Food

How to Make a Perfect Hamburger: A Simple Recipe

November 11, 2023

Key Ingredients: Keep It Simple

When you make a hamburger, use good meat, salt, and pepper. That’s all you need. Some folks tried adding olive oil, cream, mustard, and onion. But, these didn’t really work. Olive oil made the texture weird. Cream only made the burgers a little tender. Mustard gave some nice taste, but onion was too much.

Choosing the Right Meat: Ground Chuck is Great

Ground chuck is a good choice for burgers. It’s tasty and easy. You can mix it with sirloin or ground bacon. The meat should have 15-20% fat. This makes your burger juicy and full of flavor. Using fresh ground meat is best. But, store-bought meat that’s good quality is also okay.

Making the Patties: Size and Cooking

Try to make each patty 5 to 6 ounces. To stop them from puffing up, make a small dent in the middle. Season them right before cooking. Don’t mix the seasoning inside. This keeps them soft. Cook them in a cast iron skillet or on a grill. They need 2-3 minutes on each side. If you’re grilling, using a skillet on the grill gets a good sear.

Checking if It’s Done: Use a Thermometer

Here’s how to check the doneness:

Rare: 120°F or less
Medium-Rare: 130°F
Medium: 140°F
Medium-Well: 150°F
Well Done: 160°F or more The USDA suggests cooking to 160°F for safety. But, with good meat, you might like it less cooked.

Serving Your Burger: Toppings and More

When you serve, add toppings you like. Try homemade mayonnaise or ketchup. Pickled onions, avocado, or guacamole are great. Add tomatoes or a tomato salad. Lettuce types like iceberg, arugula, or butter lettuce are good. Cheese is always a winner!

Other Burger Ideas: Veggie and More

You can also make a veggie burger. Turkey burgers are tasty, especially with a special ingredient for more juice. Try different recipes too, like a burger with egg and ham, a queso blanco burger, or a salmon burger.