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Every week one of the chefs from Harmons Grocery Stores will be answering your toughest culinary questions. No question is too big or too small and each week we'll award a pair of Harmons cooking school passes to one lucky viewer whose question is selected. Email your questions to askachef@harmonsgrocery.com.
This week’s question comes from Matthew:
“I love to make burgers for my family, especially in the summer, but sometimes they turn out dry and aren’t very appealing. What is the best way to make mouthwatering burgers that turn out juicy and delicious every time?”
Great question Matthew! During the summer there is nothing better than enjoying a delicious hamburger right off the grill. Here are some helpful tips that will help you create delicious, juicy burgers for your family.
High quality meat – The most important part of making a great burger is choosing high quality ground meat, such as Harmons 85% Fresh Ground Round. This refers to 85 percent lean and 15 percent fat content in the meat. Having some fat content in your beef helps with flavor and tenderness. Even better, Harmons butchers grind our meat fresh daily (pork, chicken, and turkey included!). This guarantees that you will always have the freshest, most delicious selection of meat available. Patty shape – Gently shaping the patties rather than packing them tightly will give you a more tender burger that will cook evenly and melt in your mouth. Also, a very good tip when shaping the burger patty is to create a dimple about the size of a quarter on top of the burger. When the burger puffs up in the middle while cooking, you will end up with a flat top on the burger rather than a dome, ensuring your burger toppings don't slip off.
Seasoning – When making burgers, salt and pepper go a long way - there really is no need to season with anything else (unless you like a little bit of garlic salt).
Proper Cooking – Whether grilling your burger or cooking it in a pan, it is important to only flip the burger once and never smash your burger. Smashing the burger does not make it cook faster. Rather, it pushes all of the juices out of the meat, leaving you with a dry, unappetizing hockey puck. Topping Selection – Have fun with your toppings, but don’t overdo it. You want to let your burger be the star! You should always choose high quality toppings for your burger. Classic toppings like Vermont Cheddar, Pepper jack or Provolone Cheese (Boar’s Head is my favorite brand), butter lettuce, tomato, pickles, red onion and just a little bit of ketchup and mustard make for the perfect burger.
The Bun – There is nothing better than a delicious burger sandwiched between the perfect bun. I personally love to use Harmons Challah Sandwich Rolls or Ciabatta Bread with my burgers. If you lightly toast your bun with a little bit of butter and garlic, it will stand up better to all of the juicy goodness inside your burger.
There are a lot of delicious variations for burger recipes, but today I want to share one of my classic burger recipes.
What culinary questions do you have? Let us know! Email our Harmons chefs at askachef@harmonsgrocery.com
Simple Beef BurgerIngredients:
- 1 1/2 pounds Harmons Fresh Ground Round 85% lean
- Salt and fresh cracked pepper
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 slices, cheese of preference (for a cheesier burger, use 8 slices)
- 4 Harmons Challah Sandwich Rolls, or Ciabatta bread split, brushed with olive oil and toasted in pan Directions
1. Divide beef evenly into four equal balls.
2. Gently make patties that are approximately 3/4 inch thick and take special care not to pack meat tightly.
3. Press a divot in the center of burger.
4. Generously season both sides of burger with salt and cracked pepper.
5. Pre-heat grill or cast iron pan to medium heat.
6. Rub canola oil on both sides of burgers and then place burgers onto grill or pan, divot side up.
7. Cook burger until crust forms and burger easily releases from grill or pan, approximately 4 minutes.
8. Flipping only once, cook burger on other until crust has formed on the other side, approximately 4 more minutes or until desired doneness.
9. Place your favorite cheese on top when burger is almost completely cooked and place lid on pan to melt cheese or tent with foil.
10. Serve on lightly toasted buns or rolls and top with your favorite toppings.
11. Enjoy!
You can spice up your burger by adding minced garlic, red pepper flakes, or jalapenos into your beef before cooking. And don’t forget the bacon! You can cook your bacon in a pan and use as a topping, or dice up your raw bacon and mix it right into your beef mixture as well.
If you like blue cheese try mixing blue cheese crumbles right in. Use your creativity and add some pizzazz to your burger. Just follow the same tips above (lightly form patties, only flip once, etc.), and you should have a perfect, juicy burger every time.
Another delicious option is to visit Harmons Meat Department and pick up one of our mouthwatering “Bob’s Burgers.” With flavors like Cheddar Bacon, Black and Bleu, Jalapeno and Mushroom Swiss, you’re bound to find something for every member of your family. We mix the ingredients right in to our patties, so all you need to do is grill and enjoy. If beef isn’t your thing, we also have a great selection of Savory Turkey Burgers and Chicken Ranch Burgers too!
These burgers are a delicious addition to any barbecue and we bet you’ll want to try them all. If you are looking for delicious side dishes and more summer barbecue ideas, check out or summer edition of “Food For Thought.” Inside you’ll find delicious recipes and grilling tips from Harmons chefs. Pick up a copy or download it online at HarmonsGrocery.com.
Check out other Ask a Harmons Chef articles here
