Nutritional Difference Between Hamburgers and Turkey Burgers
Turkey Burger vs. Hamburger
When it comes to burger time, do you gobble or moo? Many people trying to eat a healthier diet opt for a turkey burger believing it will provide them better nutritional value with the same basic taste as its beef counterpart. While some may fly to the coop, others are still partial to the original version and can't leave the sirloin behind. Before you place your next order, you may want to take a closer look at the two types of meat to see how they compare. You may be hollering, "Where's the beef?" at the next barbecue.
Are you ready to see the turkey vs. beef burger breakdown?
To be sure, it all depends on where you are getting your burger meat — turkey or beef. In order to compare apples to apples, I looked at the extra lean ground beef (not more than four percent fat) and extra lean turkey meat. While there are certainly differences between the two, it may shock some to see that the turkey burger and the hamburger only vary slightly across the board.
| 4 ounce ground turkey | 4 ounce ground beef | |
| Calories | ||
| Total Fat (g) | ||
| Sodium (mg) | ||
| Cholesterol (mg) | ||
| Protein (g) |
The turkey burger has fewer calories, less fat, and a bit more protein. The question usually arises — what about the sodium count? Surprisingly, the two patties are equal on the salty stat. If you need a little more iron in your diet, the cow can help you out as the hamburger patty has a higher dosage of the essential nutrient — 15 percent versus four percent. With the hamburger taking higher points in the calories, fat, and cholesterol departments, it's fairly easy to side with the gobbler. On the other hand, if you just love the taste of a flame-broiled sirloin burger, it's probably OK to choose it since it's not too different from the feathered choice. But remember, it's all about the type of meat you choose. Extra lean helps on both sides of this farm debate!
Which burger version do you prefer?
