Classic Ultimate Hamburgers
by Fred Thompson
Grilling up a burger—one your guests will rave about—isn't exactly rocket science, but there are a few tricks to elevating your burgers to ultimate status. To prevent burgers from falling apart, turn them only once, and never press on a burger with a spatula. All you’re doing is pushing all the juice out of the burger. Another trick to getting an evenly cooked burger is to put a depression in the center of each patty before you put it on the grill.
Get even more handy burger tips from the Guide to Grilling.
Serves six.
1-1/2 lb. 80% lean ground chuck
8 oz. 90% lean ground sirloin
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 Tbs. unsalted butter, at room temperature
6 good-quality hamburger buns
6 slices dead-ripe tomato
6 iceberg or romaine lettuce leaves
Condiments of your choice
Oil the grill racks. Preheat your grill using all burners set on high and with the lid closed for 10 to 12 minutes.
Put the meat in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper; go light on the salt here because we’re going to add more. Carefully, being as tender as you possibly can, use your hands to mix the seasonings into the meat and then form it into 6 patties that are 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick and slightly wider than the buns you intend to use. Take your thumb and make a good depression in the middle of each burger. Season the patties with salt and pepper. Slather some butter on the cut side of your hamburger buns.
Place the burgers on the grill, close the lid, and cook for 4 to 6 minutes. Turn the burgers and cook for an additional 4 minutes for a medium-pink doneness. If you want a well-done burger, cook for 12 to 15 minutes. They should start to feel firm when pressed. If you want to use an instant-read thermometer, do like the health inspectors do and go in through the side, not the top.
If you feel your burger is not complete without cheese, then add a slice to each patty during the last 2 minutes of cooking time. The cheese should melt nicely but not turn to liquid, and will continue to melt even after you take the burger off the grill.
During the last minute of the cooking time, add your buns to the grill, cut side down, and grill until lightly toasted.
Hamburgers are best served straight off the grill, into the bun, into your mouth. If the burgers are going to have to sit for a few minutes, place them on one platter and the buns on another instead of inserting the burger between the buns. Top each burger with tomato and lettuce, and dress with the condiments of your choice.
Serving Suggestions
Every cookout needs a good potato salad. Try a roasted version:
Roasted Potato Salad with Bell Peppers, Roasted Corn & Tomatoes or another
American classic.
photo: Scott Phillips; food styling: Michelli Knauer
From Book Grillin' with Gas
, pp. 200
June 1, 2009
