This poll also sparked a secondary debate: Are pickles a condiment? Most people who responded to that query said that pickles were actually a topping. After the jump, a bonus ketchup joke.
I'm actually surprised mayo came in at No. 2. I don't feel it adds much to a burger. I do mustard or ketchup—depends on my mood and what type of mustard a place serves.
I get trying things on a burger, but after you've had ketchup on a burger once, why would you keep adding it? I voted for mayo, mustard, special sauce, other, and none.
The ketchup haters crack me up! My guess is that it's just a few put ONLY ketchup on their burgers. Most folks I know put both mustard and ketchup on a burger. There's something about the mix of both together. I like some ketchup mixed with my spicy brown mustard for a burger. Not too much of either.
The idea that mustard should be the only thing that goes on a burger just seems wrong. A good mustard is usually pretty strong and can dominate the beef flavor in my opinion. When used sparingly it's great, but the same can be said for any condiment you put on a burger.
I think mayo may have gotten so high because if you've worked in a restaurant that makes burgers it's usually a rule that you put mayo on the bottom bun. The theory is that the fat from the mayo keeps the juices from the burger from soaking all the way through the bottom bun.
I agree, Adam. The first thing that caught my eye was how popular mayo was. Eck...that is one condiment I don't see a lot on people's burgers. I was thinking the logical second (for me, anyway) was mustard.
Agree, mrbad and steven; while I might put a little ketchup on a really dry burger, I might also simply choose not to eat it. Mustard and a thin slice of raw red onion bring out the flavor of the beef to me. Mayo, not so much, but I can see the rationale for a VERY thin layer on the bottom bun per KingBoo's reasoning. Ketchup, or better yet, Heinz Chili Sauce, is good on fries as mrbad points out. As the cliche goes, I guess that's why H-J or B-R had/have so many flavors.
I think we forgot to point out that "Special Sauce" is typically a mixture of ketchup, mustard, mayo, and sometimes relish. Which is awesome!
But I really think it depends on the burger. Simply put, a fast food style burger deserves a special sauce, whereas a more restaurant style burger may not need any condiments at all.
I cannot understand this love affair with ketchup. Ketchup, to me, is only a poor substitute for fresh tomato (on burgers, that is. I love ketchup on fries). I'd much rather have sweet relish with mustard than ketchup with anything.
And ... mayo?! Mayo is for BLT's, chicken salad, and tartar sauce. Maybe that's why I like BK better than the other big American chains - I can order my Whopper with extra tomato and pickle, and no mayo.
I love mayo, and every burger I eat is slathered in it, top and bottom bun. And a small amount of hot mustard (ever had English mustard? You need to measure it out in microscopic doses, else it is a powerful nerve gas.)
I never use ketchup for anything but sloppy joes. Good fries deserve a generous amount of salt and a cup of mayo to dip in. I will accept 'special sauce' for dipping, but prefer plain mayo.
There is no place for mayo. A little ketchup is okay but not required. I'm not much of a condiment guy. My thought is that if your basic item is so poorly prepared that you have to douse it in 3-5 other sauces, in addition to plant life, you had a pretty crappy burger to start with.
I think it is a regional thing--growing up I never understood Big Macs, or even knew people who ordered them (everyone at Quarter Pounders). Ketchup and ketchup and mustard are East Coast, while mayo seems more popular elsewhere.
With the veggie burgers I eat now, the meaty tasting ones I like ketchup and/or mustard (old habits die hard). I also eat them plain, salted, with avocado, and so forth. But mayo on anything even resembling a burger gives me the willies. Mayo is for egg salad!
How come people can't eat what they want on their food?
If there is a proper food preparation handbook with explicit guidelines on what can or can't go on a hamburger, I would love to buy it.. Heaven forbid I make a hamburger faux pas against the God's (or whomever is laughing at us.)
Mayo for cheeseburgers, mustard for regular hamburgers. Ketchup I reserve for meatloaf...I think the flavor is too strong for a good burger, but that is me. And yes, regional has a lot to do with the preferences. I would say I really like Miracle Whip on my cheeseburgers (being from the midwest), but that would probably stir up a storm of protests with the purists, so I won't. :)
I've had a love affair with all condiments for a long time. It's incredible to read some people bashing one over the other. What did most of us grow up eating on a hamburger? Ketchup. McD's uses ketchup. Most people grew up with burgers from McD's, and most people like it on their fries, so what's with all this "We hate ketchup" sentiment?
