You Should Never Order A Frisco Melt From Steak 'N Shake. Here's Why

From its humble beginnings in Normal, Illinois in 1934, Steak 'n Shake has become one of the country's most recognizable fast food brands with hundreds of locations across the United States (via Steak 'n Shake). Because of its popularity as a premium burger brand, it has expanded globally, with branches being opened in the United Arab Emirates and France, and locations planned in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan as well (via Mental Floss). 

Despite its name, the chain doesn't only offer burgers and shakes — they also provide customers with a long list of sandwiches and melts if they are in the mood for something a little different. But if you're looking to order something even mildly healthy at Steak 'n Shake, there's definitely one item to steer clear of. Think twice before ordering the Frisco Melt — a double burger that goes between sourdough toast, layered with two different types of cheeses and a special sauce.

While it is a popular item, it's probably not being ordered by any cardiologists. In the sandwich alone (fries not included) there are a whopping 960 calories (via Eat This). By comparison, there are only 540 calories in a Big Mac (via McDonald's). The Frisco Melt also contains 21 grams of saturated fat (not one of the healthy fats), which is the entire amount of saturated fat suggested for an adult to consume over an entire day. 

It also has more sodium than you can shake a stick at with a whopping 1,440 milligrams. Somehow, this utterly unhealthy sandwich also manages to fit in 12 grams of sugar, which is about the equivalent of three sugar cubes. When you look at menu alternatives like the grilled chicken sandwich, which only has 1 gram of saturated fat and 360 calories, it becomes apparent that there are healthy options on the Steak 'n Shake menu — but the Frisco Melt is surely not one of them.