How to Make a Hamburger
May 7, 2009 by Heather R.
Filed under Recipes
It’s National Hamburger Week! My family and I love hamburgers — they’re tasty, easy and everyone can fix them up how they want.
The above video features Chef Hubert Keller, owner of San Francisco and Las Vegas-based Fleur de Lys and a regular on TV cooking show (Secrets of a Chef, Top Chef, Top Chef Masters).
He starts out with some tips, such as not using frozen patties or packaged buns, don’t pre-season your burger, don’t buy ground beef that has no fat (that’s where the flavor is!), and don’t push down on the burger with a spatula while it’s cooking.
He suggests buying a coarsely ground beef, or even doing it yourself with a piece of chuck or skirt steak. He also has a lot of ideas for “mix ins,” such as sauteed mushrooms or mustard seeds, and stuffing the burger with cheese.
Also make sure you use an oil that can take a high heat, like canola. Getting your pan to the right temperature is important as well, as cooking too low will allow your juices to run out, but too high will burn the outside but keep the middle raw. When the oil smokes slightly your pan is ready.
What are you favorite burger toppings?
