Hamburger lovers have long debated whether ketchup or mustard is the correct condiment to grace their beloved sandwich. Last night while watching television, I caught the latest A1 steak sauce commercial extolling the virtues of putting the brown sauce on burgers.
The commercial in question is quite humorous in a snarky sort of way. A man is complimented for putting A1 on his burger by a diner at an adjacent table. When the diner asks if he can "borrow it," he steals the hamburger as the A1 man reaches to pass him the steak sauce.
I tried to find the commercial on You Tube, and while I was unable to do so, I did uncover evidence that A1 has been trying to convert consumers for at least three decades. A1 makes a hamburger a steakburger, after the jump.
Undetermined Vintage
1981
1984
1993
So dear reader, do any of you actually put A1 steak sauce on burgers (or anything else)?
I definitely remember those commercials from my childhood. And of course I HAD to try it, EXACTLY as I had seen it on TV.
What a disaster!
First of all, the A1 is super runny and so it does not come out in that perfectly drip free way depicted in the commercial. And if you happen to be an impressionable eight year old with a budding passion for food, you're gonna want to do just as the commercial shows. So after getting way more A1 than I wanted on my perfect burger, I ate it and have never put A1 on a burger again.
I think the first commercial is circa 1986. The Del Monte ad following the A-1 ad states that Del Monte is "approching it's 100th anniversary." According to the Del Monte website, the name was first introduced in 1986.
I have a very strong memory of watching those A-1 "cowboy burger" ads when I was little. I can't remember if they came on during Master of the Universe or A-Team though...
Whataburger (here in Texas) has been serving burgers with A1 Thick and Hearty sauce for a long time. It's good. They also have burgers with jalapeno peppers too. Woohoo! Can you handle it? :)
On the flip-side, Burger King serves their Loaded Steakhouse Burger with the same A1 Thick and Hearty sauce (plus mashed-potato goop) and I didn't like it very much.
So for me it depends... on the meat, how much sauce is used, what other ingredients are on the burger, etc.
I like it only on five guys burgers. They are messy anyway, so the runny nature of the sauce doesn't matter as much, and they don't oversaturate the burger with it, so it just adds a little kick.
While I prefer ketchup and mustard on my burger or even miracle whip yum.....A1 is not bad, but I prefer the thick and hearty on my sliced roasted potatoes, fries, and stuff like that...even steak or hotdogs!
You got my mouth watering just by mentioning Heinz 57... I've enjoyed that stuff since I was a kid. Burgers, Steaks, Fries, dipping rolls in it, whatever, LOL.
Montana, I'm with you! I remember these commercials from decades ago. I love it on steak but that's about it....
I prefer mayo, lettuce and tomato on a burger.
YES, MAYO!!!!!
@FastFoodCritic I love the Whataburger A1 Thick and Hearty. I like to stop and get one for breakfast, they make you pull to the side and it takes awhile but you get a hot fresh burger.
Sorry, I don't use A1 for burgers. I've tried A1 on burgers several times in the past, and it just doesn't work for me. I'm a ketchup and mayo guy myself, but I'm starting to use less and less condiments. I save the mustard for dogs.
A1 is ok for steak if it's a cheap cut. I consider steak sauce a guilty pleasure and I don't care what snobs think about it. I used to like H57 too, although I haven't had it for 20 years (I can't remember how long it's been). I'm not sure if I would really enjoy it today. When I was 16 I worked at Ponderosa steakhouse (horrible steak) and they had a H57 knockoff that I loved with fries.
When I was in Kenya (while in the USMC), they didn't really have "catsup" for the fries, all they had was HP. HP is fantastic on fries. I don't think the HP we get here is quite as good though.
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19 Comments:
Yes I put A-1 on burgers and try it with a Brat........
Markbb at 2:46PM on 05/17/08
I definitely remember those commercials from my childhood. And of course I HAD to try it, EXACTLY as I had seen it on TV.
What a disaster!
First of all, the A1 is super runny and so it does not come out in that perfectly drip free way depicted in the commercial. And if you happen to be an impressionable eight year old with a budding passion for food, you're gonna want to do just as the commercial shows. So after getting way more A1 than I wanted on my perfect burger, I ate it and have never put A1 on a burger again.
