The Story Behind the ShackBurger: What Makes It Addictive?

It is hard to believe that Shake Shack started as a simple hot dog cart in a New York park back in 2001. Today it is a global favorite with hundreds of restaurants worldwide. At the very center of this massive success is their signature ShackBurger. So what makes this simple griddled cheeseburger taste so incredibly good?

1. The Proprietary Pat LaFrieda Beef Blend

The secret to the ShackBurger's remarkable juiciness starts with the beef. Shake Shack utilizes a proprietary blend of 100% all natural Angus beef custom ground by legendary butcher Pat LaFrieda. The blend combines brisket, chuck, and short rib, creating a rich buttery fat to meat ratio of approximately 20% fat. This precise ratio guarantees the beef melts in your mouth.

2. The Smashing Griddle Technique

Shake Shack griddle chefs are trained in the art of the smash. When a fresh scoop of ground beef is placed on the screaming hot flat top griddle it is aggressively pressed flat for the first 10 seconds. This locks the meat against the steel, creating a deep caramelized brown crust which seals in all the savory beef juices.

3. The Secret Creamy ShackSauce

No ShackBurger is complete without a sweeping swipe of orange ShackSauce. Blending mayonnaise with sweet pickles, ketchup, mustard, garlic, and hot spices, the sauce adds a rich acidic contrast that cuts through the savory cheese and beef fat perfectly, cleansing the palate between bites.