Do you love eating burgers? And you wonder what’s the difference between McDonald’s Mcdouble Vs Double Cheeseburger for their nutritional wealth (I don’t call it value).
Let me congratulate you for caring about your health despite being a fast food fan like burgers!
In this blog post, not only will I help you know between MacDonald’s Mcdouble vs Double Cheeseburger, is healthier, but I will also share a few tips for eating a healthier burger without missing an extra patty or cheese slice in it–these are also low carb and keto friendly.
So keep reading.
Mcdouble vs. Double Cheeseburger: Nutrition and Key Difference at a Glance
Here’s a quick comparison table between the McDouble and the Double Cheeseburger at McDonald’s for their differences. A 50-calorie difference doesn’t seem huge here, yet it makes a big difference in nutrition, especially when you’re more careful about making healthier choices for yourself.
| Criteria | McDouble | Double Cheeseburger |
| Number of Patties | 2 | 2 |
| Number of Cheese Slices | 1 | 2 |
| Bun | Regular bun with no sesame seeds | Regular bun with no sesame seeds |
| Pickles | Yes | Yes |
| Onions | Yes | Yes |
| Mustard | Yes | Yes |
| Ketchup | Yes | Yes |
| Calories | 400 | 450 |
| Fat (grams) | 20 | 24 |
| Sodium (milligrams) | 920 (40% of DV) | 1,120 (49% of DV) |
| Potassium | 330mg | 350mg |
| Calcium | 180mg | 180mg |
| Cholesterol | 70mg | 85mg |
| Trans Fats | 1 gram | 1.5 grams |
| Saturated Fats | 9g (45 % DV) | 11g (57 % DV) |
| Protein (grams) | 22 | 27 |
| Carbohydrates (grams) | 33 | 34 |
| Price | $2.60 | $2.97 |
Hence, Double Cheeseburger tends to have a slightly higher calorie and fat content compared to the McDouble. That’s no surprise since you’re getting an extra patty and extra cheese.
Does it end here?
Not at all, to know which is healthier, a detailed analysis of their nutrition is needed, as I’ve done for you.
Mcdouble vs. Double Cheeseburger: Which is Healthier?
Studying both burgers’ nutrition, you get a sense that McDonald’s Double Burger and other burgers seem to be
the cheapest, most nutritious and bountiful food that has ever existed in human history
And, the same goes for Double Cheeseburger. The difference is only 50 more calories but more protein; of course, both are cheap.
Yet, to understand how one burger can be preferred over another, we need to break down the entire nutrition and then opt for healthy alterations without skipping a burger–Mcdouble or Double Cheeseburger.
And, this is what I’ve done for you. I’ve compared both burgers below:
Protein
The Mcdouble has 22 grams of protein, while the Double Cheeseburger has 27 grams of protein. Thus, the former has 88 calories from protein, and the Double Cheese has 108 calories.
Here the Double Cheeseburger wins for its protein richness. Let’s be happy for a moment–for a moment only.
Carbohydrates
Mcdouble has 33 grams of total carbs, which makes 33 X 4 = 132 calories. While the Double Cheeseburger has 34 crabs making up 34 X 4 = 136
Emmm….I think, deciding on a winner here is too early.
Cholesterol
When you compare the Mcdouble with Double Cheeseburger, for the cholesterol, and other fats ratios, you get closer to deciding, which can make a better choice.
The Mcdouble has 70 mg of cholesterol (23% DV on 2000 calories diet), and Double Cheeseburger has 85 mg of cholesterol, which makes 28% DV on 2000 calories diet.
While health experts advise you to consume only 300mg of cholesterol as a healthy adult or kid, and 200 mg only if you’re at risk of heart disease. Here a burger, whether a Mcdouble or Double Cheeseburger, is just OK.
Saturated Fats
The game begins!
The Mcdouble burger has 9g of saturated fats, 45% DV on a 2000-calorie diet. While the Double Cheeseburger gets you 11g (57% DV on 200 calorie diet). For both burgers, this quantity of saturated fats is higher.
By eating a single, handful of burger, you’ve already consumed 45-57% of your saturated fats allowance.
Will you be watchful of the rest of your daily food for the remaining 50% saturated fats?
No way!
That can get much higher and ultimately bad for your heart and other organs’ health. Please note that the American Heart Association advises to restrict your saturated fat calorie intake to 5-6% of your total daily diet for a happy heart.
So, Double Cheeseburger loses here.
Trans Fats
Guess which one will lose? You might know it, but let’s get deeper to be more confident before ordering your burger.
The Mcdouble gives you 1 gram of trans fats, and your dear Double Cheeseburger has 1.5 grams of trans fats, translating to 1000 and 1500 mg, respectively.
Does it mean that Double Cheeseburger is bad? YES!
As per WHO health experts, you should keep the daily trans fats intake limited to 2 grams on a 2000-calorie diet, which should be only 1% of your daily calories.
1500mg of trans fat is too much. They can put you or your kids at risk of heart disease, strokes, and type 2 diabetes.
Sodium
Last, the sodium comes, again higher in the Double Cheeseburger by Mcdonalds.
With a Mcdouble burger, you get 920mg (40% DV on a 2000-calorie diet), and with the Double Cheeseburger, it goes as high as 1120mg (49% DV).
Getting half of your sodium allowance at once is not a good idea.
It’s because you’re advised to limit your sodium intake to 2300 mg or 1 teaspoon a day only. Otherwise, it can cost your health. Such higher sodium intake can contribute to osteoporosis and stomach/gastric cancer.
