Thursday, September 16, 2010

the Weekly - How to Make Your Burger More Like a (Great) Restaurant Burger

Saving Money Doesn't Have to Taste Bad

You know how homemade burgers sometimes lack that exciting, indulgent taste found in your favorite restaurant burgers? Here's how to fix all that...
  1. Choose the right blend.  There are numerous cuts of beef that can be mixed together to create the best burger flavor.   A recipe we have calls for half sirloin, a quarter brisket, and a quarter chuck. Try out your own combinations to make your friends ask how you could have possibly made this burger at home. We're talking fresh ground, by the way. Your butcher will be happy to help.
  1. Shape your patty well.  You wouldn’t be impressed if you saw a sloppy, too-large burger on a restaurant plate.  So take the time to figure out your bun-to-burger ratio, taking some tips from this post on burger shaping.
  1. Season the burger correctly.  Chefs love salt, which is a large reason why restaurant food generally tastes so much better than home cooking.  Take the time to season correctly and you’ll ramp up your burger flavor substantially. 
  1. Add a sauce.  At Shake Shack in New York City, the signature burger has a delicious sauce (which they use amply) that makes it stand out from the pack. Their recipe? "It's mostly mayo, with some ketchup, mustard, a few spices, and pickles blended in." And when they say pickles, they don't mean relish.
  2. Choose the Right Bun. While a processed bun can make a great burger for grilling out, taking extra effort to make your own buns can make a huge difference.  If you want to walk the extra mile for the perfect burger, try making these light brioche buns.
  3. The Extras: Gourmet Cheeses, Roasted Vegetables, and everything is better with more Meat (Bacon, Chili or Crab).
So if you can't figure out that secret ingredient from you fav hamburger joint, just be creative, the only bad burger is a bland burger.

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