2013 was a big, beefy year in food news, from the downfall of butter queen Paula Deen and blowback to Chick-fil-A over their stance on same-sex marriage to record levels of foodborne illness and some pretty public squabbles over how people treat restaurant workers.

We'll be sharing our favorite stories over the next few days, along with the ones we think most shaped the year in food (like, say, SNAP cuts, mysterious horse meat, trans-fats and the soul-lifting power of a hot meal in times of crisis), but for now, we're going strictly by the stats. Our readers clicked, shared and had plenty to say in response, and here are the top ten stories of 2013 in each of those categories:

– 10 Most Read

10. Chick-fil-A controversy leaves a bitter taste for some longtime fans

9. Chef Charlie Trotter dead at 54

8. The waitress, the autistic girl and the broken hamburger

7. Smithfield Foods drops Paula Deen

6. 8 restaurant surcharges that don't make sense – and 8 that do

5. 7 deadly steakhouse sins

4. Yes, that's a 14-year-old burger in my pocket...

3. Top 10 non-traditional burgers in America

2. Eat This List: 7 deadly restaurant sins that keep customers from coming back

1. Top 10 burgers around the country

– 10 Most Commented Upon

10. The waitress, the autistic girl and the broken hamburger – 823 comments

9. Heart Attack Grill's top patron dies of a heart attack – 827 comments

8. Should e-cigarettes be banned from restaurants? – 855 comments

7. Eat This List: 7 deadly restaurant sins that keep customers from coming back – 891 comments

6. Cafe owner faces mom backlash after crumby Facebook post – 928 comments

5. Paula Deen and Southern food: Critics say credit is past due – 946 comments

4. How much should you tip for food delivery? – 955 comments

3. Eat This List: 5 ways YOU delay your meal – 1342 comments

2. Smithfield Foods drops Paula Deen – 1652 comments

1. Chick-fil-A controversy leaves a bitter taste for some longtime fans – 3036 comments

– 10 Most Shared on Facebook

10. U.N: Eat insects, save the world – 6.1k shares

9. Smithfield Foods drops Paula Deen – 8.2k shares

8. Cafe owner faces mom backlash after crumby Facebook post – 8.8k shares

7. 5 ways to make a chef hate you – 9k shares

6. Heart Attack Grill's top patron dies of a heart attack – 9.8k shares

5. No kidding! Children not welcome to dine here – 12k shares

4. Check your freezer: 22,737 lbs of beef recalled – 12k shares

3. The waitress, the autistic girl and the broken hamburger – 13.9k shares

2. Don't fear the vegan! – 14k shares

1. Oooh, burn! Sriracha factory neighbors complain about smell – 22k shares

Previously:
Eat This List: 2014 food trend predictions
Most popular posts of 2012
Our favorite food stories of 2012
Second helpings of 2011's most popular posts
Our favorite posts of 2011
2010 in review: a dozen topics that stirred the pot