Thermoblog by Martin Earl 7/4/2020
If you’re cooking burgers for the 4th of July this year, I have a suggestion: smash them!Smash burgers are arguably one of the best ways to prepare a burger, and their rising popularity is a testament to their quality. Restaurant chains that specialize in them are growing rapidly (the style seems to have emerged in the Great Lakes region, but documentation on that is sketchy). And it is no wonder, because they are good.
Now, it is true that you can’t cook them directly on a grill, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have them for your celebratory cookout. Just take your cast iron out to the grill and cook in the fresh air. Of course, you will need to temp your burgers to make sure they’re done perfectly, but with a fast and accurate thermometer, that’s no problem. Let’s take a look.
What are smash burgers?A smash burger, for those that don’t know, is a hamburger, usually with cheese, that is made with very thin beef patties (made thin by pressing on the cooking surface) that have been cooked on a griddle or flat top.
You may be wondering why this version of a burger gets its own name. That’s a fair question, and one with an easy answer. When griddle cooking thin patties like these, you end up with a larger proportion of tasty, crusty Maillard browning per patty than you would get from thicker, meatier burgers. And if you’re making cheeseburgers, it’s also a higher proportion of cheese to meat. Add to those tastier proportions a drastically reduced cooking time, and you’ve got yourself a real contender for best burger.
How to make smash burgers at homeFirst, you need the right meat. 80/20 chuck is pretty much perfect for smash burgers. The higher fat content helps ensure juiciness, and the chuck just tastes good.
To make a smash burger, start with a ball of ground beef that is just larger than the size of a golf ball (about 2 ounces is just right). Season each ball with salt and pepper, and set them on a hot cast-iron griddle. As soon as they’re in the pan, smash them flat with a firm spatula, pressing down on its surface with a rolling pin or some other sturdy object. Cook just until the crust forms on one side, then flip and finish the patties to a food-safety temp of 160°F (71°C).
J. Kenji López-Alt has given three rules for making good smash burgers:
• Use a good stainless-steel or cast-iron skillet.
o The heat retention capabilities of a heavy pan are necessary for good browning and crust formation in a short time. A stainless or cast iron pan is the way to go because non-stick coatings can’t stand up to the high heat you want to get those crispy edges.
• Smash early.
o Waiting until the meat is really cooking before smashing will dry the burgers out.
• Don’t leave any crust behind.
o The main point of a smash burger is the yummy crust ratio. If you flip your burger and half your Maillard browning sticks to the pan, it’s a waste. Use a good spatula (metal if you have one) that will lift the patties cleanly from the cooking surface.
Instructions Heat your grill for high-heat cooking.
Portion the meat into 2-ounce balls. (Alternatively, you can form them into 4-ounce balls and just have one patty per burger.)
Season each ball of meat with salt and pepper.
Once it is hot, heat your skillet or flat-top on it so that it’s surface is hot, 450°F (232°C) or more. An infrared thermometer like the Thermapen IR is a great way to gauge the surface temp.
Put a little oil in the pan and add and many balls of beef as can comfortably fit in the pan once they are all smashed.
Immediately smash each ball by pressing them with the spatula, pushing on the top of the spatula with the rolling pin. The patties should be about 1/4″ thick.
Cook them until a good crust develops on the bottom, about a minute to a minute and a half.
Flip each patty and lay on the cheese.
This side should cook more quickly, so start temping them as soon as the cheese starts to melt. The very small sensor tip of the Thermapen IR is small enough to read the temperature accurately, even in thin patties like these.
As soon as the temperature reaches 160°F (71°C), remove the patties from heat. If you like, toast the buns on the grill or in the pan.
Assemble and serve!More:
https://blog.thermoworks.com/beef/smash-burgers-at-home/
