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Hamburger vs. Chicken McNuggets — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

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How are hamburgers and chicken McNuggets different?

  • Hamburgers are higher in vitamin B12, iron, zinc, vitamin B2, and calcium; however, chicken McNuggets are richer in phosphorus, vitamin B6, vitamin B3, and vitamin B5.
  • Daily need coverage for vitamin B12 for hamburgers is 46% higher.
  • Hamburgers contain 9 times more calcium than chicken McNuggets. While hamburgers contain 102mg of calcium, chicken McNuggets contain only 11mg.
  • Chicken McNuggets have less saturated fat.
  • Chicken McNuggets have a lower glycemic index (46) than hamburgers (66).

Fast foods, hamburger; double, regular, patty; plain and McDONALD'S, Chicken McNUGGETS are the varieties used in this article.

Infographic

Hamburger vs Chicken McNuggets infographic
Infographic link

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 14% 31% 20% 108% 30% 78% 58% 54% 28% 0%
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 17% 3.3% 22% 33% 16% 16% 117% 74% 18% 0%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +827.3%
Contains more IronIron +223.6%
Contains more CopperCopper +85.7%
Contains more ZincZinc +386.4%
Contains less SodiumSodium -26.9%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +55%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +20%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +11.5%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +100%
~equal in Selenium ~µg

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 0% 0% 0% 0% 54% 58% 101% 19% 47% 180% 0% 42% 0%
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 4% 0% 0% 0% 40% 25% 139% 53% 92% 41% 0% 0% 0%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +35.6%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +127.3%
Contains more Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 +336.4%
Contains more FolateFolate +∞%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +37.9%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +183.9%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +96.1%
~equal in Vitamin A ~µg
~equal in Vitamin E ~mg
~equal in Vitamin D ~µg
~equal in Vitamin K ~µg
~equal in Choline ~mg

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
17% 14% 24% 43% 2%
Protein: 17.08 g
Fats: 14.36 g
Carbs: 24.1 g
Water: 42.67 g
Other: 1.79 g
16% 20% 15% 47% 2%
Protein: 15.79 g
Fats: 19.81 g
Carbs: 15.09 g
Water: 47.13 g
Other: 2.18 g
Contains more CarbsCarbs +59.7%
Contains more FatsFats +38%
Contains more WaterWater +10.5%
Contains more OtherOther +21.8%
~equal in Protein ~15.79g

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
46% 50% 3%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 5.096 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 5.495 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.38 g
19% 48% 33%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 3.261 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 8.134 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 5.61 g
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated fat -36%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated fat +48%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +1376.3%

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
5% 28% 49% 3% 14%
Starch: 0 g
Sucrose: 0.22 g
Glucose: 1.16 g
Fructose: 2.03 g
Lactose: 0.13 g
Maltose: 0.6 g
Galactose: 0 g
100%
Starch: 0 g
Sucrose: 0.08 g
Glucose: 0 g
Fructose: 0 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0 g
Galactose: 0 g
Contains more SucroseSucrose +175%
Contains more GlucoseGlucose +∞%
Contains more FructoseFructose +∞%
Contains more LactoseLactose +∞%
Contains more MaltoseMaltose +∞%
~equal in Starch ~0g
~equal in Galactose ~0g

Comparison summary table

Pay attention to the rightmost column. It displays the amounts side by side, giving a clearer understanding of the difference.
Hamburger Chicken McNuggets
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Saturated fat ok
Lower in Glycemic Index ok
Lower in price Equal
Rich in minerals Equal
Rich in vitamins Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient Hamburger Chicken McNuggets DV% diff.
Vitamin B12 1.44µg 0.33µg 46%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.38g 5.61g 35%
Iron 2.88mg 0.89mg 25%
Zinc 2.87mg 0.59mg 21%
Phosphorus 136mg 272mg 19%
Vitamin B6 0.203mg 0.398mg 15%
Folate 56µg 14%
Vitamin B3 5.365mg 7.4mg 13%
Vitamin B5 0.31mg 0.88mg 11%
Vitamin B2 0.25mg 0.11mg 11%
Calcium 102mg 11mg 9%
Fats 14.36g 19.81g 8%
Saturated fat 5.096g 3.261g 8%
Sodium 414mg 566mg 7%
Monounsaturated fat 5.495g 8.134g 7%
Copper 0.091mg 0.049mg 5%
Vitamin B1 0.217mg 0.16mg 5%
Fiber 0.9g 4%
Manganese 0.217mg 0.14mg 3%
Carbs 24.1g 15.09g 3%
Fructose 2.03g 0g 3%
Protein 17.08g 15.79g 3%
Potassium 226mg 252mg 1%
Magnesium 20mg 24mg 1%
Cholesterol 47mg 44mg 1%
Vitamin C 0mg 1.2mg 1%
Calories 295kcal 302kcal 0%
Net carbs 23.2g 15.09g N/A
Sugar 4.15g 0.08g N/A
Trans fat 0.814g 0.114g N/A
Tryptophan 0.206mg 0%
Threonine 0.666mg 0%
Isoleucine 0.716mg 0%
Leucine 1.319mg 0%
Lysine 1.226mg 0%
Methionine 0.37mg 0%
Phenylalanine 0.677mg 0%
Valine 0.823mg 0%
Histidine 0.505mg 0%
Omega-3 - EPA 0.001g N/A
Omega-3 - DHA 0.003g N/A
Omega-3 - ALA 0.296g N/A
Omega-3 - DPA 0.004g N/A
Omega-3 - Eicosatrienoic acid 0.001g N/A
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.025g N/A
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.015g N/A
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.014g N/A
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 5.105g N/A

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
Hamburger Chicken McNuggets
Low Calories diet ok
Low Fats diet ok
Low Carbs diet ok
Low Glycemic Index diet ok

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Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score

The summary scores indicate the extent to which this food can fulfill your daily vitamin and mineral requirements if you consume 3 servings, consisting of 100 grams of each (an approximation of 3 serving sizes).
Vitamins Daily Need Coverage Score
38%
Hamburger
30%
Chicken McNuggets
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
42%
Hamburger
32%
Chicken McNuggets

Comparison summary

Which food contains less Sodium?
Hamburger
Hamburger contains less Sodium (difference - 152mg)
Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
Chicken McNuggets
Chicken McNuggets is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 3mg)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
Chicken McNuggets
Chicken McNuggets is lower in Sugar (difference - 4.07g)
Which food is lower in Saturated fat?
Chicken McNuggets
Chicken McNuggets is lower in Saturated fat (difference - 1.835g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
Chicken McNuggets
Chicken McNuggets is lower in glycemic index (difference - 20)
Which food is cheaper?
?
The foods are relatively equal in price ($)
Which food is richer in minerals?
?
It cannot be stated which food is richer in vitamins. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information.
Which food is richer in vitamins?
?
It cannot be stated which food is richer in vitamins. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information.

References

All the values for which the sources are not specified explicitly are taken from FDA’s Food Central. The exact link to the food presented on this page can be found below.

  1. Chicken McNuggets - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/173297/nutrients

All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.

Data provided by FoodStruct.com should be considered and used as information only. Please consult your physician before beginning any diet.