What started as a pleasure — free food! — ended up feeling more like immersion therapy.

The goal was to sample every item on the value menus at the “Big Four” of Burger King, McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Wendy’s and pass along the best values you can buy. In order to do that, of course, we had to eat all of those items and figure out what was worth consuming, especially as it relates to the item’s price tag.

The task was laborious and by the end felt like a challenge to never eat anything like this ever again. That would be the biggest positive to come from the whole experiment, which was designed to cut through inflated prices to answer the simple question: What’s the best way to spend a few bucks on lunch?

Anymore, fast food is neither fast nor cheap and these bargain-bin items offer just a small escape from the price gouging happening everywhere else in the industry. In many cases, the value menus are about the only reason to choose fast food over a growing list of higher-scale alternatives.

So, we ate everything in the bargain. Four places, 10 days, one expanded waist line and one serious case of fast food exhaustion later, and we’ve got a detailed ranking of all 50 items that were labeled “values.”

Here’s how it went:

50. Taco Bell spicy tostada ($1)

Bar none, this is the least aesthetically pleasing item on any of the four value menus. It does pack some spice, but looks like ingredients fell out of the sky from 30,000 feet and landed on a disc.

49. McDonald’s Small McCafe ($2)

The McCafe menu is a priority for McDonald’s execs, but I’m not sure it should be. There are plenty of options under the $2 value size, which is a good thing. Less noteworthy was the mocha, which was equal to guzzling store-brand chocolate syrup from the bottle.

48. McDonald’s Crispy Chicken Snack Wrap (2 for $3)

This items demands to be eaten quickly to minimize the risk of soggy, lukewarm lettuce ruining the whole thing. It’s semi-carb friendly, but South Beach Dieters shouldn’t hurt themselves jumping for joy considering this wrap’s many other drawbacks.

47. Burger King chicken tenders ($2.49)

This is a point of contention where the “value” in Burger King’s value menu is stretched beyond its limits. You get two smallish chicken tenders for $2.49, which feels like an absurdly high asking price. It’s one of several examples of BK trying to sneak overpriced items past you. It’s an insult to cheapskates everywhere.

Chicken tenders from Burger King. (Elizabeth Sheaffer | Special to PennLive)

46. Taco Bell Cheese roll-up ($1)

No surprises here. It’s cheese rolled up in a tortilla, and it tastes exactly like cheese rolled up in a tortilla.

45. McDonald’s cheeseburger ($1)

This is no longer the gold standard for burgers on McDonald’s own menu, let alone nationally or the fast food industry. This cheeseburger is a forgettable item that is notoriously misrepresented in McDonald’s ads and somehow feels overpriced for $1.

A cheeseburger from McDonald's. (Elizabeth Sheaffer | Special to PennLive)

44. Burger King value-size soft drink ($1.39)

Held next to McDonald’s standard issue “Rain Barrel Of Cola,” this 16-ounce cup feels like a thimble. What’s the point of soda anymore if the cup isn’t the size of my head?

43. Wendy’s grilled chicken wrap ($1.99)

This felt like smoke and mirrors, like Wendy’s was trying to distract from the fact it doesn’t have confidence in its grilled chicken. Instead of a basic mayo, lettuce and cheese supporting cast — like its other two chicken wraps — Wendy’s threw honey mustard on it out of nowhere and changed the whole thing for the worse.

42. McDonald’s Grilled Chicken Snack Wrap (2 for $3)

The grilled wrap was one of McDonald’s more pleasant surprises, especially since it wasn’t technically even on the menu. The value options only mention the fried version, but the grilled chicken was somehow better. Give partial credit goes to its 490 milligrams of sodium.

41. Taco Bell loaded nacho taco ($1)

When Taco Bell suggests this taco is loaded, it really means “we put some chips on it, too.” It might just be a matter of time before Fritos show up on everything, including the new “Loaded Mountain Dew.”

