to load up. Oh, and while the restaurant is busy adding toppings, it should break out the fancy bread - 60% of diners say they want a specialty bun (brioche, etc.) while only 23% prefer a regular bun.
The Stats:
Which Toppings Do You Like Best? (choose multiple):
Cheese: 82%
Lettuce: 59%
Tomato: 59%
Grilled Onion: 56%
Bacon: 54%
Pickles: 48%
Raw Onions: 43%
Mushrooms: 33%
Which Is Your Least Favorite Topping? (choose one):
Jalapenos: 20%
Raw Onions: 15%
Mushrooms: 13%
Guac: 12%
Pickles: 12%
Condiments and Cheese
Ok, no one's mind is blown by the fact that people like ketchup (66% say they put it on their burger), but they also like mustard, mayo, barbecue sauce and Thousand Island dressing. In fact, only 6% of surveyors say they don't put any condiments on their patty. But you can hold the relish (or save it for the hot dogs), as that was voted the group's least favorite.
When it comes to cheese, cheddar is the clear winner, with 38% marking it as their favorite. That's followed by American, blue cheese and Swiss.
The Stats:
Favorite Condiment (choose multiple):
Ketchup: 66%
Mustard: 47%
Mayo: 44%
Barbecue Sauce: 27%
Thousand Island: 17%
Least Favourite Condiment: (choose 1):
Relish: 20%
Mayo: 19%
Hot Sauce: 18%
Cheese, Please:
Cheddar: 38%
American: 15%
Blue Cheese: 13%
Swiss: 12%
Monterey Jack: 6%
Burgers for Lunch
It's no surprise that a majority of respondents report enjoying burgers at dinner (75% to be precise), but 65% of folks who took the survey said that they also enjoy a midday patty (respondents were able to vote more than once). Though we've had our share of patties after a night at the bar, only 9% say they like a burger for a late-night snack, while a die-hard 2% report eating burgers for breakfast.
The Stats: Do You Mostly Eat Burgers for...?
Dinner: 75%
Lunch: 60%
Late-Night Snack: 9%
Breakfast: 2%
Turkey Burgers Are Lame; Grass-Fed Beef = Meh
People overwhelmingly prefer good ol' fashioned beef in their burgers - a whopping 85% want that Whopper made with cow, while only 5% of diners prefer bison and 4% enjoy turkey. Are the other options better for you? Yes. Does anyone care? Not so much.
The survey also saw some mixed emotions about grass-fed and organic beef. Despite these terms popping up on more and more menus, only 15% said that it's very important to them. 43% said it's somewhat important, and 42% said it's not important at all.