Mayo does add lubrication to a burger, but taste as well in my opinion. According to Jacques Pepin, we Americans make the best commercial mayo (Hellman's). Mayo has an advantage of providing a luxurious texture that marries perfectly with ketchup or mustard. It's not greasy either. If you don't like ketchup or mayo, I'm starting to think you're not an American.
The mustard only crowd needs to back off. Mustard does not enhance meat, it tastes like mustard. If that's the dominant flavor you prefer, go for it, but don't lecture.
The no condiment group is the most puzzling to me of all. Sorry, but if you're so snobbish that ketchup, mustard, and mayo do not grace your pantry, you might need therapy. You were probably browbeaten by your parents and not allowed to play with the other kids. I'm kidding. If you love going naked all the time, that's cool too, just pass the ketchup please.
I missed the vote, but it would probably be ketchup, mayo a close second.
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The results as of 10 a.m. today of this week's AHT poll, "What Condiments Do You Like on Your Burger?":
22 Comments:
Ugh, ketchup. have you people learned anything?
Hamburger America at 10:17AM on 08/28/09
Yes Mr. Motzs, we have learned that different strokes is more than just a television show with Gary Coleman.
BigWoollyMammoth at 10:21AM on 08/28/09
I'm actually surprised mayo came in at No. 2. I don't feel it adds much to a burger. I do mustard or ketchup—depends on my mood and what type of mustard a place serves.
Adam Kuban at 10:32AM on 08/28/09
gosh what a surprise...ketchup is for kids.
furthermore it's an awful awful thing to do to a tomato.
twoshoes at 11:02AM on 08/28/09
I get trying things on a burger, but after you've had ketchup on a burger once, why would you keep adding it? I voted for mayo, mustard, special sauce, other, and none.
stevenstonetx at 11:20AM on 08/28/09
The colors of the pie chart not matching the colors of the condiments in question are causing extreme cognitive dissonance.
jayspec at 11:31AM on 08/28/09
The ketchup haters crack me up! My guess is that it's just a few put ONLY ketchup on their burgers. Most folks I know put both mustard and ketchup on a burger. There's something about the mix of both together. I like some ketchup mixed with my spicy brown mustard for a burger. Not too much of either.
The idea that mustard should be the only thing that goes on a burger just seems wrong. A good mustard is usually pretty strong and can dominate the beef flavor in my opinion. When used sparingly it's great, but the same can be said for any condiment you put on a burger.
I think mayo may have gotten so high because if you've worked in a restaurant that makes burgers it's usually a rule that you put mayo on the bottom bun. The theory is that the fat from the mayo keeps the juices from the burger from soaking all the way through the bottom bun.
KingBoo at 12:23PM on 08/28/09
I agree, Adam. The first thing that caught my eye was how popular mayo was. Eck...that is one condiment I don't see a lot on people's burgers. I was thinking the logical second (for me, anyway) was mustard.
pastry262 at 12:25PM on 08/28/09
Ketchup is for french fries.
Mustard and Ketchup on a hamburger is fine, but not Ketchup alone, it is not meat loaf.
mrbadideasdotcom at 12:51PM on 08/28/09
Agree, mrbad and steven; while I might put a little ketchup on a really dry burger, I might also simply choose not to eat it. Mustard and a thin slice of raw red onion bring out the flavor of the beef to me. Mayo, not so much, but I can see the rationale for a VERY thin layer on the bottom bun per KingBoo's reasoning. Ketchup, or better yet, Heinz Chili Sauce, is good on fries as mrbad points out. As the cliche goes, I guess that's why H-J or B-R had/have so many flavors.
richopp at 2:32PM on 08/28/09
I cannot stand mayo on anything.
I'll put everything on my burger, but not mayo.
Scoreboard44 at 2:34PM on 08/28/09
I think we forgot to point out that "Special Sauce" is typically a mixture of ketchup, mustard, mayo, and sometimes relish. Which is awesome!
