Why Five Guys Always Serves Their Burgers Well Done

After ordering a burger at a restaurant, your server will usually ask how you want it cooked. That's not the case at Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Though the chain prides itself on its customizable menu, all of its burgers are served well done. As Reader's Digest reports, this practice keeps customers healthy and prevents legal trouble.

There are three standard temperatures for cooking beef in restaurant kitchens: rare (red inside), medium (pink), and well done (no pink). All burgers served at Five Guys must be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 F°. This method cooks the meat all the way through, which is the best way to eliminate food-borne pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella that could be lurking in the raw product. By following this policy, Five Guys reduces the chance of customers getting sick in their stores and holding the company liable.

Serving burgers well done is a common practice across the fast food industry. Fast food relies on efficiency to turn out orders quickly, and asking customers for their temperature preference adds an unnecessary variable to the process. Five Guys may be able to juggle hundreds of topping combinations, but cooking patties for different lengths of time would be too much for cooks to handle.

Though Five Guys won't serve your beef bloody, they're willing to accommodate you in other ways at some locations, such as by putting together secret menu items. Here are more facts about the burger chain.