Which McDonald's sandwich was named after a quarter-pound weight of beef?

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

McDonald's introduced the sandwich in 1971. It used a larger beef patty than the chain's standard hamburger and cheeseburger, giving customers a simple numerical explanation for the product's size. The name made the portion distinction part of the sandwich's brand rather than leaving customers to compare products by appearance alone.

The Quarter Pounder was created by McDonald's product developer Al Bernardin, who later became a franchisee. It helped McDonald's compete in a period when larger hamburgers were becoming increasingly important in the fast-food market. The sandwich was initially associated with cheese in some advertising and menus, although the exact naming and toppings have varied by market.

The quarter-pound figure refers to the raw patty weight, not the cooked weight. Cooking reduces the patty's weight because moisture and fat are lost, a detail that explains why the finished sandwich does not weigh a quarter pound.