HQ 90 | SUMMER 2015
When it comes to season staples, the perfectly grilled burger from a backyard cookout is the quintessential summer meal.
While cooking burgers is easy, there are tips and tricks of the trade that will help you take your burgers from ordinary to extraordinary and are sure to impress your family and friends at your next gathering.
The Right Start
Make sure you start with the right beef. The best burgers are made from freshly ground, high-grade chuck beef in an 80/20 mix. Before shaping your burgers, spread the beef out flat and season with salt and pepper. For an extra kick, throw in a dash of other seasonings such as dried herbs and spices, minced onion and garlic, Worcestershire sauce, barbecue sauce or even hot sauce. Find what flavors work best for you.
Mixing It Up
After tossing your seasonings together, take five to six ounces of meat and form it into a ball. From there, gently pat your patties into disks. Make sure they are at least as wide as your bun and about one inch thick. A key tip in preparing succulent burgers is to make a divot in the middle of the burger with your thumb to help it keep its shape while cooking.
Into the Fire
When putting your burgers on the grill, make sure the heat is medium to medium high. You want to make sure the grill is not too hot. Otherwise, you run the risk of burning your burgers on the outside before they are done on the inside. Keep the lid closed while cooking; it shortens cooking time and keeps burgers moist.
Depending on how done you want your burgers, cook on each side for two to three minutes for medium-rare, three to four minutes for medium or five to six minutes for well-done burgers. In the last minute of cooking, lay a slice of cheese on top of each burger and arrange the buns over high heat to toast.
Top It Off
Garnish your burgers with traditional condiments such as ketchup, mustard, pickles, mayo, tomato and lettuce for the all-American treatment. However, if you want to take your burgers up another notch, consider non-traditional items such as goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing, pepper jack cheese and roasted red peppers or even a fried egg and bacon! There are a number of options to make your burgers unique and memorable.
There you have it, HQ’s guide to the perfect burger. Enjoy!
