10 Things You Didn't Know About Culver's Restaurants (2024)

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10 Things You Didn't Know About Culver's Restaurants (1)

ByLauren Naru

Taste of Home's Editorial Process

Updated: Dec. 15, 2023

    Culver's has been serving frozen custard and ButterBurgers to guests for 30 years. Find out a few facts you didn't know about this Wisconsin-based chain (you already know the cheese curds are delicious!).

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    10 Things You Didn't Know About Culver's Restaurants (2)

    Shutterstock / Marc Venema

    5,400 cows work full time to make milk for Culver’s custard

    Culver’s fresh frozen custard is made from dairy sourced from more than 100 family farms in Wisconsin. Made in small slow-churned batches throughout the day, the frozen custard is rich, creamy and delicious. Added bonus: Because it’s served at a temperature that won’t freeze your taste buds, you get to experience the flavor longer!

    No Culver’s in your neck of the woods? Try these copycat recipes at home.

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    10 Things You Didn't Know About Culver's Restaurants (3)

    Culver's

    There are 80+ Flavors of the Day

    A tradition since the first restaurant was opened in 1984, the “Flavor of the Day” is a unique combination of frozen custard and mix-ins that differs from one restaurant to the next. Depending on the day, you can enjoy flavor combinations like Caramel Cashew, Chocolate Oreo Volcano, Georgia Peach, Mint Explosion or one of dozens of different combinations.

    Cure your ice cream craving with a scoop from the best ice cream shop in your state.

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    10 Things You Didn't Know About Culver's Restaurants (4)

    Shutterstock / Foodio

    Over 9 million orders of onion rings were served in 2017

    9,326,744 to be exact. That’s more onion rings than there are people in Culver’s home state of Wisconsin! What makes them so popular? The onion ring batter features a subtle blend of spices, and the thick-cut onions (yellow, to bring out their sweetness) are fried to a crispy and delicious golden brown.

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    Culver's

    More than 18 million orders of cheese curds are made annually

    Laid end-to-end, those cheese curds would stretch to the moon, back to Earth, then back to the moon! Pro tip: Order a side of cheese curds and add them to your ButterBurger for a crazy-good flavor experience. Or make your own at home.

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    Shutterstock / Brent Hofacker

    315,205 gallons of its signature root beer are sipped annually

    Growing up, co-founder Craig Culver was a big fan of root beer. So when the first restaurant opened, he helped create a signature root beer recipe. Today, you can enjoy a glass fresh from the fountain or in a root beer float with a scoop of fresh frozen custard.

    Don’t miss these tasty root beer recipes.

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    10 Things You Didn't Know About Culver's Restaurants (7)

    Culver's

    ButterBurgers are smashed and seared to order

    Made with a special blend of three cuts of fresh—never frozen—100% Midwest beef, ButterBurgers don’t touch the grill until after you’ve placed your order. Then they’re pressed, cooked-to-order and served on a lightly buttered, toasted bun. The signature sear locks in the burger’s moisture for full flavor, while giving it a crispy texture. Yum!

    Psst!Learn which fast-food burger tastes best.

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    10 Things You Didn't Know About Culver's Restaurants (8)

    Culver's

    It’s awarded millions in scholarships to employees

    As a way to show their appreciation to employees for their hard work and dedication, the Culver’s Foundation Scholarship Program provides financial support to those working towards college or technical school degrees. Since 1993, more than $4.5 million in scholarships have been awarded to over 3,000 team members.

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    10 Things You Didn't Know About Culver's Restaurants (9)

    Culver's

    Childhood favorites inspired the first Culver’s

    The first Culver’s was opened in Sauk City, Wisconsin in 1984 by Craig and Lea Culver, along with Craig’s parents George and Ruth. The idea for the restaurant came from two of Craig’s favorite childhood things: his mom’s homemade hamburgers with fresh frozen custard.

    Learn what the McDonald’s menu looked like the year you were born.

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    Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

    185,000 pounds of bananas are needed to make banana splits annually

    The dessert possibilities are endless. On any given day you’ll find three frozen custard flavors on the menu: vanilla, chocolate and the Flavor of The Day. Pick the toppings and mix-ins you’re craving to create your own Concrete Mixer or sundae. Other options include shakes, malts and floats.

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    10 Things You Didn't Know About Culver's Restaurants (11)

    Culver's

    Ask Alexa to find your favorite flavor

    To find the location serving your favorite Flavor of the Day, you can ask Amazon Alexa. Enable the Culver’s skill to quickly hear which flavor is available at your nearest location. If you’re not a fan of the flavor being served at the nearest location, ask Alexa to find it for you.

