Which McDonald's burger was named for a quarter-pound weight of beef before cooking?

The Quarter Pounder was named for its quarter-pound weight of beef before cooking.

McDonald's introduced the Quarter Pounder in 1971. Its name made the product's defining selling point immediately clear: the burger used a larger beef patty than the standard hamburger and cheeseburger sold by the chain at the time.

The quarter-pound measurement refers to the uncooked weight of the beef patty. Cooking reduces the patty's weight, so the name is a product specification based on the portion before preparation.

The Quarter Pounder is sometimes confused with the Big Mac because both became major McDonald's signature burgers. Their branding differs: the Quarter Pounder emphasizes size and weight, while the Big Mac emphasizes its two-patty construction, special sauce, and distinctive three-part bun.