40. Taco Bell beefy mini quesadilla ($1)

This is more like a glorified taco since quesadillas generally come with crispiness on the outside, and this item had none. The sauce and melted cheese are edible, but can be a little much with the greasy beef.

39. McDonald’s iced coffee ($2)

Why is iced coffee a thing, but hot soda and warm yogurt aren’t? They’re all strange. McDonald’s has a competitive product with caramel and vanilla options that pack decent flavor and appropriate sweetness. On the plus side, it wasn’t nearly as rancid as a steaming cup of Yoplait.

38. Taco Bell cinnamon twists ($1)

This crunchy, airy treat has a delightful texture and, in theory, a nice cinnamon sugar flavor. But sitting out under a heat lamp all too often just makes them taste like the restaurant itself. Think about saving the $1 and licking one of the tables instead.

37. Taco Bell spicy loaded nacho taco ($1)

This offering is more in the spirit of a plate of nachos than the standard loaded nacho taco since it comes with a handful of jalapeño slices. Still, you can’t help but ask the obvious question: does this really need to be a thing?

36. Burger King Spicy Chicken Jr. ($1.09)

The spicy chicken option is nice to have on BK’s menu, but the extra kick comes from a disappointing sauce rather than the breading on the chicken. That’s gotta be good for Burger King’s supply chain logistics — the same patty pulls double duty — but the spicy version comes down to how good the sauce is, and the answer is, “Not very.”

The Spicy Chicken Jr. sandwich at Burger King. (Elizabeth Sheaffer | Special to PennLive)

35. Burger King Chicken Jr. ($1)

Burger King has too many good burger options to mess around with mediocre chicken. If you’re in the market for cheap poultry, McDonald’s and Wendy’s are the new go-to spots for it. Yay for them, I guess.

34. Taco Bell spicy potato soft taco ($1)

This is Taco Bell’s version of an 8-year-old kid’s spaghetti sandwich. It’s carbs upon carbs with a nice sauce that brings it to life. Vegetarians can consider this a worthy option in an “It’s either this or starve” kind of way.

The spicy potato soft taco at Taco Bell. (Elizabeth Sheaffer | Special to PennLive)

33. Burger King chicken nuggets (10 for $1.49)

These are underwhelming, but they come in bulk at an unbeatable price. The whole setup couldn’t be more American if it were draped in the stars and stripes and singing Don McLean. At 15 cents a pop, you get what you pay for: not much taste for not much money.

32. Wendy’s chicken nuggets ($1.29)

Wendy’s says it will bring back its spicy nuggets, thanks to a recent social media campaign that netted over two million likes on Twitter. Why did they ever go away? They’re superior to the plain nuggets in every way.

31. Taco Bell Beefy Fritos burrito ($1)

This is an ambitious tortilla with beef, rice, cheese and Frito chips inside. It all adds up to a decent offering and a blank canvas for Taco Bell’s variety of sauces. This burrito scores well for value with quite a bit of heft for $1.

30. Burger King vanilla ice cream ($1)

The vanilla cone — or dish, for anyone who prefers to eat ice cream with a spoon like an animal — is standard fare, and Burger King’s exceeds expectations by not disappointing. If that makes sense.

29. Wendy’s homestyle wrap ($1.99)

Nice, simple and more than just a “snack,” this is a hefty option with breaded chicken, lettuce and cheese tucked inside a tortilla. It’s a worthy choice for carb counters, but is a solid 5 out of 10 for everyone else.

28. Taco Bell cheesy bean & rice burrito ($1)

A classic, simple combination with better flavor than you might expect. Pop a little sauce on it, and you get a nice contrast to the rich beans and nacho cheese. This is the No. 1 meatless main course on any of the value menus, which is like being crowned the tannest “Ginger.”

27. Burger King french fries ($1.49)

This is a thick, battered style fry that comes up just a touch short of McDonald’s fries. BK should consider it a win that they’re even in the same neighborhood as the longtime market leader on this front.

