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Become a Burgermeister
Americans love hamburgers. We consume an average of 2-1/2 burgers a week per person. Ask any number of people what makes the best burger and you'd have a variety of answers -- the cut of meat, the cooking method, the toppings or the choice of bun or bread.
When your backyard barbecue plans will include the whole gang, grilled hamburgers are a wise and economical choice. Try these tips and earn the burgermeister title.
The Meat
Beef chuck is tenderized as the meat goes through the grinder to become ground chuck. Its fat content ensures a juicy and flavorful burger. Many claim that ground chuck is the only ground beef to use for the perfect hamburger, but that all depends. Leaner beef or ground turkey is a good choice if you are watching fat content. Lower fat meat tends to fall apart on the grill, but that can be remedied by coating the grate with a non-stick vegetable spray. Liven up a lowfat burger (they tend to be drier) with flavorful condiments.
The Condiments
- All-American: tomato, lettuce, onion, dill pickle chips, ketchup and mustard.
- Grecian: Add 2 tablespoons of feta cheese to burgers a minute or two before patties are done. Layer with thinly sliced cucumbers.
- Californian: Guacamole or sliced avocado, salsa, alfalfa sprouts and Monterey hot pepper Jack cheese.
- Cheese: The choices are endless... cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack, provolone, mozzarella, blue, Gouda, Muenster and Goat, to name a few.
- Caramelized Onion: Saute sliced onion in butter and brown sugar for a caramel-y, sweet flavor.
- Other Toppings: Sauted mushrooms with Swiss cheese, bacon, jalapeno peppers, barbecue sauce, Dijon mustard, mayonnaise.
The Bun
Plain hamburger buns, seeded buns, Kaiser rolls, Italian bread, French bread, sourdough bread, rye bread, pita bread, focaccia. Even ordinary sandwich bread will work in a pinch.
Added Flavors
Add a variety of herbs, spices or seasonings before forming into patties. Seasoning choices include crushed fennel seed, garlic, black pepper, dill, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, ground cloves, onion powder, garlic powder, ginger root, soy sauce, red wine, cumin or Worcestershire sauce.
Cooking
Preheat the grill to medium. Once it's hot, place the patties on the grate and leave the cover off. Four ounce, 1/2-inch thick patties will cook to medium doneness in 11 to 13 minutes. Six ounce, 3/4-inch patties will cook to medium doneness in 13 to 15 minutes.
Don't press patties with a spatula to speed up the cooking process, this only forces out the natural juices and makes a drier burger.
