There are many theories and guidelines on how to best cook a hamburger. Most often this concerns the preparation of cutlets. You do not need special equipment to make juicy and fragrant hamburger patties. In addition, you do not need selected beef or a high-tech grill. But you will need a lot of oil and a good frying pan or oven.
The whole point of the classic recipe is this: you have to season the minced meat with salt and pepper, form an even round cake from it and cover it with melted butter, and then fry on the grill or in the oven for 10 minutes. The oil not only adds an additional flavor, but also prevents the drying of meat, and also subsequently make the bun juicy.
This is not the only option for cooking hamburgers, and you can safely experiment. However, there are several rules that you need to remember in order not to make common culinary mistakes. Below are the basic requirements that must be observed when preparing hamburger patties.
Do not buy cheap, frozen or lean beef
If you want to cook delicious burgers, you should not save on filling. Get young, preferably fresh, beef with a fat content of at least 20 percent. No need to buy delicious steak, but a good tenderloin is necessary. The general culinary rule states that for one cutlet you will need from 180 to 250 grams of minced meat.
Do not add a lot of spices to the minced meat.
Remember that hamburger patties are perfect on their own. Adding onions, herbs or sauces to meat only distracts from the meaty taste. In addition, adding a lot of ingredients means diluting the meat. When heated, the fat reacts with other components and forms an emulsion. Because of this, you can get a "rubber" cutlet, especially with onions and herbs. And if you add olive oil to the minced meat, you will get a product with a grainy texture.
Instead of experimenting with adding additional products, simply mix the minced meat, put a pinch of salt in it, and a little pepper and garlic.
Remember to make a dent in the middle
It is generally believed that a hamburger cutlet should be molded in perfectly flat shape. However, this does not take into account the change in the volume of meat during heating. The right thing to do is: blind a round flat cake, and then use your fingers to make a depression in the center. This will create a perfect cutlet that will not slip in the bun.
Do not avoid high temperatures
Hamburger patties are best cooked at high temperature. Of course, if they start to burn, you should reduce the fire. But if not, do not fry them in low temperature for too long. Otherwise, the result will not be very tasty.
Do not flip the patty too often
Some are pleased to hear the hiss when turning the patties on the wire rack, but this pushes all the juices out of the meat. At the exit you get a very dry and tough dish. If you want soft and juicy cutlets, do not touch them during frying.
Do not cut cutlets to check readiness
Cutlets in cutlets to check their readiness is the best way to ruin a dish. All juices run out instantly. This is even worse than constantly flipping. You will get very dry cutlets. To check the readiness of the meat without ruining its taste, follow the following guide: you need to feel light elasticity when touched with a spatula.
You have to let the patties stand for a while
It is difficult to resist the instant eating of perfectly cooked meatballs, but this is not a good idea. You will get dry meat and a raw bun. If you bite a freshly fried cutlet, all the juices immediately flow out of it. Leave the blanks for a while to settle.
How to cook a hamburger cutlet?
When cooking cutlets, be careful not to knead the forcemeat too much. Otherwise, you may end up with hard products. For a basic recipe for hamburger patties you will need:
- 450 grams of ground beef;
- sea salt and ground black pepper.
Remove the minced meat from the refrigerator and leave it at room temperature for about 5 minutes before forming workpieces. Then divide it into three parts and mold round flat cakes. Use the thumb of your hand to make a dimple in the middle of each of them. This prevents raising the middle of the cutlets during cooking.
Season the workpieces on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a cast iron skillet over moderate heat. Fry the patties for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, depending on how strong the roast you like. Then put them on a dish, wrap in aluminum foil and leave for 5 minutes. After that, you can serve them on a bun with lettuce, tomatoes and onions (or as you like).
Do not be afraid to experiment. Cheese will be a good addition to your hamburger, as will bacon. But these are only the most common products that can be used to prepare a delicious dish. Peanut butter is a good and original choice. Red onion rings are always a good idea.
Another interesting way
There are many recipes for homemade hamburgers with a patty. Above was given an option with frying meat in a pan, but grilling is considered a classic. Obviously, not everyone has such an opportunity. But you can show ingenuity and replace the street grill with the appropriate grill for the home oven.
Below is a recipe for making homemade cheese burgers . For him you will need:
- 450 grams of fresh ground beef;
- sea salt and ground black pepper;
- sliced cheese, optional;
- toasted hamburger buns.
How to do it?
How to make hamburger patties in the oven? Form the products from the meat, gently crushing the meat with your fingers, but not compacting. Place it on a flat, clean surface and gently press the middle of each cake using your fingertips.
Check the size of your cutlet by comparing it with a bun (do not forget to wash your hands before touching the bun, and do not let it come into direct contact with raw meat). A homemade hamburger patty should be about 1 cm wider than a bun on all sides.
Sprinkle generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Place them on the grill, greased with butter (melted) or olive oil. Place in a preheated oven and bake to the desired degree of readiness.
Heat a skillet with 1 tablespoon of butter or olive oil to a high temperature. Put the patties on it and pour them on top with another spoonful of oil. Fry them from 45 seconds to 1 minute, until a crust appears.
Turn the patties over with a quick movement and place a piece of cheese on the top surface of each of them. Cook until the cheese has melted, from 45 seconds to 1 minute.
Put the cheese patties on the prepared buns, add another filling as desired and serve immediately.
As noted above, you can use any content. Dijon mustard and pickled onions are good for hamburgers with cheese. Any fresh vegetables are also good - cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers. If you like pungency, chopped jalapenos can be added.