Does it lead to heart failure as well? The data is inconsistent, and it’s a debate.
However, keeping the overall sodium content in both burgers, again, the Double Cheeseburger loses.
HENCE,
When you compare Mcdouble vs Double Cheeseburger, Mcdouble protein-loaded burger is better for health-conscious you. Still, I won’t advise you ‘a Mcdouble a day” It’s also not completely healthy. However, to make your burger healthier, you can follow a few tips.
Tips to Make Your Burger Healthier without Reducing Cheese or Patties
No matter whether you’re following a low-carb diet or you want to eat healthier.
Here are a few tips; by following them, you can significantly control sodium, trans fats, Saturated fats, and even crabs.
Get your burger bun sliced.
How does it sound if I ask you to get your burger bun sliced not in half but into 3 horizontal slices and then only use 2 out of these?
It’s a general-purpose healthy meal tip—my signature tip.
I think if you can successfully communicate to Mcdonald’s how you want them to cut your burger bun, you can indeed reduce your burger’s carbs by 40 percent.
Go for a lettuce wrap
McDonald’s allows you to decide on your bun–you can have a whole wheat burger bun. Yet I won’t recommend you to go for it if you’re seriously considering making your burger healthier. WHY?
A single whole wheat burger bun has 206 mg of sodium. So, by eliminating the bun, you’ll get rid of 26 grams of carbs. This means you’ll also cut about 26 X 4 = 104 calories in your burger.
Thus, with lettuce wrapped McDonald’s burger (no matter which one you choose), you’ll get a low-calorie, carb-free, keto-friendly, and low-sodium burger. What a deal!
Here is more; keep reading.
Load up on vegetables or add a salad
Include plenty of fresh vegetables as toppings for your burger. Opt for lettuce, tomato, onions, peppers, mushrooms, or other available veggies. These add vitamins, minerals, and fiber to your meal.
You can do so by ordering a side salad as well if you’re not tight on budget. And, the best way to consume veggies (salad) with your calorie-rich food is to eat veggies first. They will fill you and help control insulin spikes because of high fiber, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Besides this, the veggies in salad also control the trans fats on your health. What does it mean? Health experts agree that one serving of veggies or salad will help your body not to mind trans fats.
Mind the condiments to reduce sugar
Be mindful of high-calorie condiments such as mayonnaise, ketchup, and sugary sauces. They have sodium besides sugar.
Instead, you can consider customizing your Mcdouble and Double Cheeseburger with healthier alternatives like mustard. Yes, I admit that mustard sauce also has sodium, but fewer carbs.
BTW, you can check your local McDonald’s chain for more options like salsa, or avocado sauce. OR, if following a Keto or low-carb diet, you can also go for homemade, sugar-free ketchup.
Limit cheese and beef patties (though not advised necessarily).
If you enjoy cheese and it adds moisture to your burger, please reduce it to 1 slice and 1 patty if possible. However, if you’ve paired your burger with a hearty salad, you can enjoy your burger without sacrificing your cravings for cheese and burger patties.
Customization is key.
Don’t be afraid to customize your order. Ask for specific modifications such as holding certain ingredients (like mayo) or adding extra veggies. Many establishments will accommodate your requests.
Final Thoughts on Double Cheeseburger Vs Mcdouble: Which is Healthier?
Mcdouble is better than Double Cheeseburger because it has less sodium, trans fats, carbs, and saturated fats. However, by making a few customizations, and adding salad beside your burger, you can enjoy both burgers without sacrificing burger patty or cheese slices. Still, moderation is key.
FAQs
Mcdouble Vs Double Cheeseburger: what’s the primary difference?
The main difference between the McDouble and the Double Cheeseburger at McDonald’s is the number of cheese slices. The McDouble has just one cheese slice, while the Double Cheeseburger goes all out with two tasty pasteurized American cheese slices stacked together.
Because of that extra patty, the Double Cheeseburger is usually more delicious and more filling than the McDouble.
Now, both of these burgers come with cheese, pickles, onions, mustard, and ketchup. So, in terms of toppings and condiments, they’re pretty similar. They also share the same type of bun, nothing fancy.
Remember, these things can vary a bit depending on the location and any regional differences in the menu. So, it’s always a good idea to check with your local McDonald’s to see exactly what they offer.
Mcdouble Vs Double Cheeseburger: what are the other differences?
Besides the primary difference in the number of patties, there are a few other minor differences between the McDouble and the Double Cheeseburger at McDonald’s:
Price
The price may vary between the two burgers. Since the Double Cheeseburger has an extra cheese slice, it’s typically priced slightly higher than the McDouble. However, pricing can vary depending on location and any ongoing promotions.
Availability
While the McDouble is a staple on McDonald’s menus in many countries, the availability of the Double Cheeseburger may vary. Some locations may offer the Double Cheeseburger as a regular menu item, while others may only have it as part of limited-time promotions or regional variations.
Customization
Depending on the location and specific policies, the level of customization options may differ between the two burgers.
Some locations may allow you to modify your McDouble freely, while the Double Cheeseburger may have fewer customization options because of its standardized ingredients.
BUT when following the customization tips mentioned in the previous section of this article, you need not bother a lot about the customization offered by the restaurant.
Mcdouble Vs Double Cheeseburger: which is tastier?
The taste of the McDouble and Double Cheeseburger from McDonald’s is a matter of preference. However, the extra slice of cheese in the Double Cheeseburger adds a bit of richness and moisture that the McDouble lacks.
This can make the Double Cheeseburger more flavorful and satisfying. This is why most burger fans like to order Double Cheeseburgers without caring about a few cents.
