Burger Secrets

[mikeyboy]

What are your tips for making the perfect burger?

Full disclosure: yes, I am making burgers tonight.

[sailor]

20% fat, salt, pepper, garlic. i assume everyone knows about putting an indentation on top.

let the meat come close to room temp before cooking, this way it will take less time to cook and not get dried out. i also rely on a meat thermometer for cooking any type of meat.

[jauble]

I would tell you but I don't think I would get feedback in my response thread.



That aside you know I cant quit you, so if you are making the patties put some good stuff in them, i.e. chunks of cheese, onion, real small slivers of garlic. If you do it this way you can cater to those who may not like certain things (your kids) but still get all the flavor that you want in yours. What kind of beef are you using?

[sailor]

I would tell you but I don't think I would get feedback in my response thread.



That aside you know I cant quit you, so if you are making the patties put some good stuff in them, i.e. chunks of cheese, onion, real small slivers of garlic. If you do it this way you can cater to those who may not like certain things (your kids) but still get all the flavor that you want in yours. What kind of beef are you using?

ground

[jauble]

ground

well yeah, but I mean what kind of ground beef.

[sailor]

well yeah, but I mean what kind of ground beef.

ohhhhhhhhh

[NickyL0885]

well yeah, but I mean what kind of ground beef.

Lean

[jauble]

Lean

booo



















that did make me laugh though.

[mikeyboy]

What kind of beef are you using?

Actually, bison tonight.

[Tallman388]

Get some brisket and have the butcher turn that into ground beef, that'll give you that nice extra fat you need to cook it right.
I like to mix up some worcestershire and balsamic vinegar to put on the meat prior to cooking, just to add a little extra flavor.

[Tallman388]

Actually, bison tonight.

Okay, then use the brisket tip for future reference

[jauble]

Actually, bison tonight.

Nice, ok if you use my method do chunks of sharp cheddar (about the size of your finger nail), chopped red onion and even maybe a little green onion with whatever seasoning you might like (I prefer just craked pepper but thats just me also a little seasoning salt isnt bad either) and mix it all up with the ground bison and then make your patties. Reserve some of the meat if those things dont appeal to the children. What sides are you thinking of using?

[jauble]

Get some brisket and have the butcher turn that into ground beef, that'll give you that nice extra fat you need to cook it right.
I like to mix up some worcestershire and balsamic vinegar to put on the meat prior to cooking, just to add a little extra flavor.

That sounds fantastic, I'll have to give that a try. Of course I have to drive 40 minutes for a decent butcher, but worth it always.

[Foster]

Actually, bison tonight.

You're going to need to spice that meat up a little, bison doesn't have much of a flavor.

[mikeyboy]

What sides are you thinking of using?

I picked up some New Jersey sweet corn on the cob from the farmer's market this morning, so we'll probably have that. I'll probably make tater tots or fries as well.

[DiabloSammich]

The only "secret" I have is to not mix the salt in with the beef. Toughens the meat, and dries it out quicker. Salt the outside only.

[razorboy]

Instead of traditional condiments I like to use garlic truffle butter and capers.

[booster11373]

stick with 80/20 for the ground beef

[sailor]

You're going to need to spice that meat up a little, bison doesn't have much of a flavor.

i don't think the flavor is lacking, but it IS very lean (too lean if you ask me) so you have to cook it low and slow or it will dry out. that's why i recommended the 20% fat ground beef.

[landarch]

I always season mine with (among other things) garlic powder and cinnamon. It doesn't sound so good but makes all the difference in the world. It's easy to overdo the cinnamon, so be careful.

[JackBurton Says]

Turkey Burgers.....sprinkle salt/pepper on them, marinate in Red Wine, the as you cook them spread a nice mix of BBQ sauce and Tabascoo sauce on each side. The end.

[NewYorkDragons80]

Roll the patties in French Onion dip mix

[razorboy]

Roll the patties in French Onion dip mix

Rachel Ray? Is that you?

