How To Make A Smashburger

Summary

This video dives into the art of making a perfect Smashburger, focusing on technique and high-quality ingredients. The process begins with grinding the beef to an 80/20 ratio for the right balance of lean meat and fat. A simple yet flavorful special sauce is made with pickles, mayonnaise, honey, mustard, and other seasonings. The burger patties are smashed on a hot cast-iron pan, creating a crispy exterior and juicy interior. The burger is topped with American and cheddar cheese, pickles, sauce, and a soft, toasted potato bun. The result is a delicious, well-balanced burger that emphasizes flavor and texture.

Takeaways

• 😀 Start with high-quality ground beef (80% lean, 20% fat) for the best balance of flavor and texture.
• 😀 If you choose to grind your own beef, it’s for both visual appeal and better understanding of fat distribution.
• 😀 Shape the beef into a ball between the size of a golf ball and a mandarin orange to create a perfect patty.
• 😀 Tossing the beef between your hands before smashing it helps eliminate air bubbles and ensures the patty won’t break apart.
• 😀 Smash the patties hard on the cooking surface to get crispy, laced edges, which are a hallmark of a good Smashburger.
• 😀 Toast the buns with a special technique that steams the inside of the top bun and the top side of the bottom bun while cooking the patties.
• 😀 Create a special sauce using a blend of pickles, mayonnaise, honey, Dijon mustard, ketchup, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and lemon juice.
• 😀 Thinly slice the pickles for the burger and mince them finely for the sauce to give a perfect balance of acidity.
• 😀 Use both American cheese and cheddar cheese for a balance of creaminess and sharpness, especially if stacking multiple patties.
• 😀 Cook the patties in a cast-iron skillet for even heat distribution, and make sure to add salt and pepper before flipping them.
• 😀 The final Smashburger should be served immediately after assembling with the special sauce, pickles, mustard, and ketchup for the freshest taste.

Q & A

What is the key to making a great Smashburger?

The key to a great Smashburger is balance: crispy-edged patties with a juicy center, thin sliced cheese that melts just enough to hold everything together, and simple toppings inside a fluffy toasted potato bun.

Why does the speaker choose to grind their own beef?

The speaker grinds their own beef to show the visual difference between lean and fatty portions of meat, particularly demonstrating the 80/20 ground beef ratio. This isn't necessary for everyone, but it’s a personal touch and adds a visual element.

What is the 80/20 ground beef ratio and why is it important?

The 80/20 ground beef ratio refers to 80% lean meat and 20% fat. This balance is said to give the perfect combination of flavor and texture, making the burgers juicy while also holding together well.

What does the speaker do to prevent the beef from falling apart when smashing the patties?

To prevent the beef from falling apart, the speaker shapes the beef into balls and tosses them between their hands to eliminate air bubbles. This helps ensure that the patty maintains its structure when smashed.

What makes Smashburgers different from regular burgers?

Smashburgers are thinner, with crispy edges and a juicy center, compared to regular burgers which tend to be thicker and sometimes less balanced in texture and flavor.

How does the speaker prepare the special sauce for the Smashburgers?

The special sauce is made by finely chopping pickles and mixing them with mayonnaise, honey, Dijon mustard, ketchup, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon.

Why does the speaker use Dijon mustard in the sauce?

The speaker prefers Dijon mustard because of its smooth texture and mild flavor, which complements the other ingredients in the special sauce.

What is the toasting technique used for the burger buns?

The buns are steamed on the inside using a unique technique where the tops of the buns are toasted while the bottom buns are steamed slightly. This makes the buns fluffy and enhances the overall texture of the burger.

What cheeses does the speaker use for the Smashburger and why?

The speaker uses classic American cheese for its meltability and cheddar cheese for a bit of sharpness, creating a balanced flavor profile for the Smashburger.

How does the speaker achieve the crispy edges on the Smashburger?

The crispy edges are achieved by smashing the patties hard with a burger smasher, pushing the edges out and allowing them to crisp up while cooking, creating the signature laced texture.