The 5 Secrets Behind Creating The Best Burgers

Whether you’re a budding home cook or a seasoned pro, you want to ensure that you always put your best foot forward with your culinary creations. Burgers are a great addition to any menu and are always a big hit with diners young and old. Most people love a good burger, and you can prepare and serve this versatile and universally-loved dish in many different ways. Whether you opt for a classic approach, something more contemporary, or allow your creative juices to flow, with the proper attention to detail, you can be sure that your burger will always be well-received.

While burgers might seem one of the most straightforward menu items to prepare, there is much more to it than you might think. Of course, you can buy cheap frozen patties, a bag of burger buns, and slices of cheese and add a squeeze of tomato or BBQ sauce to get the job done. However, if you genuinely want your burgers to be a memorable and real show-stopper, you must ensure that you take things to the next level. Whether you’re hosting a barbecue at home for friends, you are redesigning your restaurant menu or cooking up a storm for the family, with the right approach, you can be sure that your burger will be nothing short of delicious.

Let’s explore five secrets that will help you create the best burger possible.

Choose The Right Meat

If you want your burgers to be big and juicy, you must ensure that you select the right meat. Ground chuck, which is the beef that comes from beef shoulders, is always an excellent choice for burgers. Look for meat with a fat content of eighteen per cent. Choosing meat with a lower fat content will result in dry burgers that will be tough and not as enjoyable. It’s also worth keeping in mind that the fresher the meat is, the more flavour your pattie will have, and the more tender the finished product will be.

Handle With Care

When preparing your burger patties, you must avoid overworking the meat. While you might be tempted to get stuck in and work hard, remember that the more you handle the meat, the tougher the patties will be. For premium patties, toss the meat gently, handle with care and work the meat into small chunks. Season with a bit of salt and any other seasonings of choice, and be sure to wet your hands to form the patties, so the meat comes together better.

Keep Them Cool

When preparing meat, it is often advised to bring it up to room temperature before cooking to ensure you get the best results. However, when you are preparing burgers, the opposite is true. Keeping your burgers in the fridge until you are ready to cook them is always the best option. With this approach, your burgers will be juicier and more flavourful, and more of the fat will stay in the meat to ensure the perfect finish.

Cook With Care

How you cook the burgers is vital to the final outcome. Grilling burgers is always the best way to cook them; however, you need to ensure that you have a perfectly clean grill that is free of debris. It’s also essential to ensure that your grill is at high heat before you begin cooking your patties. Once the burgers are on the grill, avoid pressing the meat. Constant pressing will drive the juice out of the burgers, removing the moistness and undoing all your hard work in the preparation phase. Finally, flip the burgers just once, as flipping multiple times will dry out the meat and make it tough.

Get The Timing Right

When preparing your burgers, you want to ensure that your patties are cooked correctly and to the exact preference of the diners. Two minutes on each side is enough time for a rare burger. You will need three minutes of cooking time on either side for medium-rare, four minutes on either side for a medium burger, and five minutes on each side for a well-done pattie.

Be Patient

As with most fish and meat dishes, you must give your burgers time to rest before serving. Allowing time for the burgers to rest will ensure that they finish cooking and the juices which will have risen to the surface during cooking have time to move back through the burger to ensure ultimate juiciness. While your burgers are resting, you can prepare your toppings of choice, toast your buns and get plates prepared and ready to serve.

Ensure You Serve Up The Best Burger Possible

Burgers are always a popular dish and are well-received by all ages. To ensure you serve up the best burger possible, be sure to follow the tips outlined above. With the right approach, you can be confident that your burgers will be a great hit with those that eat them.