But I really think it depends on the burger. Simply put, a fast food style burger deserves a special sauce, whereas a more restaurant style burger may not need any condiments at all.
HamburglerBK at 3:34PM on 08/28/09
I cannot understand this love affair with ketchup. Ketchup, to me, is only a poor substitute for fresh tomato (on burgers, that is. I love ketchup on fries). I'd much rather have sweet relish with mustard than ketchup with anything.
And ... mayo?! Mayo is for BLT's, chicken salad, and tartar sauce. Maybe that's why I like BK better than the other big American chains - I can order my Whopper with extra tomato and pickle, and no mayo.
KevinB at 3:47AM on 08/29/09
I love mayo, and every burger I eat is slathered in it, top and bottom bun. And a small amount of hot mustard (ever had English mustard? You need to measure it out in microscopic doses, else it is a powerful nerve gas.)
I never use ketchup for anything but sloppy joes. Good fries deserve a generous amount of salt and a cup of mayo to dip in. I will accept 'special sauce' for dipping, but prefer plain mayo.
NotAmerican at 6:00AM on 08/29/09
There is no place for mayo. A little ketchup is okay but not required. I'm not much of a condiment guy. My thought is that if your basic item is so poorly prepared that you have to douse it in 3-5 other sauces, in addition to plant life, you had a pretty crappy burger to start with.
beersnob at 6:35PM on 08/29/09
I think it is a regional thing--growing up I never understood Big Macs, or even knew people who ordered them (everyone at Quarter Pounders). Ketchup and ketchup and mustard are East Coast, while mayo seems more popular elsewhere.
With the veggie burgers I eat now, the meaty tasting ones I like ketchup and/or mustard (old habits die hard). I also eat them plain, salted, with avocado, and so forth. But mayo on anything even resembling a burger gives me the willies. Mayo is for egg salad!
HeartofGlass at 7:20PM on 08/29/09
Mayo is a must! Ketchup is only if someone made your burger too dry! Leave the mustard for hot dogs!
A special sauce is great too!
jlewfoodie at 1:15PM on 08/30/09
How come people can't eat what they want on their food?
If there is a proper food preparation handbook with explicit guidelines on what can or can't go on a hamburger, I would love to buy it.. Heaven forbid I make a hamburger faux pas against the God's (or whomever is laughing at us.)
BigWoollyMammoth at 8:24AM on 08/31/09
Mayo for cheeseburgers, mustard for regular hamburgers. Ketchup I reserve for meatloaf...I think the flavor is too strong for a good burger, but that is me. And yes, regional has a lot to do with the preferences. I would say I really like Miracle Whip on my cheeseburgers (being from the midwest), but that would probably stir up a storm of protests with the purists, so I won't. :)
sticky wicket at 2:45PM on 08/31/09
And why wasn't a good dose of Sweet Baby Ray's Orifinal BBQ sauce not included? It makes a burger awesome!
sticky wicket at 2:46PM on 08/31/09
I've had a love affair with all condiments for a long time. It's incredible to read some people bashing one over the other. What did most of us grow up eating on a hamburger? Ketchup. McD's uses ketchup. Most people grew up with burgers from McD's, and most people like it on their fries, so what's with all this "We hate ketchup" sentiment?
Mayo does add lubrication to a burger, but taste as well in my opinion. According to Jacques Pepin, we Americans make the best commercial mayo (Hellman's). Mayo has an advantage of providing a luxurious texture that marries perfectly with ketchup or mustard. It's not greasy either. If you don't like ketchup or mayo, I'm starting to think you're not an American.
The mustard only crowd needs to back off. Mustard does not enhance meat, it tastes like mustard. If that's the dominant flavor you prefer, go for it, but don't lecture.
The no condiment group is the most puzzling to me of all. Sorry, but if you're so snobbish that ketchup, mustard, and mayo do not grace your pantry, you might need therapy. You were probably browbeaten by your parents and not allowed to play with the other kids. I'm kidding. If you love going naked all the time, that's cool too, just pass the ketchup please.
I missed the vote, but it would probably be ketchup, mayo a close second.
tjmile1 at 10:54PM on 08/31/09
To me, pickles are a no no on hot sandwiches period!
jlewfoodie at 2:42PM on 09/01/09