Burgers are a classic meal. They are perfect for quick lunches but can be grand enough to serve on special family occasions. That burgers are a favorite food for many is simply undebatable.
However, making a good burger can be quite challenging. This is because ground meat is highly affected by numerous factors ranging from temperature to seasoning and even handling.
If you have been trying to make the perfect burger but can’t seem to, here are a few mistakes you might be making.
Use Fattier Meat
Every burger expert will tell you that good burgers come from fatty meat. Sure, doctors might frown on it, but your taste buds will thank you for your daring.
Fat in your burger meat makes your final product juicy and flavorful, like the burgers from this BBQ restaurant. If your burgers are often dry and crumbly, then you might find refuge in meat with higher fat content.
What’s better, you don’t need excess fat for your burger to be savory. An 80/20 lean meat to fat ratio is enough to produce a juicy burger. As long as there is some fat in your meat, you can expect it to be delicious.
Additionally, avoid using store-bought ground meat by all means. Fresh meat works best for burgers, and grinding it yourself gives you control over how finely the final meat is ground. If you don’t have a meat grinder, your food processor will do the job just right.
Don’t Overwork Your Meat
Ground meat is a fragile thing. If you work it too much, you risk ruining your burgers.
For starters, only add salt to your meat after you have formed the patties. You don’t want to draw the moisture from your meat, leaving it dry and tasteless.
Additionally, when forming patties, be sure to create a well in the middle. This prevents the annoying air bubble from forming in the middle and gives your burger a perfectly round shape.
Limit your meat seasoning to salt and pepper only. Too many spices distract from the essence of the burger, which is the meaty flavor of the patties. Additionally, if you have too many things in your meat, you will be forced to work your meat a lot, leading to an imperfect burger.
Use a Cast Iron Skillet
If you want the perfect burger, you have to use cast iron. It is a favorite of chefs and cooking connoisseurs for a good reason; even heat distribution. This ensures that your burger is cooked well on all sides, which is precisely what you want.
Additionally, try using butter instead of ordinary cooking oil before placing your patties on your pan. It will make a world of difference to the final taste of your burger. Alternatively, you can also use canola oil which is flavor-free to preserve the authentic taste of your meat.
Conclusion
Making good burgers is an art that you can perfect with time. However, you have to be careful during every step of the process to avoid ruining your burger.
Start by following the tips in this post. You will be surprised by how much better your burgers turn out if you do.
