The hamburger is the ultimate American sandwich, no matter how you flip it. A restaurant may be your go-to for a perfect burger, but that does not mean you have to leave your house for an excellent hamburger. The ultimate hamburger is an elusive creation: a perfectly charred crust, juicy interior, and beefy flavor are hard to achieve.
Here are some best practices for hamburgers to bring your burgers from “good” to “great!” These are what I consider to be the critical factors in hamburger perfection. Before you begin, wash your hand with soap and warm water.
Meat
The most crucial factor in the perfect burger is the meat. Make tender burgers by grinding meat or buying good quality ground beef from the store. You want to see the individual strands of meat still loosely intact after coming out of the grinder. If the hamburger was stuffed into meat tubes, it was already compacted too much and will not make a great burger.
Select 80/20 (lean/fat) beef. The meat must have a higher fat content to achieve a deliciously juicy burger. Use equal parts chuck and sirloin — the chuck for flavor, the sirloin for finesse. Keep the meat cold until preparing it for patties.
Mix-ins
Adding an extra element can bring out the best in an ordinary burger. Secret ingredients (such as a spoonful of mayonnaise, plain yogurt, or sour cream) help create some of the best burgers that pack the moisture and flavor. Try these minced or diced mix-ins: bell pepper, chilies, fresh green herbs, garlic, ginger, mushrooms, onion, pickles, shallot, sundried tomatoes, cooked bacon, pepperoni, and salami. Gently mix any ingredients with a fork, and do not overwork the meat.
Patties
To prevent the burgers from getting too dense and firm, run your hands under cool water, and work as quickly as possible. Divide the ground beef into equal portions based on how many patties you make. Gently flatten each ball to make a patty. Try to handle the meat as little as possible. The heat from your hands will melt the fat, making the patty dense. Move it lightly from hand to hand and loosely make a patty ¾ – to one-inch thick, slightly bigger than the bun. Use a hamburger press, two deli container lids, or a large jar lid for uniform patties.
A loosely packed patty makes for a juicy hamburger! If hamburger patties are packed too tightly, they risk drying out and becoming tough.
Form the patties with a slight indentation in the center with your thumb. This prevents the burgers from swelling up in the middle as they cook.
Another helpful step is letting the patties chill in the fridge for an hour after forming, which helps them stay together and hold their shape while cooking.
Seasoning
Spices and seasoning blends create tongue-tingling magic with even the most straightforward burger recipe! Season the burgers within minutes of the time they hit the grill, griddle, or skillet for the best flavor. Do not add salt to the ground beef if you are forming the burgers ahead of time. Salt starts affecting meat – dissolving proteins and drawing out moisture – the moment it comes in contact with it, negatively affecting the texture of the burgers.
Cooking
To ensure that burgers cook perfectly, preheat the grill or skillet. Use high heat and cook them quickly. The goal is to sear the outside of the hamburger to form a great crust while keeping the inside juicy.
Burgers can take as little as 3 to 5 minutes per side to cook. It all depends on the thickness of the patty. Juices will start to collect on the top of the burger. This is a sure sign that the meat is cooking through in the middle, which pushes the juices to the top. Be sure not to press down or flatten the burgers while cooking — this squeezes the juices and dries them out.
Flip only once! As meat cooks, the heat pushes the juices away from the heat source. Flip the burgers over and grill for 1 – 2 minutes, less than the time it took to start seeing the juices.
If you want cheeseburgers, add a slice of your favorite cheese to the burgers in the last minute of cooking.
Doneness
It is imperative to cook the meat thoroughly. The FDA and USDA recommend 160ºF internal temperature for all ground meat except poultry. Do not take a chance guessing; use a good instant-read thermometer! Before assembling the hamburgers, take off the heat and let them rest for a few minutes, so their juice redistributes through the patty.
Buns
Hamburger buns come in all shapes, sizes, densities, and flavors. When adding the juicy burger and wet toppings such as ketchup, make sure to toast your buns to prevent a soggy mess.
Toppings
Try these toppings: artichoke hearts, arugula, avocado slices, baby spinach, crisp bacon, cheese, chilies, coleslaw, cream cheese, eggplant, fried egg, fried green tomato, fried onions or onion rings, kimchi, leaf lettuce, mac and cheese, mango, olives, onion, peanut butter, peppers, pesto, pickles, pineapple, potatoes, salsa, sautéed mushrooms, sliced tomato, or anything else you might like.
Top the burger with any of these condiments: balsamic glaze, barbecue sauce, buffalo sauce, chutney, guacamole, hummus, horseradish-cream sauce, hot sauce, jelly/jam, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, peanut butter, relish, salad dressing, salsa, steak sauce, syrup, etc. Toppings depend on individual preference. To ensure you never get bored, keep changing the seasonings, garnishes, and condiments on your burger of choice.
In a hurry to get dinner on the table? What better choice than a home-cooked burger! Now that you know these handy burger secrets, you will be preparing delicious burgers at home in no time.
Written by Vicki Hayman, MS, University of Wyoming Extension Nutrition and Food Safety Educator
Sources:
- www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com
- www.fda.gov
- www.foodnetwork.com
- www.seriouseats.com
- www.snappyliving.com
- tasteofhome.com