White Castle’s new April Fools’ Day one-hole Sliders Lite

White Castle just unleashed upon an unsuspecting burger world, the first burger patty with a giant center hole. There is a giant hole in the latest press release from White Castle if it were not a day before April Fools’ Day. They are releasing a new slider with a giant hole in the middle instead of the standard 5-hole system for better cooking. Less meat, fewer calories! look out world, Slider Lites is a thing briefly in my imagination. Companies are getting the jump on April Fools’ Day this year because it falls on a Saturday this year.

White Castle, the first fast-food hamburger chain in the U.S., will be releasing a brand-new menu item on April 1. Called Slider Lites, the new 100% all-beef burger is the same size and square shape as White Castle’s oh-so-popular Original Slider. Instead of having five small holes in the patty, however, the Slider Lites come with just one large hole, which means they have a fraction of the calories of the Original Slider. It’s all you crave, but less!

The single hole, smack dab in the middle of the patty, is White Castle’s latest innovation in a long list of innovations that span the family-owned company’s 102-year-old history. Among other things, White Castle designed the first industrial-grade spatula, introduced carry out with its “Buy ’em by the Sack” carryout sack, and made burgers in a square shape to maximize cooking space on the griddle.

“We have been bringing innovations to market for over a century,” said Jamie Richardson, vice president at White Castle. “We’re excited to introduce this latest advancement, as it showcases our commitment to flavor and efficiency.”

White Castle first introduced the iconic five holes in 1947 as a way to increase the speed at which Sliders cook and to help the flavor of the onions more thoroughly permeate the burger. This method has stood the test of time — until now. Making a Slider with just one single hole instead of five little ones will speed up the cooking time even more. The grilled onions and one perfect pickle, both signature toppings for the Original Slider, will sit atop the Slider Lites, further enhancing the flavor. As an added bonus, the one-hole removes the majority of the burger’s calories.

“We think one giant hole will revolutionize our cooking system,” Richardson said. “It might even become the preferred choice among our loyal Cravers who crave flavorful, low-calorie food.”

White Castle’s decision to introduce the Slider Lites on April 1 may be questioned by some, but true Cravers are sure to embrace the Slider — even if it proves to be too good to be true.

Fun Fact: Though White Castle began in Kansas, its design is based on one of the few buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the Chicago Water Tower.