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Does "Craft Burger" Mean Less Processed, More Natural Ingredients?

Usually, yes — but the word alone doesn't guarantee it. Here's what actually determines how processed a burger is.

Short answer

In practice, yes — craft kitchens that make their own buns, sauces and pickles daily are using fewer processed, pre-made components than one buying frozen and bottled supplier products. But the word "craft" doesn't guarantee this on its own; the actual practice does.

"Less processed" and "craft" get used almost interchangeably, but they're not automatically the same thing. One describes what's actually in the food. The other is a label a restaurant chooses to use. They usually line up — but not always.

What actually reduces processing

  • House-made sauces replace bottled products that typically contain stabilisers, preservatives and emulsifiers to survive months on a shelf.
  • Fresh-baked buns replace frozen, shelf-stable buns that rely on dough conditioners and preservatives for a long freezer life.
  • Daily-made pickles replace jarred pickles packed with sodium benzoate and artificial colouring for shelf stability.
  • Fresh beef prepared in-house replaces pre-formed frozen patties, which sometimes include fillers or binding agents.

Each of these swaps removes a category of processing aid — not because "craft" is magic, but because scratch cooking simply doesn't need the same shelf-stability chemistry that mass production does.

What "less processed" doesn't mean

It's not the same as low-calorie, diet, or health food. A craft burger can still be indulgent, rich and high in calories — it's just built from real ingredients rather than industrial ones. Fewer additives is not the same claim as fewer calories.

On our menu

BB52's buns, sauces and pickles are all made fresh in-house daily — no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives added in the process. See what "house-made" actually means →

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Frequently asked

Does craft burger mean less processed ingredients?
Usually, yes in practice — a craft kitchen making its own buns and sauces daily is inherently using fewer processed, pre-made components than one relying on frozen or bottled supplier products. But the word itself doesn't guarantee it; the practice does.
Are craft burgers healthier because they're less processed?
Not automatically. Less processed doesn't mean low-calorie or diet food — a craft burger can still be indulgent. What it does mean is fewer artificial additives, preservatives and stabilisers than a mass-produced equivalent.
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