    Originally Published: November 05, 2018

    Author

    Lauren Naru

    Lauren writes about gift guides, sales and must-have items for the kitchen and home. She loves a good deal and is always on the hunt for super savings and products that solve cooking problems. In her spare time, you’ll find Lauren creating custom cookies for friends and family.

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    10 Things You Didn't Know About Culver's Restaurants (12)

    10 Things You Didn't Know About Culver's Restaurants (2024)

    FAQs

    What is so special about Culver's? ›

    As Craig Culver always says, "We never compromise on quality." It's a promise that begins with sourcing the best ingredients and continues through to the way we prepare your meal: fresh, just for you. It's why we always use fresh, never frozen beef and whole, white meat chicken from America's family farms.

    What is the Culver's scandal? ›

    MINNEAPOLIS – R & G Endeavors, Inc., a fast-food franchisee doing business as Culver's Restaurants of Cottage Grove, violated federal law when it subjected employees to a hostile work environment based on race, sex, sexual orientation, and disability, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in ...

    What is the unhealthiest food at Culvers? ›

    Worst: Grilled Reuben Melt

    The Grilled Reuben Melt at Culver's isn't the healthiest choice. This sandwich is notably high in fat, with 38 g of total fat, including 15 grams of saturated fat per serving.

    Who is Culver's biggest rival? ›

    Culver's vs competitors
    CompanyFounding DateZippia Score
    Wendy's19694.3
    Sonic Drive-In19534.3
    Burger King19544.5
    Dairy Queen19404.1
    17 more rows

    Why do you want to work at Culver's? ›

    In our restaurants, team members and teamwork are everything. When you join the True Blue Crew™, you'll become involved in a supportive, fast-paced environment while having the opportunity to grow and develop personally and professionally. Work hard for us, and we'll work just as hard for you. That's the Culver's way.

    What are the benefits of Culver's? ›

    Great food, great culture, flexible scheduling, new friends, scholarship opportunities, health/vision/dental insurance available for full-time employees, paid time off for full time employees, team parties, competitions, awards, free and discounted food, and more!

    What makes Culvers burgers different? ›

    Our ButterBurgers® are made with our special blend of three cuts of beef: sirloin, chuck and plate. All prized cuts, all well-marbled for richness and flavor with no fillers to get in the way.

    Is Culvers custard better for you than ice cream? ›

    Brands vary, but vanilla ice-cream typically has about 10 per cent more calories than custard, as well as twice the saturated fat, less protein and half the calcium and potassium. However, ice-cream usually has less sugar and salt, too.

    Why is Culvers so slow? ›

    You order at the counter, take a number to your seat, and wait for your food to be delivered because nothing is cooked before you order it. “We were a pioneer in that,” Culver told USA Today. “We wanted to make it to order. I like to call us the slowest fast-food restaurant in the world, and we're proud of it.”

    Who owns Culvers? ›

    Culver's
    Culver's in Onalaska, Wisconsin, featuring the traditional blue metal roof
    Revenue$3.2 billion
    OwnerCulver family
    Number of employees25,000
    Websitewww.culvers.com
    11 more rows

    What state has the most Culvers? ›

    As of May, 2024, there are 998 Culver's restaurants in the United States. These restaurants are located in 26 states and territories and 793 cities. The state with the most Culver's locations is Wisconsin, with 136 restaurants.

    What does culver mean? ›

    culver in British English

    (ˈkʌlvə ) noun. an archaic or poetic name for pigeon1, dove1.

    Does Culver's use real beef? ›

    It typically takes several months to perfect the skills needed to perfectly cook a ButterBurger. Grill masters learn the art of pressing and searing the beef on the grill. Culver's uses fresh, never frozen beef, and the pressing and searing technique locks in the juices and therefore the flavor.

    Does Culvers use real butter? ›

    The butter we use on our buns also comes from right here in Wisconsin, crafted by our friends at Alcam Creamery, a small, family-owned creamery less than an hour outside our home in Sauk City.

    What's the difference between frozen custard and ice cream? ›

    Frozen custard is a creamy, cold dessert similar to ice cream but made with eggs in addition to cream and sugar. Its unique preparation results in a smoother, richer texture and flavor compared to traditional ice cream.

    What was originally made at Culver's? ›

    In 1984, Craig and Lea Culver, along with Craig's parents George and Ruth, opened the very first Culver's in the family's beloved hometown of Sauk City, Wisconsin, and began serving ButterBurgers® and Frozen Custard.

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