The Perfect Burger

Name: The Perfect Burger
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1.5 pounds ground beef chuck (80 percent lean); Vegetable oil, for grates; Coarse salt and ground pepper; 4 hamburger buns, split and lightly grilled, or toasted; Lettuce, tomato, or other toppings, as desired; Pepper Jack Cheese; Salsa; Guacamole or Sliced Avocado; Sliced White Onion; Sliced Pickled jalapenos; Soft goat cheese; Garlic mayonnaise; Flat leaf spinach; Sprouts; Sliced cucumber; Sliced red onion; Barbecue sauce; Coleslaw or shredded cabbage; Sweet pickles or pickle relish; Cooked bacon

2.9

(64)

2 Reviews

By

Martha Stewart Test Kitchen

Updated on May 16, 2017

Prep Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

20 mins

Servings:

4

The key is to buy ground beef chuck with at least 20 percent fat, which produces the juiciest burgers.

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds ground beef chuck (80 percent lean)
Vegetable oil, for grates
Coarse salt and ground pepper
4 hamburger buns, split and lightly grilled, or toasted
Lettuce, tomato, or other toppings, as desired

For Tex-Mex topping combination:

Pepper Jack Cheese
Salsa
Guacamole or Sliced Avocado
Sliced White Onion
Sliced Pickled jalapenos

For West Coast topping combination:

Soft goat cheese
Garlic mayonnaise
Flat leaf spinach
Sprouts
Sliced cucumber
Sliced red onion

For Southern topping combination:

Barbecue sauce
Coleslaw or shredded cabbage
Sweet pickles or pickle relish
Cooked bacon

Directions

Evenly divide meat into 4 portions. With a light touch, gently form each one into a ball, then shape into a 3/4-inch-thick patty. With thumb, make a 1/4-inch-deep indentation in the center of each (this prevents burgers from getting rounded tops during grilling). Transfer to a plate; cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to cook, up to 1 day.
Heat grill to high (it should be difficult to hold your hand above the grates). Moisten a folded paper towel with vegetable oil; grasp with tongs, and quickly wipe over the grates.
Generously season patties on both sides with salt and pepper. Place patties on grill; cover, and cook to desired doneness, 2 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Serve burgers on buns with desired toppings.