Are you prepared to go on an experience that will delight your taste buds like no other? Normally, I accompany travelers on their journeys to different corners of the world, but today, we will take to the skies of gastronomy. In this guide, we will tackle the art of building the perfect smash burger, a work of art that, in the hands of a beginner and an expert, will yield culinary offspring of vip status.
What Is a Smash Burger?
Smash burgers are a different take on the popular hamburger. This is because of the method used in cooking the burger, which is different from the rest. In the cook, the beef smash burger patty is pressed to a blazing hot conrercooking surface. This is why it has a crispy crust that hides a char-grilled, juice-filled, and a flavor that will lock you in for more.
History of Smash Burgers
The art of the smash burger originated in the Midwestern part of the USA. Fast food and diners that wanted to do traffic in the burger cooking quickly and in the flavor-developingeli burger. That passion has not burnt out and the art is aok in the art of the burger.
Choosing Quality Ingredients for Smash Burgers
The best smash burgers require a certain cut of meat as a base. To get a smash burger that is properly juicy and high-quality, you need to get a cut that is 80% lean to 20% fat as that will ensure adequate juiciness.
How Big Should a Smash Burger Be?
Each burger should be about 2 ounces. When fried, this size for each ball allows for an adequate amount of juiciness while still having a balanced amount of fry-seared outer layer. Additionally, to make a more filling burger, using smaller sized balls of meat allows a chef to stack multiple balls of meat together to be fried.
Cooking Your Smash Burger
Once you have all the necessary meat and toppings all that is left is to make the burger. You should primarily have a flat surface to cook the meat. This can be a smooth stovetop, a grill or a cooking griddle.
Cooking Burgers on a Griddle
- Griddle Preheating: Heat the griddle to medium-high until the surface temperature is about 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This will make it so the outer layer is seared while the inner juices of the meat are retained.
- Shaping the Hot Meat Balls: Each ball of ground beef should weigh about two ounces and should be loosely formed so that it keeps the rest of the burger cooking evenly.
- Smash the patties: Take a golf-ball sized portion of the burger meat. Then, place the meat on a hot cooking surface, and, using a heavy metal spatula, smash the burger down until it is a thin patty. When it is a thin patty, it will get that desired smash burger crisp.
- Season: When the patty is made, you will want to season the meat with a good amount of salt and pepper. A good amount of salt will help flavor the meat and the patty as a whole.
- Cook: When the meat is sufficiently cooked, you will notice that the edges of the patty will start to get a bit crispy, and the bottom of it will start to get a good brown color. When you notice that, it is a good time to flip the patty so the other side can cook as well.
Making smash burgers on the grill.
- Preheat the grill: If you plan on using a flat grill or cast iron skillet, go ahead and preheat it. This will allow you to grill the burgers and get that smoky flavor.
- Use the same procedure: When the grill is hot enough, go ahead and follow the same steps you would on the flat top to achieve the perfect smash burger crust.
How to Cook Smash Burgers on the Fire
- Prep the Cast-Iron Pan: Make sure to crank the heat on the stove to high and let the cast-iron skillet get hot. Because of the pan’s heavy bottom, it will perform well for cooking smash burgers.
- Smash and Cook: The same way as the griddle, put a ball of beef into the hot skillet, smash it down, put on some seasoning, and let it cook until it is golden brown.
How to Make the Perfect Smash Burgers
The Ultimate Recipe for a Smash Burger
The sign of a well-cooked smash burger is the combination of the toppings alongside it. Here we will serve the burger with the following toppings.
- The Bread: A smash burger is best served with a brioche bun. It should have a good toasting on the outside along with a soft inside to match properly with the burger’s crust.
- The Cheese: Place a slice of american cheese on it right after the patty is done cooking. It melts well and contrasts the crust with creaminess.
- The Veggies: A few pieces of lettuce along with some slices of tomato and a pickle is a good way to keep it classic. Some more gourmet versions might include some cooked mushrooms and onions with it.
- The Sauce: Using a dipping sauce, spread some of it on the burger and it enhances the taste by making it a lot more creamy.
How to Make a Perfect Smash Burger
- Give Enough Space: Make sure to leave enough space when you are cooking multiple smash burgers at once in order to avoid steaming and keep that perfect searing.
- Use Proper Equipment: To smash the patties the most efficiently, make sure you have a strong metal spatula. You may want to buy tar a more professional and uniform approach.
- Know Your Timing: Pay close attention to the time. Smash burgers are quick to cook and juiciness can be lost within a few seconds if you are not careful.