I don't think I've touched A1 in twenty years.
wookie at 3:01PM on 05/17/08
I think the first commercial is circa 1986. The Del Monte ad following the A-1 ad states that Del Monte is "approching it's 100th anniversary." According to the Del Monte website, the name was first introduced in 1986.
I have a very strong memory of watching those A-1 "cowboy burger" ads when I was little. I can't remember if they came on during Master of the Universe or A-Team though...
kenjialtci at 5:27PM on 05/17/08
And A-1 is great on french fries. Like a slightly spicier catsup!
jackiecat at 6:41PM on 05/17/08
Whataburger (here in Texas) has been serving burgers with A1 Thick and Hearty sauce for a long time. It's good. They also have burgers with jalapeno peppers too. Woohoo! Can you handle it? :)
On the flip-side, Burger King serves their Loaded Steakhouse Burger with the same A1 Thick and Hearty sauce (plus mashed-potato goop) and I didn't like it very much.
So for me it depends... on the meat, how much sauce is used, what other ingredients are on the burger, etc.
FastFoodCritic at 7:00PM on 05/17/08
Five Guys (a chain in the DC area) offers A-1 for its burgers.
juliec at 7:23PM on 05/17/08
@juliec--I'm happy to report Five Guys are opening everywhere.
wookie at 8:24PM on 05/17/08
A1 is the worst. Ever. It should not be put on anything. I will say I do enjoy the commercials. :)
Butrflygirly at 11:00PM on 05/17/08
I like it only on five guys burgers. They are messy anyway, so the runny nature of the sauce doesn't matter as much, and they don't oversaturate the burger with it, so it just adds a little kick.
brittj8585 at 1:08AM on 05/18/08
While I prefer ketchup and mustard on my burger or even miracle whip yum.....A1 is not bad, but I prefer the thick and hearty on my sliced roasted potatoes, fries, and stuff like that...even steak or hotdogs!
confusedmommyof3 at 1:09AM on 05/18/08
I like A1, though never on steaks, only burgers or fries and such. What I really adore though is Heinz 57 sauce.
Christian Smith at 7:32AM on 05/18/08
We've stopped buying A1 after trying Jack Daniels' steak sauce. The Jack Daniels' sauce just seems to have a much better flavor.
LunaPierCook at 10:33AM on 05/18/08
Yum! This just reminded me to eat more A1 - I love it on burgers & turkey burgers!
Tartar at 12:17PM on 05/18/08
@Christian Smith
You got my mouth watering just by mentioning Heinz 57... I've enjoyed that stuff since I was a kid. Burgers, Steaks, Fries, dipping rolls in it, whatever, LOL.
FastFoodCritic at 9:29PM on 05/18/08
A1 is a delicious addition to any burger, but I prefer to mix a bit in with the meat whilst I'm making pattys
Montana Eats at 12:16PM on 05/19/08
Montana, I'm with you! I remember these commercials from decades ago. I love it on steak but that's about it....
I prefer mayo, lettuce and tomato on a burger.
YES, MAYO!!!!!
RichardCrystal at 2:08PM on 05/19/08
@FastFoodCritic I love the Whataburger A1 Thick and Hearty. I like to stop and get one for breakfast, they make you pull to the side and it takes awhile but you get a hot fresh burger.
DwayneW at 11:34AM on 05/20/08
Sorry, I don't use A1 for burgers. I've tried A1 on burgers several times in the past, and it just doesn't work for me. I'm a ketchup and mayo guy myself, but I'm starting to use less and less condiments. I save the mustard for dogs.
A1 is ok for steak if it's a cheap cut. I consider steak sauce a guilty pleasure and I don't care what snobs think about it. I used to like H57 too, although I haven't had it for 20 years (I can't remember how long it's been). I'm not sure if I would really enjoy it today. When I was 16 I worked at Ponderosa steakhouse (horrible steak) and they had a H57 knockoff that I loved with fries.
When I was in Kenya (while in the USMC), they didn't really have "catsup" for the fries, all they had was HP. HP is fantastic on fries. I don't think the HP we get here is quite as good though.
tjmile1 at 12:21AM on 05/22/08
@DwayneW -- I hear ya! No frozen or pre-made burgers at Whataburger.
Always fresh!
FastFoodCritic at 9:31AM on 05/22/08