26. McDonald’s small french fries (2 for $3)

These are the most classically simple of the fast food chains’ fries. Not a lot of frills, just McDonald’s hoping to produce the best executed fried potato. As long as they’re hot and salted well, they deliver.

25. Wendy’s small french fries ($1.79)

Wendy’s has the best fries of the fast food industry. While these places have a hard time walking the fine line between quality and cost control, Wendy’s does the best job of it with quality potatoes and a consistent standard of frying and salting. They’re good every time.

Chicken nuggets and french fries from Wendy's. (Elizabeth Sheaffer | Special to PennLive)

24. McDonald’s McDouble (2 for $3)

Better than the standard McDonald’s burger for obvious reasons, but good luck figuring out from one week to the next where this will land on the menu. On this particular occasion, it’s a 2-for-$3 option that’s more fun to say than it is to eat. Try ordering it like Dr. Evil.

23. Taco Bell Triple Layer nachos ($1)

There’s enough good stuff on this small portion of chips to make it a nice, flavorful side item. Some of the chips lose their crunch, of course, but the cheese, refried beans and red sauce more than make up for it.

22. Burger King frozen soda ($1.69)

Ice and a dash of whimsy transform Coca Cola into a wonderful beverage/dessert hybrid. It’s unique to the Burger King menu and is a decent reason to walk through the doors. It’s also available in cherry.

21. McDonald’s any size sweet tea ($1)

No offense to McDonald’s own version of sweet tea — which is fine and inexpensive — but wouldn’t it be more efficient to just rip open sugar packets and pour them down our throats?

Sweet tea from McDonald's. (Elizabeth Sheaffer | Special to PennLive)

20. Burger King bacon double cheeseburger ($2.79)

Again, not much “value” here on overall price, and this burger pales in comparison to the better, more cost-effective Whopper Jr. The bacon is a nice draw, though, and the sandwich is big enough to be a meal.

19. McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin ($1)

Sausage and melty cheese on an English muffin is a simple and filling option for those needing a quick protein burst at any point in the day. Speaking from experience, those pockets of energy give you all the endurance you need to watch TV for hours without taking any breaks.

18. McDonald’s McChicken sandwich ($1)

A decent, peppery patty that is simple but effective. It has a consistent spot on McDonald’s ever-changing value menu and ranks well ahead of any of the red-meat value choices. Be bold and ask for a pickle if you really want to take it up a notch.

17. McDonald’s Hot Coffee ($1)

This is why we’re here: to get the cheapest caffeinated nectar to survive a long day of mindless workplace minutia. Like these words I’m currently typing. McDonald’s coffee won’t blow you away, but it’s cheap and does its job. Like the person currently typing these words.

16. Wendy’s Jr. cheeseburger ($1.29)

A more basic version of the Jr. cheeseburger deluxe (duh), and a cheap way to inject some red meat in your veins. The taste lies between Burger King’s best-in-class and McDonald’s smushed pile of disappointment.

15. Taco Bell Cinnabon delights ($1)

The Cinnabon name is being slapped on everything, so it’s just a matter of time before it’s watered down and untrustworthy. Surprisingly, this isn’t the occasion for it. These have a nice texture on the outside and a little burst of cream cheese in the middle. Serving only two of them for $1 is Taco Bell’s way of protecting you from yourself.

Cinnabon delights from Taco Bell. (Elizabeth Sheaffer | Special to PennLive)

14. Wendy’s spicy chicken wrap ($1.99)

This is a wrap done right with plenty of cheese and half a spicy breaded patty. There was enough lettuce to provide a crunch while also avoiding that soggy, warm lettuce pitfall that doomed the McDonald’s wraps. Good spice, good texture and good execution.

