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McDonald's hamburger vs. McDonald's Big Mac — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

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A recap on differences between McDonald's hamburger and McDonald's Big Mac

  • McDonald's hamburger is higher than McDonald's Big Mac in Iron, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B1, Manganese, and Polyunsaturated fat.
  • McDonald's hamburger covers your daily Iron needs 11% more than McDonald's Big Mac.
  • McDonald's hamburger contains 5 times more Polyunsaturated fat than McDonald's Big Mac. While McDonald's hamburger contains 1.42g of Polyunsaturated fat, McDonald's Big Mac contains only 0.306g.
  • The amount of Sugar in McDonald's Big Mac is lower.

Food varieties used in this article are McDONALD'S, Hamburger and McDONALD'S, BIG MAC.

Infographic

McDonald's hamburger vs McDonald's Big Mac 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 15% 38% 17% 108% 32% 53% 46% 64% 42% 143%
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 14% 35% 16% 75% 33% 52% 52% 60% 27% 0%
Contains more IronIron +43.5%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +56.3%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium +∞%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +14%
~equal in Magnesium ~20mg
~equal in Calcium ~116mg
~equal in Potassium ~181mg
~equal in Copper ~0.098mg
~equal in Zinc ~1.91mg
~equal in Sodium ~460mg

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 2% 3.3% 0% 0% 62% 55% 85% 0% 0% 104% 0% 48% 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 1.3% 11% 0% 0% 44% 48% 63% 0% 0% 110% 0% 35% 0%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +50%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +40.3%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +14.4%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +34.3%
Contains more FolateFolate +39.1%
Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +241.8%
~equal in Vitamin E ~mg
~equal in Vitamin D ~µg
~equal in Vitamin B5 ~mg
~equal in Vitamin B6 ~mg
~equal in Vitamin B12 ~0.88µg
~equal in Vitamin K ~µg
~equal in Choline ~mg

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
13% 10% 30% 45% 2%
Protein: 12.92 g
Fats: 10.09 g
Carbs: 30.28 g
Water: 44.53 g
Other: 2.18 g
12% 15% 20% 51% 2%
Protein: 11.82 g
Fats: 14.96 g
Carbs: 20.08 g
Water: 51.3 g
Other: 1.84 g
Contains more CarbsCarbs +50.8%
Contains more OtherOther +18.5%
Contains more FatsFats +48.3%
Contains more WaterWater +15.2%
~equal in Protein ~11.82g

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
40% 43% 16%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 3.504 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 3.768 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.42 g
50% 46% 4%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 3.803 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 3.474 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.306 g
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +364.1%
~equal in Saturated Fat ~3.803g
~equal in Monounsaturated Fat ~3.474g

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
35% 55% 10%
Starch: 0 g
Sucrose: 0 g
Glucose: 2.1 g
Fructose: 3.3 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0.63 g
Galactose: 0 g
12% 26% 42% 8% 12%
Starch: 0 g
Sucrose: 0.46 g
Glucose: 1.04 g
Fructose: 1.69 g
Lactose: 0.32 g
Maltose: 0.49 g
Galactose: 0 g
Contains more GlucoseGlucose +101.9%
Contains more FructoseFructose +95.3%
Contains more MaltoseMaltose +28.6%
Contains more SucroseSucrose +∞%
Contains more LactoseLactose +∞%
~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.
McDonald's hamburger McDonald's Big Mac
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Saturated Fat ok
Lower in Glycemic Index ok
Rich in minerals ok
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in price Equal
Rich in vitamins Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient McDonald's hamburger McDonald's Big Mac Opinion
Calories 264kcal 257kcal McDonald's hamburger
Protein 12.92g 11.82g McDonald's hamburger
Fats 10.09g 14.96g McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin C 0.6mg 0.4mg McDonald's hamburger
Net carbs 28.98g 18.48g McDonald's hamburger
Carbs 30.28g 20.08g McDonald's hamburger
Cholesterol 27mg 36mg McDonald's hamburger
Magnesium 21mg 20mg McDonald's hamburger
Calcium 127mg 116mg McDonald's hamburger
Potassium 192mg 181mg McDonald's hamburger
Iron 2.87mg 2mg McDonald's hamburger
Sugar 6.03g 3.97g McDonald's Big Mac
Fiber 1.3g 1.6g McDonald's Big Mac
Copper 0.096mg 0.098mg McDonald's Big Mac
Zinc 1.95mg 1.91mg McDonald's hamburger
Phosphorus 107mg 122mg McDonald's Big Mac
Sodium 494mg 460mg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin A 55IU 188IU McDonald's Big Mac
Manganese 0.322mg 0.206mg McDonald's hamburger
Selenium 26.2µg McDonald's hamburger
Vitamin B1 0.247mg 0.176mg McDonald's hamburger
Vitamin B2 0.239mg 0.209mg McDonald's hamburger
Vitamin B3 4.544mg 3.384mg McDonald's hamburger
Vitamin B12 0.83µg 0.88µg McDonald's Big Mac
Folate 64µg 46µg McDonald's hamburger
Trans Fat 0.428g 0.588g McDonald's hamburger
Saturated Fat 3.504g 3.803g McDonald's hamburger
Monounsaturated Fat 3.768g 3.474g McDonald's hamburger
Polyunsaturated fat 1.42g 0.306g McDonald's hamburger
Fructose 3.3g 1.69g McDonald's hamburger
Omega-3 - EPA 0.002g McDonald's hamburger
Omega-3 - ALA 0.134g McDonald's hamburger
Omega-3 - DPA 0.006g McDonald's hamburger
Omega-3 - Eicosatrienoic acid 0.001g McDonald's hamburger
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.004g McDonald's hamburger
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.011g McDonald's hamburger
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.004g McDonald's hamburger
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 1.135g McDonald's hamburger

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
McDonald's hamburger McDonald's Big Mac
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
28%
McDonald's hamburger
24%
McDonald's Big Mac
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
56%
McDonald's hamburger
36%
McDonald's Big Mac

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
McDonald's hamburger
McDonald's hamburger is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 9mg)
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
McDonald's hamburger
McDonald's hamburger is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 0.299g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
McDonald's hamburger
McDonald's hamburger is lower in glycemic index (difference - 66)
Which food is richer in minerals?
McDonald's hamburger
McDonald's hamburger is relatively richer in minerals
Which food is lower in Sugar?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac is lower in Sugar (difference - 2.06g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac contains less Sodium (difference - 34mg)
Which food is cheaper?
?
The foods are relatively equal in price ($)
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. McDonald's hamburger - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170717/nutrients
  2. McDonald's Big Mac - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170720/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.