The company utilizes vertical integration for its food supplies. The company does not use freezers, instead shipping fresh ingredients daily to each store from its facilities, including potatoes which are cut in each store for french fries. In-N-Out is known for its "secret menu," unadvertised variations of its menu items, such as the popular "Animal Style".
In-N-Out produces its own meat in company-owned facilities. The chain never freezes its patties, and all of its stores are supplied by its California manufacturing operations located in Baldwin Park. Upon its expansion into Texas, the restaurant opened its a new production plant in a suburb of Dallas to increase its geographic footprint.[2][3] The chain maintains its strict quality control standards by owning the manufacturing process.[3]
Beginning in March 2016, the company announced that it would move forward to sourcing its beef from cows that have not been treated with antibiotics, in part due to California laws which banned the use of antibiotics in non-medical, prophylactic treatments.[4] Consumer advocacy NGOs, led by CalPIRG, had also been pressuring restaurant chains to stop using meat raised with low-dose antibiotics.[5]
Secret menu variations
The menu contains few options, with most variations available via its "secret menu." The In-N-Out website publicizes some of these variations.[6]
Animal Style is the most popular variation, which includes mustard fried meat patties, pickles, chopped grilled onions, and extra spread.
The "3×3" (pronounced 3-by-3), the "4×4", or variations of "m×c", refer to a burger with a varied amount of meat patties ("m") and slices of cheese ("c"). The "3×3" and "4×4" variations are registered trademarks of the company.[6] Burger orders of any size were once accommodated; however, on October 31, 2004 a group of friends ordered a 100×100 from a location in Las Vegas posting photos on the web of the burger.[7][8]
In-N-Out has two low-carbohydrate diet offerings. Protein Style was introduced in the 1970s[9][10], which replaces the bun with large leaves of lettuce. The Flying Dutchman is a 2×2 with no bun, no vegetables, and no spread with two cheese slices.[8]Health rated the protein-style sandwich as the best low-carb sandwich in the United States.[11]
Onion styles
Burgers can be ordered in six different styles:
With onion or chopped onion – onion is placed on top of the meat and cheese as the burger is cooking.
Raw onion or raw chopped onion – onion is cool and crisp, placed on top of the spread.
Whole grilled onion or grilled onion – onions are grilled, placed on top of meat.[12]
French fries
An In-N-Out employee preparing potatoes for french fries
Fries can also be ordered in a range of cooking times from "light" to "well done".[15] Customers can also order Animal Style fries, which are topped with melted cheese, spread, and grilled onions.[16]
Beverages
The company offers lemonade, unsweetened iced tea (and sweet tea in Texas stores only), coffee, and three flavors of milk shakes made with real ice cream (chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry) which can be mixed in any combination desired (Neapolitan contains all three).[14] In-N-Out serves Coke, Cherry Coke, Diet Coke, and Barq's from The Coca-Cola Company, with Seven Up and Dr Pepper from Keurig Dr Pepper. A root beer float contains root beer mixed with a vanilla milk shake.[16]
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