Sometimes the best food is the simplest food. I’m going back to basics with incredibly easy and delicious hamburgers. You don’t need a fancy meat, such as ground sirloin—80/20 ground chuck is less expensive and ensures moist, juicy and flavorful burgers. Season simply, and let a special spread add a punch of incredible flavor. Here are some tips for fabulous burgers:
• Use 80/20 ground chuck. The slightly higher fat ratio will result in the juiciest burgers.
• Don’t overwork or pack your meat when making your patties—keep them nice and loose. Overworking will result in tough, dense burgers.
• For a good size burger, measure about ½ lb. of meat for each burger. This sounds like a lot, but they will shrink while cooking.
• After burgers are formed, make an indention with your thumb in the center of each patty. This will keep your burgers from plumping in the middle, ensuring even cooking. Season well with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle with canola oil before grilling to add more moisture and help create a crusty burger.
• Place burgers on a hot grill, and cook at 350 degrees for 5 minutes on each side. Flip only once.
• Never mash your burgers while grilling; you’ll lose moisture and juiciness.
• If you’re adding cheese, do so during the last three minutes of grilling, keeping lid closed to allow the cheese to melt well. Spend a little more money on good cheese—it’s worth it.
• Let burgers rest for five minutes after removing from the grill.
• Make a special spread, such as mustard horseradish sauce or Creole mustard to kick up the flavor and add a unique, restaurant touch.
• Keep the dressing simple—purple onion, dark leafy greens (romaine, arugula, etc.), and tomatoes.
• Finally, use good bread, such as ciabatta or Kaiser rolls instead of standard hamburger buns (another special restaurant touch).
Try these tips for making easy, delicious burgers. Keep it simple—uncomplicated seasonings, a flavorful spread, good bread and other basics will ensure fabulous results each and every time!