13. Wendy’s Jr. cheeseburger deluxe ($1.69)

Wendy’s might have the best hamburger bun in the game, which makes a big difference in both its cheeseburger and cheeseburger deluxe. This one comes with ketchup, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles. Wendy’s burgers are good, but the presentation of the other ingredients makes them that much better.

12. Burger King bacon cheeseburger ($1.99)

Bacon commands a lofty price at Burger King, though there should be no dispute that even a little bit makes the world a better place. But this quandary does prompt an important existential question: does bacon really make a cheeseburger worth twice as much?

11. Wendy’s double stack ($2.19)

Dense and simple. A breathtaking insult when directed at a human, but a nice compliment for a burger. Wendy’s puts the emphasis on the beef and cheese with pickles and just a dash of ketchup and mustard. A satisfying choice without overthinking it.

The Double Stack sandwich from Wendy's. (Elizabeth Sheaffer | Special to PennLive)

10. Burger King cheeseburger ($1)

For value alone, this is hearty and tasty and well worth the buck. It gets its most favorable reviews when placed on the flavor-to-cost spectrum, which if it isn’t a thing now, most definitely should be.

9. Wendy’s BLT Crispy Chicken ($1.99)

This is the chicken equivalent of the Junior Bacon Cheeseburger and one of the most photogenic items on any of the four menus. The BLT chicken is another good example of Wendy’s being generous with the bacon, offering two legit bacon options for less than $2.

8. Burger King onion rings ($1.49)

The fact that Burger King even has onion rings and considers them interchangeable with french fries is a big check mark in the win column. And they’re quite good in a bite-size package. For weirdos who like onions, these have to be a big draw.

7. Taco Bell shredded chicken mini quesadilla ($1)

Chicken is a better fit on the mini quesadilla than the ground beef, and it’s a pretty good stroll through Flavor Country for $1. This is the class of the Taco Bell value menu, though “class” is always relative in fast food.

The shredded chicken mini quesadilla from Taco Bell. (Elizabeth Sheaffer | Special to PennLive)

6. McDonald’s 6-piece Chicken McNuggets ($2)

The thick breading sets these nuggets apart, even if old images of pink slime float around in your head. When available for this price, nuggets might be McDonald’s best food offering, though it’s fair to wonder what percentage is actual chicken.

5. Burger King rodeo cheeseburger ($1.49)

The rodeo burger is a nice twist on the standard burger with a light barbecue sauce and a couple onion rings. To get into the spirit of ordering it, make sure to jingle your spurs and tell the cashier there ain’t enough room in town for the both of ya.

4. Wendy’s Junior bacon cheeseburger ($1.99)

A classic. This is a tidy little burger that comes with bacon, lettuce, cheese, tomato and mayonnaise. It is a centerpiece item on Wendy’s 4-for-$4 menu, and is far and away the best choice for that bundle. In three decades of fast food experience, I’ve never had a junior bacon cheeseburger that disappointed. I just wish my parents felt the same way about me.

The Junior Bacon Cheeseburger sandwich from Wendy's. (Elizabeth Sheaffer | Special to PennLive)

3. Burger King Whopper Jr. ($2.09)

The Whopper, whether it’s the full-size or junior version, is probably the best signature burger in the fast food game. Don’t underestimate the textures, either, and the many ways it can be customized. And for what it’s worth: when Burger King throws out the word “junior,” it’s code for “enough food for a reasonable person to eat.”

2. McDonald’s any size soft drink ($1)

This might be McDonald’s No. 1 draw and what should be common across all the fast food chains. Lure me in with the giant sugary drink that 100 out of 100 doctors would advise me to avoid, THEN sell me on high-sodium foods. And it’s no secret that McDonald’s manipulates their fountain sodas to make them taste better.

1. Wendy’s Frosty ($0.50)

A small price to pay for a little slice of heaven. The Frosty is an icon for a reason and is perfectly fine on its own. Keep your french fries out of it and marvel instead at a dessert that is neither ice cream nor a milkshake, yet finds a way to be both at the same time.