[zildjian361]

fuddwruckers on route 23, white castle river street hacenseck:nono:

[MobCounty]

Mix in 25% ground bacon back and 25% ground veal.

[drjoek]

I picked up some New Jersey sweet corn on the cob from the farmer's market this morning, so we'll probably have that. I'll probably make tater tots or fries as well.

Bison burgers, Jersey sweet corn AND.........

Tater Tots ???:banning:


Oh mikeyboy Its like i don't even know you.

Which actually is true I've only seen you in pictures and heard you call in to the show Ive posted here for 2 years. I did start a thread that led to your being banned but that was a long time ago. You actually defended me on the air to Dave for the Dave fatigue thread which was a nice thing to do. You just moved to tribeca So Im sure you didn't but Tater Tots in that new Whole Foods Store No way they sell Tater Tots in Tribeca.

Ah fuck it enjoy your dinner.

[jauble]

Bison burgers, Jersey sweet corn AND.........

Tater Tots ???:banning:


Oh mikeyboy Its like i don't even know you.

Which actually is true I've only seen you in pictures and heard you call in to the show Ive posted here for 2 years. I did start a thread that led to your being banned but that was a long time ago. You actually defended me on the air to Dave for the Dave fatigue thread which was a nice thing to do. You just moved to tribeca So Im sure you didn't but Tater Tots in that new Whole Foods Store No way they sell Tater Tots in Tribeca.

Ah fuck it enjoy your dinner.

he has young children and as much as I want to be a food snob tater tots are slighlty delicious.

[booster11373]

For the corn if you have a grill

Trim the corn of all the cornsilk but leave the husk on

either soak the corn in water for about a 1/2 hour or brush ouside of husk with olive oil

either way place corn directly on the grill

some dark spot is ok the corn will be awesome

[Dash77]

Ok stick with the 80% chop meat, then take a package of french onion soup mix 1 egg and some old bay seasoning, adobo, and mix it together, if you want to add some basil it's cool and that a tasty burger..

[jauble]

For the corn if you have a grill

Trim the corn of all the cornsilk but leave the husk on

either soak the corn in water for about a 1/2 hour or brush ouside of husk with olive oil

either way place corn directly on the grill

some dark spot is ok the corn will be awesome

Agreed to clean and soak, but I usually use sweet butter (I love olive oil but for corn I have to go the butter route). Grilled corn is the best.

[drjoek]

he has young children and as much as I want to be a food snob tater tots are slighlty delicious.

For true disclosure I love tater tots. But I'm a suburban dad with three cars, two mortgages and a kid going away to college. Not some cool urban hipster. I only live vicariously through all the cool people on the show, like mikeyboy.

Love Saint mikeyboy:thumbup:

[jauble]

For true disclosure I love tater tots. But I'm a suburban dad with three cars, two mortgages and a kid going away to college. Not some cool urban hipster. I only live vicariously through all the cool people on the show, like mikeyboy.

Love Saint mikeyboy:thumbup:

http://www.aeragon.com/00/zzz-01/28-1126a.jpg

Mikey is the best!! How do you think I got to moderate a forum?

[mikeyboy]

For what it's worth, I worked with what I had and added a chopped clove of garlic, bits of smoked mozzarella, and I chopped up some pepper rings and added those only to the burgers my wife and I ate. They came out great, and the smoked taste from the cheese really came through. I'm a little wary about overdoing the garlic, because other people probably don't like it as much as I do, but in hindsight, I probably could have added a second clove of garlic.

As an aside, the tater tots were organic. I'll be damned if I have any idea what that means in this case, nor would I ever go out of my way to buy organic tater tots. There seems to be something inherently wrong with that. My wife bought them.

[Devo37]

organic tater tots does sound a bit suspicious. next thing you know, they'll be selling organic tv dinners.

[sr71blackbird]

My usual burgers are turkey burgers, usually Jenny-O or Shady Brook Farms and I grate carrots into it, and add some chopped onion and adobo and usually use a foil lined pan with a grate over it and put the burgers on there and flip them once in a 350 degree oven.

