Pasta vs. Quarter Pounder
Nutrition comparison of Pasta and Quarter Pounder
Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?
We compared the nutritional contents of
pasta
versus
quarter pounder
(100g each)
below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].
For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in pasta and quarter pounder:
- Both pasta and quarter pounder are high in calories, iron, potassium and protein.
- Pasta has more thiamin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6 and folate, however, quarter pounder contains more Vitamin B12.
- Pasta has signficantly less saturated fat than quarter pounder.
- Pasta is an excellent source of dietary fiber.
- Quarter pounder is an excellent source of calcium.
USDA sources for nutritional information: Pasta (Pasta, dry, enriched) and Quarter Pounder (McDONALD'S, QUARTER POUNDER) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.
Calories and Carbs
calories
Both pasta and quarter pounder are high in calories. Pasta has 52% more calories than quarter pounder - pasta has 371 calories per 100 grams and quarter pounder has 244 calories.
For macronutrient ratios, pasta is lighter in protein, much heavier in carbs and much lighter in fat compared to quarter pounder per calorie. Pasta has a macronutrient ratio of 14:82:4 and for quarter pounder, 23:36:42 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.
Macro Ratios from Calories:
| Pasta | Quarter Pounder | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 14% | 23% |
| Carbohydrates | 82% | 36% |
| Fat | 4% | 42% |
| Alcohol | ~ | ~ |
carbohydrates
Pasta is high in carbohydrates and quarter pounder has 70% less carbohydrates than pasta - pasta has 74.7g of total carbs per 100 grams and quarter pounder has 22.2g of carbohydrates.
dietary fiber
Pasta is an excellent source of dietary fiber and it has 100% more dietary fiber than quarter pounder - pasta has 3.2g of dietary fiber per 100 grams and quarter pounder has 1.6g of dietary fiber.
sugar
Pasta and quarter pounder contain similar amounts of sugar - pasta has 2.7g of sugar per 100 grams and quarter pounder has 5.1g of sugar.
Protein
protein
Both pasta and quarter pounder are high in protein. Pasta is very similar to pasta for protein - pasta has 13g of protein per 100 grams and quarter pounder has 14.1g of protein.
Fat
saturated fat
Pasta has signficantly less saturated fat than quarter pounder - pasta has 0.28g of saturated fat per 100 grams and quarter pounder has 4g of saturated fat.
cholesterol
Pasta has less cholesterol than quarter pounder - quarter pounder has 39mg of cholesterol per 100 grams and pasta does not contain significant amounts.
Vitamins
Vitamin C
Quarter pounder has more Vitamin C than pasta - quarter pounder has 0.9mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and pasta does not contain significant amounts.
Vitamin A
Quarter pounder has more Vitamin A than pasta - quarter pounder has 16.8ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and pasta does not contain significant amounts.
Vitamin E
Pasta and quarter pounder contain similar amounts of Vitamin E - pasta has 0.11mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and quarter pounder does not contain significant amounts.
Vitamin K
Pasta and quarter pounder contain similar amounts of Vitamin K - pasta has 0.1ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and quarter pounder does not contain significant amounts.
The B Vitamins
Pasta has more thiamin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6 and folate, however, quarter pounder contains more Vitamin B12. Both pasta and quarter pounder contain significant amounts of riboflavin and niacin.
| Pasta | Quarter Pounder | |
|---|---|---|
| Thiamin | 0.891 MG | 0.183 MG |
| Riboflavin | 0.4 MG | 0.344 MG |
| Niacin | 7.177 MG | 4.452 MG |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.431 MG | ~ |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.142 MG | ~ |
| Folate | 237 UG | 56 UG |
| Vitamin B12 | ~ | 1.28 UG |
Minerals
calcium
Quarter pounder is an excellent source of calcium and it has 300% more calcium than pasta - pasta has 21mg of calcium per 100 grams and quarter pounder has 84mg of calcium.
iron
Both pasta and quarter pounder are high in iron. Pasta has 37% more iron than quarter pounder - pasta has 3.3mg of iron per 100 grams and quarter pounder has 2.4mg of iron.
potassium
Both pasta and quarter pounder are high in potassium. Pasta is very similar to pasta for potassium - pasta has 223mg of potassium per 100 grams and quarter pounder has 227mg of potassium.
Customize your serving size
The comparison below is by common portions, e.g. cups, packages. You can also see a more concrete comparison by weight at equal weight (by grams) comparison.
Note: The specific food items compared are: Pasta (Pasta, dry, enriched) and Quarter Pounder (McDONALD'S, QUARTER POUNDER) .
Pasta g
()
|
Daily Values (%) |
Quarter Pounder g
()
|
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCAL % |
|
5% | calories | 5% |
|
KCAL % | |
| G % |
|
5% | carbohydrates | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | dietary fiber | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | sugar | 5% | G | |||
| G % |
|
5% | total fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | saturated fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | monounsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | polyunsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | trans fat | 5% | G | |||
| MG | 5% | cholesterol | 5% | MG | |||
| MG % |
|
5% | sodium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| 5% | Vitamins and Minerals | 5% | |||||
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin A | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin C | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| IU % |
|
5% | Vitamin D | 5% |
|
IU % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | calcium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | iron | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | magnesium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | potassium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | thiamin (Vit B1) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | riboflavin (Vit B2) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | niacin (Vit B3) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin B6 | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | pantothenic acid (Vit B5) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | folate (Vit B9) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin B12 | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin E | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin K | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| G % |
|
5% | protein | 5% |
|
G % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | biotin (Vit B7) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | choline | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | chlorine | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | chromium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | copper | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | fluoride | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | iodine | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | manganese | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | molybdenum | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | phosphorus | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | selenium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | zinc | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| G | 5% | Water | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Starch | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Alcohol | 5% | G | |||
FAQ
Does pasta or quarter pounder contain more calories in 100 grams?Both pasta and quarter pounder are high in calories. Pasta has 50% more calories than quarter pounder - pasta has 371 calories in 100g and quarter pounder has 244 calories.
Does pasta or quarter pounder have more carbohydrates?
By weight, pasta is high in carbohydrates and quarter pounder has 70% fewer carbohydrates than pasta - pasta has 74.7g of carbs for 100g and quarter pounder has 22.2g of carbohydrates.
Does pasta or quarter pounder contain more calcium?
Quarter pounder is a rich source of calcium and it has 300% more calcium than pasta - pasta has 21mg of calcium in 100 grams and quarter pounder has 84mg of calcium.
Does pasta or quarter pounder contain more iron?
Both pasta and quarter pounder are high in iron. Pasta has 40% more iron than quarter pounder - pasta has 3.3mg of iron in 100 grams and quarter pounder has 2.4mg of iron.
Does pasta or quarter pounder contain more potassium?
Both pasta and quarter pounder are high in potassium. Pasta is very similar to pasta for potassium - pasta has 223mg of potassium in 100 grams and quarter pounder has 227mg of potassium.