The Baby Boomers Guide to 5 Tips to Your Best Burgers Ever Ummmm Uumph!
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5 Tips to Your Best Burgers Ever
The grill is on. Guests are gathering. Now, it’s time for the burgers! But, before we go any further, remember that no matter how you “dress” your burger, you have to start with two really great ingredients.
The holidays are coming fast, and you will have to decide how to have your family over for an Easter holiday dinner, Mother's Day or the 4th of July.
Really, I don’t think so right now, a house full of people with no masks? Are they all fully vaccinated? What about social distancing?
Whatcha’ Gonna Do?
Have your holiday meal outside in you “NEW’ outdoor dining room.?I know that it can get cold and wet this time of year, but what about gloves, coats and raincoats???
Set Up an Outside Dining Room
Here is the solution,?purchase our outdoor patio kit and set up an outside dining room on your patio.
For shade. you can also purchase a Ramada or Gazebo from us online and install it yourself in less than a week before the holidays.
Next Saturday - Entertaining Outside
To serve drinks, you can order an outside bar, with stools. The “unmasked brave” can run out the house to get a beer or drink during the football game time outs and run back-in.?
5 Tips to Your Best Burgers Ever
The grill is on. Guests are gathering. Now, it’s time for the burgers! But, before we go any further, remember that no matter how you “dress” your burger, you have to start with two really great ingredients.
First, great meat. Our recommendation is to go with ground chuck that is cut “70-30,” which is to say, you want beef that is 70% lean meat and 30% fat. This will give you flavorful and juicy burgers.
The other ingredient that too many people don’t think about is the bun! You wouldn’t want a sandwich on cheap, squishy white bread, would you? So don’t ignore the rolls you use for your burgers. Here are some fun ways to make your burgers better.
1. Plain and simple.
The key to a great burger, particularly one that isn’t hidden under a deluge of condiments, is to make the patties with as little “handling” as possible. Don’t jam that meat together on a cutting board or beat it into a dense little hockey puck. Instead, use as little force as you can to gently create the general shape, and then stop!
Putting a small thumb-sized indentation in the top will help to keep it from “plumping” too much as well. Season with flake or kosher salt, ground pepper and a dash of garlic salt. Finally, resist the temptation to mash down the burger once it’s on the grill. This does nothing except eject the juices and makes for a dry final product.
2. Cheeseburger.
This ingredient is the beginning of what makes burgers really special. Nearly any cheese will work but be aware of their melting points! There is a reason the classic around these parts (for the non-nouvelle chef) is American cheese. Since it is often a combination of Cheddar and Colby, it has a melting point that is ideal for the grill.
But what else can spark your burger buds? Brie is soft and creamy. Goat cheese is smooth. Gouda is gooey and delicious! But our secret ingredient is French Boursin, a spreadable cheese you will learn to love! It has a great tang and really complements that great burger taste. Be forewarned, however; Boursin won’t melt much, so just plop a dollop on top of the burger about a minute or two before they’re done.
3. Sliders.
Yes, the humble slider. Once a mainstay of early chain restaurants like White Castle, White Tower and Little Tavern Shoppes (“Buy ’em by the bag!”) there is still disagreement about the origin of the name, but no one will argue about how great they are. In recent years, they have popped up at fancy hipster restaurants everywhere in all sorts of varieties. Some of these fancy restaurants serve four “chicken pot pie sliders!”
So how are they different than a regular burger? In their original incarnation they were often cooked on solid top grilles in a fast-food place and were often square (less wasted space on the grill!). What makes them awesome today, is that you and your guests can experiment with various toppings and still not feel stuffed. You simply can’t do that if you build yourself a giant half pound burger.
One tip; since they are small, they are going to cook quickly, so try to get all the sliders onto your grill at about the same time, so that they’ll all get done equally.
4. Lettuce & Tomatoes
if you want some of the classic toppings, make sure they are the best quality possible. While iceberg has been the go-to lettuce seemingly forever, we’d suggest trying romaine. It retains a great crunch, even under the heat of the meat.
If crunch isn’t your thing, then dare we say arugula? It’s something of a gastronomic joke at this point, but its strong flavor really holds up to a powerful burger! As to that slice of tomato? Go the extra mile and get yourself two heirloom tomatoes, one yellow and one red. Slice them thin and pile both on. They’ll taste AND look better!
5. Hamburger Bun Options.
There are plenty of bun-options, of course. For instance, some people go for onion rolls, with bits of tasty onion embedded in the crust. That way you get a great taste and don’t need to chop or add your own onions. A classic sesame seed bun is also tasty and for much the same reason; you get two tastes for the price of one!
A tasty brioche works great for burger buns. This French delight is a kind of a bread with added butter, eggs and a touch of sugar. So while it’s savory, it also has a bit of French pastry about it. But don’t get me wrong, this is not a sugar laden honey bun!
Slightly more exotic, but no less delicious is the English muffin. With their unique taste and texture, they really add a fun style to your bun. Just make sure you toast them gently before using.
Finally (and this is not an exhaustive list by anyone’s measure!) how about just using two pieces of bread? In the New England area this approach was made famous by the Friendly’s restaurant chain. And while it can sound boring, it isn’t! Also, for the mom or dad that forgot to buy the buns — it can be a real lifesaver!
Finally, burgers are meant to be eaten outside this time of year, so browse the https://deckpatiodiy1.com range of dining sets, umbrellas and other outdoor living must-haves, then light up the grill and get cooking.
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