The carrots add moisture and a little sweetness.

[Thebazile78]

I love bison; it's the best.

I usually buy it ground, mix it by hand with extra virgin olive oil and fresh herbs when I've got them (usually rosemary and thyme; if I'm using dried herbs, invariably it's thyme), salt & pepper, sometimes garlic and sometimes shredded onion with the onion juice. (Adds tons of flavor with no chopping.)

Last time I made burgers, I used a mix of lean beef and bison, cooked on the Foreman grill because it was balls hot outside.

[weekapaugjz]

i like to add an egg, a little bread crumb, minced onions, and a few dashes of worstershire sauce if i have it on hand. top it off with some lettuce, tomato, and onion, and a little mayo and mustard. mmmm. also, must be cooked no more than medium, anything more is like eating a hockey puck on a bun.

i might have to cook up some burgers tonight.

[RhinoinMN]

i like to add an egg, a little bread crumb, minced onions, and a few dashes of worstershire sauce if i have it on hand. top it off with some lettuce, tomato, and onion, and a little mayo and mustard. mmmm. also, must be cooked no more than medium, anything more is like eating a hockey puck on a bun.

i might have to cook up some burgers tonight.

Or you can make meatloaf and eat it on a bun.

[RhinoinMN]

I love bison; it's the best.

I usually buy it ground, mix it by hand with extra virgin olive oil and fresh herbs when I've got them (usually rosemary and thyme; if I'm using dried herbs, invariably it's thyme), salt & pepper, sometimes garlic and sometimes shredded onion with the onion juice. (Adds tons of flavor with no chopping.)

Last time I made burgers, I used a mix of lean beef and bison, cooked on the Foreman grill because it was balls hot outside.

Bison is very good. I am very fortunate that a good friend of mine has a Bison ranch.

[ahhdurr]

GODDAMIT!!!

i love this thread.

[Freakshow]

I love bison; it's the best.

I usually buy it ground, mix it by hand with extra virgin olive oil and fresh herbs when I've got them (usually rosemary and thyme; if I'm using dried herbs, invariably it's thyme), salt & pepper, sometimes garlic and sometimes shredded onion with the onion juice. (Adds tons of flavor with no chopping.)

Last time I made burgers, I used a mix of lean beef and bison, cooked on the Foreman grill because it was balls hot outside.

yeah, Olive Oil--FTW.

I like to add Chipotle Tabasco, it's not very good as a hot sauce. But somehow it's magic when added to burgers (pre cooking).

[Thebazile78]

yeah, Olive Oil--FTW.

I like to add Chipotle Tabasco, it's not very good as a hot sauce. But somehow it's magic when added to burgers (pre cooking).

I add Chipotle Tabasco sauce to canned chili after it comes out of the microwave.

Also, try adding it to ketchup ... it lends a very subtle kick, but it's waaay better than plain ketchup!

[EliSnow]

I have to say that I'm not big on adding things internally to a burger. I like to salt and pepper a 80% lean burger and then make, and add stuff on top when eating.

Last night we had burgers and I had one burger with cheddar and BBQ sauce, and another with american cheese, ketchup and mayo (what they called a "california burger" where I grew up). Both burgers were cooked medium/medium rare and were delicious.

[Hithead]

Try 80%-20% ground chuck if you ever see it cook medium well and salt and pepper after cooked.

[RAAMONE]

i wanted BBQ for dinner last night but also wanted to be outside and grill...so i grilled up the burgers, and opened a can of manwich and poured over the burgers

it was actually really good (like BBQ with the grill taste)

[Friday]

Bison is very good. I am very fortunate that a good friend of mine has a Bison ranch.

that would never work for me.
i would just befriend and name all of the bison.

i am making a burger tonight on the foreman (because i don't have a real grill)
this thread has made me so excited to be confused when choosing what ingredients to add to the meat!