5 Fast Food Chains Known for Preparing Food from Scratch

In-N-Out: The Frozen-Free Pioneer Since 1948

Since its humble start in California in 1948, In-N-Out has stuck to one formula: fresh ingredients, cooked to order. This California-based chain has never changed its methods since day one, which is pretty remarkable in the fast food world. Unlike other major competitors in the hamburger fast food restaurant business (Burger King, Carl’s Jr., Jack in the Box, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s), as the chain has expanded over the years, it has not added products such as chicken or salads to its menu since 1976 and has never changed its preparation methods.

The company utilizes a vertical integration model for its raw ingredients, procuring and manufacturing much of its food supplies in-house. The company does not utilize freezers in its operations, shipping food daily to its stores from its facilities. Fries are hand-cut from whole potatoes, patties are never frozen, and every burger is assembled with care. At In-N-Out, french fries come from the finest, freshest potatoes.

Despite industry trends, the chain has resisted expanding its menu or cutting corners on preparation, setting the standard for freshness in the fast food world.

Chipotle: No Freezers, Just Fresh Ingredients

Every single item on the menu at Chipotle never touches a freezer, as there aren’t even any freezers on-site. Chipotle is able to keep all of its food fresh and healthy because it maintains a limited ingredient list on the menu. This allows the employees to be able to easily manage the temperatures of each type of food, monitor the food safety, and make each batch of chicken, beef, or pork fresh throughout the day.

The company sources and prepares the food in a way that’s good for both the environment and its customers by never adding any artificial ingredients, preservatives, or hormones. The delicate balance of heat and a touch of sweet pairs perfectly with our real ingredients prepared fresh every day. The brand sources its food from local suppliers, and everything is prepared on-site, ensuring customers get a fresh, flavorful meal every time.

Furthermore, Chipotle commits to using only real, whole ingredients free from artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors. This ensures that customers can feel good about what they’re eating and trust that they’re making a healthy choice. Additionally, the brand’s focus on fresh ingredients is reflected in its preparation methods, such as grilling meats and sautéing vegetables, which enhances the flavor and quality of the food.

Five Guys: No Freezers in Any Location

It’s true that all of Five Guys’ food is made fresh and never frozen. In fact, the restaurants don’t even have freezers – not a single one – so the food couldn’t be frozen even if employees wanted to. Across its social media and on its website, the fast food chain frequently restates: “There are no freezers in Five Guys locations, just coolers.” Instead, the meat sits in a large refrigerator for up to 30 hours, which means that the beef inside your burger hasn’t been inside the restaurant for more than a day and a half at most. Ground beef is safe inside of the fridge for about two days maximum, so the burger in your hands should indeed be fresh, as should the French fries.

The entire meat process is exhaustive. Team members must examine each delivery box of meat to ensure it is the correct temperature and assess the meat packages to ensure there are no tears in the packaging. After the meat is confirmed as good, the patty-making process begins. Meat is hand-formed into meatballs that weigh 3.5 to 3.7 ounces.

Next, the balls are pressed into patties and refrigerated. This meat is prepared in the morning to be used for the day’s lunch shift, dinner shift, and tomorrow’s lunch shift. After this point, the meat will be discarded. All of our toppings are prepped fresh daily. Nothing is frozen.

Chick-fil-A: Hand-Breaded Chicken and Biscuits Made from Scratch

We serve chicken made from breast meat, breaded by hand in-restaurant. Beyond its popular chicken sandwiches, Chick-fil-A is known for biscuits that are mixed, rolled, and baked every morning starting at dawn. Staff members dedicate hours to creating fluffy, golden pastries that complement the breakfast menu.

Chick-fil-A’s biscuits are made from scratch every morning at each free-standing location, a labor of love well worth the effort. Employees responsible for biscuit creation get to work at about 5:30 a.m. to begin the process. At any given moment, there are at least 20 handmade Chick-fil-A biscuits on deck and ready to serve, with more biscuits going in and out of the oven continuously until breakfast ends at 10:30 a.m. Fresh produce is delivered to our kitchens several times a week.

Salads are prepared throughout the day. Our regular Chick-fil-A® Lemonade is prepared daily with lemon juice, pure cane sugar and water. Paired with hand-breaded chicken and fresh salads, the experience feels less like fast food and more like a carefully prepared meal.

KFC: Fresh, Never Frozen Chicken from Local Farms

One thing you’ll be glad to know about the famous chicken at KFC is that it is indeed fresh, never frozen – and it comes from local poultry farms, which ensure the well-being of the animals. KFC has even shared exactly how it prepares the chicken each day: Each individual piece is inspected by the cooks. From there, the chicken gets rolled in the restaurant’s secret blend of 11 herbs and spices.

Lastly, the chicken is cooked at a low temperature in a pressure cooker at a low temperature. This method ensures each piece of chicken maintains its juiciness and tenderness while developing the iconic crispy coating that KFC is famous for. The entire process from inspection to serving takes place with fresh chicken that has never seen the inside of a freezer.

What Sets These Chains Apart from Traditional Fast Food

The idea that every burger from a chain restaurant comes from a freezer is quickly becoming outdated. While giants like McDonald’s and Burger King still operate on speed and uniformity, other brands are reimagining what fast food can be. Cooking with fresh ingredients, made daily, in real kitchens.

Fast food restaurants are elevating their offerings with premium ingredients and preparation methods. Fast food businesses that successfully adapt to these changes – prioritizing health consciousness, sustainability, and digital integration – will be well-positioned to thrive in this new era of quick-service dining. These establishments prove that fast doesn’t have to mean compromising on quality or freshness.

The Business Impact of Fresh Food Preparation

There are restaurant chains that are thriving right now. This Mediterranean chain is the fresh, hot thing. For one thing, it’s perceived as healthier-for-you food. Consumer preferences are clearly shifting toward chains that prioritize fresh ingredients and transparent preparation methods.

Across the U.S., a handful of chains are redefining the game by preparing meals from scratch every single day. From hand-cut potatoes to biscuits baked at dawn, these restaurants prove that convenience and quality can actually go hand in hand. This trend reflects a broader movement in the industry where customers are willing to pay premium prices for better-quality, fresher food options.

These five chains demonstrate that fresh food preparation isn’t just a marketing gimmick – it’s a fundamental business strategy that resonates with modern consumers who increasingly value quality, transparency, and health-conscious dining options.