This is none other than the Quarter Pounder, and it is stated on the US website that is ‘cooked when you order’.

The juicy beef burger is a staple of the franchise and is set apart from the rest of the menu, which are pre-cooked and frozen, as being cooked freshly does (expectedly) result in a fuller beef flavour that can’t be achieved with frozen patties.

Introduced in 1971, the shift to being cooked freshly only took place in March 2018, when McDonald’s called it ‘the most significant change to our system and restaurant operations since All Day Breakfast,’ which Americans can enjoy.

Sadly though, the UK’s official McDonald’s website, while stating that they use 100% British and Irish beef in their burgers accompanied with salt and pepper, are simply minced, frozen, packed and delivered to restaurants with no mention of fresh cooking anywhere.

“Once the beef burgers are made, they are frozen straightaway, carefully packed and delivered to our restaurants. Nothing is added apart from a pinch of salt and pepper after cooking,” it reads.

Those in the US are spoilt though, as they ‘flash freeze’ beef to seal as much flavour as possible with normal patties, adding that it ‘usually takes about two to three weeks until the burger is served’.

Ultimately though, it explains: “Quarter Pounder with Cheese features a ¼ lb. of 100% fresh beef that’s hot, deliciously juicy and cooked when you order.”