
We made up some burgers this past weekend. I've got to say they were very good. They were loaded with fried onion rings, honey BBQ sauce and cheese. I thought I would post some tips on how to cook the purfect burger!
Step 1
Start with fresh ground chuck. Chuck is the most flavorful type of ground beef, and comes from a single cut of beef. Plain "ground beef" can include meat from all over the animal.
Step 2
Make sure the chuck has a fat content of at least 15 to 22 percent to ensure juiciness. If you prefer your burgers well done, ask your butcher for a higher fat content. This will allow you to cook them more without drying them out.
Step 3
Chill the beef well before forming patties. Wash your hands well, then form the patties.
Step 4
Make each patty by forming about half a pound of ground chuck into a tight ball about the size of a baseball. Firmly press ball into a flat cake, first between your hands, then onto a clean cutting board.
Step 5
Use a spatula or other straight-edged tool to "pull in" the sides of the patty so that they remain together and tight.
Step 6
Form patties about 1/2- to 3/4-inch thick. Make the diameter about 1/2 inch larger than the bun to allow for shrinkage.
Step 7
Build a hot fire in the grill. Lightly oil the bars with vegetable oil - pour oil onto a paper towel, then hold the towel with tongs to wipe the oil onto the grill bars.
Step 8
Season the burgers on both sides with salt and pepper. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper give the best flavor.
Step 9
Place the burgers on the grill over direct heat. Cook about 3 to 4 minutes per side, turning once. It is important to only flip over once. Do not press down on the burgers with the spatula during cooking - this only squeezes out the juices, encourages flame-ups and dries out the burger.
Step 10
Check doneness by peeking inside a patty with a spatula, or use an instant-read food thermometer inserted into the center of the patty. (See Tips for recommended temperature.)
Step 11
Serve on fresh buns with any toppings you prefer: cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, onion, pickles and condiments such as ketchup, mayonnaise or mustard.
What do you like on your burgers?
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