Best Basic Plain Perfect Burger Recipes

PERFECT BURGER

Steps:

• Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Form each portion loosely into a 3/4-inch-thick burger and make a deep depression in the center with your thumb. Season both sides of each burger with salt and pepper.
• IF USING A GRILL: Heat a gas grill to high or heat coals in a charcoal grill until they glow bright orange and ash over. Brush the burgers with the oil. Grill the burgers until golden brown and slightly charred on the first side, about 3 minutes for beef and 5 minutes for turkey. Flip over the burgers. Cook beef burgers until golden brown and slightly charred on the second side, 4 minutes for medium rare (3 minutes if topping with cheese; see step 3) or until cooked to desired degree of doneness. Cook turkey burgers until cooked throughout, about 5 minutes on the second side.
• IF USING A GRILL PAN: Heat a grill pan over high heat on top of the stove. Cook the burgers as for a grill, above.
• IF USING A SAUTE PAN OR GRIDDLE (PREFERABLY CAST IRON): Heat the oil in the pan or griddle over high heat until the oil begins to shimmer. Cook the burgers until golden brown and slightly charred on the first side, about 3 minutes for beef and 5 minutes for turkey. Flip over the burgers. Cook beef burgers until golden brown and slightly charred on the second side, 4 minutes for medium rare (3 minutes if topping with cheese) or until cooked to desired degree of doneness. Cook turkey burgers until cooked throughout, about 5 minutes on the second side.
• Add the cheese, if using, to the tops of the burgers during the last minute of cooking and top with a basting cover, close the grill cover, or tent the burgers with aluminum foil to melt the cheese.
• Sandwich the hot burgers between the buns and serve immediately.

BASIC BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium. Form 2 pounds ground beef into eight 4-inch patties, making sure the edges are slightly thicker than the middle; generously season both sides with salt and pepper. Grill until lightly charred, 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium. Toast 8 split hamburger buns on the grill until marked, about 30 seconds. Serve the burgers on the toasted buns with assorted toppings.

BASIC, PLAIN, PERFECT BURGER

Steps:

• Bun: Preheat oven to broil (this is for toasting the buns, if you toast the buns a different way, that is your business).
• Butter the cut a side and put it face up on a cookie sheet in the over for a few seconds to a few min so the bread is toasted, not burned. Should be about golden brown, not black.
• Patty: Form into a VERY FLAT, very thin patty and press your thumb in the middle so when it cooks up it doesn't get fat in the middle. Between 1/4" to 1/2" Put a pinch of salt and pepper on both sides.
• Heat up non-stick or cast iron skillet to medium heat. Make sure its HOT! You want water to evaporate and your burger to wildly sizzle when you touch it to the pan. You could add oil to the pan and wait til it's smoking but I am not partial to adding more fat and I like to let the non stick pan do its thing.
• WARNING: when you do it right, in my house, it gets pretty smoky and the vent sucks. In my old apartment, I would have to have the windows pre opened and the fan on because we had crazy sensitive alarms. Just so you know, it can be kinda smoky so prepare for that.
• Put it in the pan. HEAR the SIZZLE! Now don't touch it. Don't even look at it cooking because you will want to touch it. Yes, I see that little side looks thicker than the other but you formed the patty. Deal with it. Don't move it. don't even it out. It's too late. just make another one. MOST IMPORTANTLY:.
• DO NOT PRESS DOWN ON THE PATTIES! or your burger will be sad and dry and not crispy on the outside. There is a lil puddle of liquid forming on the raw side before the flip but don't mess with it. Here is your guide:.
• 1 1/2 min per side = SEAR (not even close to done).
• 2 1/2 min per side = RARE (better for steak, not so much burgers).
• 3 min per side = MED RARE (still more of a steak temp but some people like theirs this pink).
• 4 min per side = MED *****PERFECT BURGER CRISPINESS****.
• 4 1/2 min per side= MED WELL (if you want this, you're dumb and your burger won't be as fabulous but don't you feel "safer" for eating charred meat. Hmph).
• Place on toasted bun and wrap with wax paper or a paper towel for 2-3 minute This lets the flavor set in like the juices resting in a steak. Please, do not skip this step. Your burger will be a juicy little bite of heaven if you do this right. CUE up Shining Star by Earth Wind and Fire. Now you deliver this NO WAY OVER HYPED BURGER to your picky boyfriend and let devouring ensue. To make more, just make more. Duh. 30 oz = 6 patties.