Building a Better Burger

Grilling is one of my all time favorite things about summer time….  I grew up with my father making a pretty amazing burger.  Before going to college, I made sure to take plenty of mental notes of his prep methods, ingredients, and cooking strategy.  The tricks to his amazing burgers are their simplicity.  When I found this recipe for “A Better Burger”, and it looked almost exactly my dad’s, I had to share it.  The only addition he would add would be bleu cheese.  He’s a nut for that stuff (as am I… Thanks Pops!).  The recipe will help you if you’re cooking indoors too!

Check out the full article for more details on How to Cook a Better Burger:

Makes three

photo credit: rentvine.com

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground chuck
• Salt and pepper
• American cheese
• Buns

Step 1

• Remove ground beef from the fridge an hour before cooking. Gently form three patties, each about an inch thick (don’t over-pack). With your thumb, form a small well in the center of each. Season on the outside with salt and pepper.

Step 2

• To cook indoors, place a cast-iron skillet or a nonstick or regular frying pan over medium-high heat. When it is nice and hot, add a dash of vegetable oil and add the patties. Do not move them and do not press down with a spatula. Let cook for about 4 minutes, or until nicely browned. (An open window or a vent over your stove comes in handy at this point.) Flip, add the cheese, and cook for about another 4 minutes. You may have to fry a few patties to get the timing and heat level right. You want your burger well browned on the outside and juicy in the middle.

Step 3

• Remove the burgers. Drain excess fat from the pan. Place the buns in the pan, facedown, and let them get crispy. Assemble the burgers. Go easy on the condiments. Repeat.