Nothing screams heavenly like a smash hamburger prepared on a griddle. The Blackstone griddle will make you an incredibly flavorful burger that will leave you mouth-watering.
The best part is that the process is quick and easy. Within a short while, you can make that perfect hamburger for your whole family or neighborhood.
Smash Burgers on a Griddle
You can prepare delicious smash burgers on your Blackstone griddle. Griddle smash burgers serve as a meal option, especially when you are in a hurry or have a time constraint. It also requires minimal preparation.
What is a Smashed Burger?
A smashed burger derives its name from the thin party that it uses in its making. You get the thin party by smashing the meat; hence the name ‘smashed.’
But why is smashed burger special?
It’s because its cooking method contributes significantly to its final flavor and texture.
The smashed meat means a large surface gets into contact with the grill’s cooking surface. This translates into a fantastic crust and a delicious flavor.
Do you know why smash burgers are famous in fast-food chains and diners?
It’s because the thinness of the patty speeds up the cooking process. A smash burger cooks at lightning speed.
So, now that you know what a smash burger is, let’s get into the details of its preparation.
But first,
Smash burgers don’t get rid of all the juice, as some people believe. That’s a myth.
If you cook it properly, you will always end up with a juicy burger that is as tastier as that from McDonald’s Big Mac. The crust will also be incredible.
What Temperature Should My Griddle Be for Smash Burgers?
The correct temperature is essential when preparing smashed burgers. It’s a prerequisite to achieving that fabulous crispy texture.
Too low temperature, although it will eventually cook the burger, will fail in bringing out the required texture.
On the other hand, if your griddle is too hot, your patty will cook on the outside. However, the inside may be raw.
I have prepared smashed burgers severally on my Blackstone griddle. From my experience, I have concluded that a medium or medium-high temperature achieves the best results.
Do not forget to preheat your griddle for 10-15 minutes before cooking your burger.
You can test whether the surface is hot by sprinkling some drops of water on the surface. The surface is hot enough if the drops dance rapidly across the surface before drying out.
The optimal temperature for preparing smash burgers is 400°F/205°C.
I have always achieved desirable results anytime I cook my cooked burgers at this temperature.
How Long Does a Smash Burger Take to Cook?
When you have set your Blackstone griddle at the right temperature, smash burgers fry up quickly. The entire process should take between 2-4 minutes.
This fast process prevents your smash burger from drying up. It keeps it juicy, retaining all the beef juice, especially now that you are not cooking on a grill.
But you are not tied to the 2-4 minutes, no. The timing is only a guideline.
The most important consideration is that you should cook the burger until the patty turns crispy and brown. Flip it on the other side and cook until you attain similar results.
However,
Avoid overcooking smash burgers. Overcooking will lead to dry smash burgers.
How to Form Your Smash Burger
Follow these steps:
- remove a portion of the ground beef as necessary, then place it on the palm of your hand
- squeeze the meat together gently before placing your other hand on top
- shape the hamburger meat into a firm ball using a rocking back and forth motion of your cupped palms
It’s essential to consider the desired size of your finished burger.
Using a kitchen scale, weigh the ground beef to ensure that your burgers cook evenly. For a mini burger, 2 ounces of meat will be sufficient.
However, 4 ounces of meat will be ideal for a regular burger. If you plan on cooking a large smash burger, you may want to use 8-ounce meatballs.
Incredible Tips for a Better Smashed Burger
I’m sure you would like to get the best results from your grill- smashed burger. The following tips will help you achieve just that.
80/20 Ground Beef is Your Best Choice
I didn’t know the importance of using 80/20 ground beef until after using 100% lean beef. The results were disastrous; my smash burger was so dry, almost inedible.
The 80/20 ground beef is ideal because it has some fat in it. The fat helps to give your burger a delicious flavor and allows it to cook well.
My advice, therefore, is that you use beef with about 20 percent fat.
Avoid Touching Your Beef after Smashing it.
Keeping on pressing your meat dries its fat off, which eventually affects the juice in the meat.
So, when is the right stage to press the burger?
Press it only at the beginning when smashing it. That’s the only ideal time; after that, don’t do it again.
Avoid pressing it every time you flip it. Leave it undisturbed for a juicer and a better burger.
Slightly Toast Your Buns
Eating soggy bun sucks!
So, how do you avoid this?
If you toast them slightly before cooking, you can ensure that your buns don’t absorb the meat juice.
The process involves browning the sides of the buns. An oven, a hotplate, or a grill can help you achieve this effect.
Toasting doesn’t only prevent buns from becoming soggy.
Every time I have toasted my buns before cooking, the brown helps to give my burger a mouth-watering flavor.
Don’t forget to toast your bun. Even the lightest toasting is enough to make a significant difference to the flavor of your burger.
Why not try it out during your subsequent preparation of a smashed burger?
Any Cheese Can Do
There’s always much debate on what cheese is best for your smash burger. For me, however, this is a minor issue.
Whether you use American cheese or otherwise, it doesn’t matter. All you need is to enjoy life.
My advice; keep off the debate, use any cheese and enjoy your burger.
Any Topping of Your Choice Can Do
Feel free to add any toppings that you want to your smash burger.
You can choose either:
- Pickles
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Cheese
- Beetroot
- Onions
- Sauces
- Egg
The secret here is to keep it simple. That’s how to enjoy life.
Blackstone Griddle Smash Burgers Recipe
Ingredients
- Ground beef, 80/20 pounds
- A-1 steak sauce, ¼ cup
- Your best seasoning
- Pepper
- Kosher salt
Instructions
- Put the 80/20 ground beef into a large mixing bowl
- Add your favorite seasoning
- Add salt to taste
- Add the pepper until it tastes
- Mix the mixture thoroughly
- Get the hamburger and roll it into baseball-size balls
- Light and heat the griddle to 400°F/205°C
- Pour some little oil on the grill’s surface, then place the hamburger balls.
- Press the balls into thin patties using the burger press
- Allow cooking till 80 degrees Fahrenheit
- Flip, then allow to cook up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit
- If you plan to add cheese, wait until it gets to 155 degrees. This will prevent it from overcooking
- Get off the griddle and allow time to rest
Frequently Asked Questions
How hot should the griddle be for Smash Burgers?
The griddle should be 400-425 degrees F. Before cooking, you will need to preheat the griddle for about 10-15 minutes.
Can you make burgers on the griddle?
Yes, you can make burgers on your home griddle or outdoor grill. However, you will need to keep a close eye on them. The whole surface is in contact with the cooking surface. Consequently, it might overcook.
How do you know when smash burgers are done?
When smash burgers are ready, they will have some brownish on the edges. You will also notice some red juice beginning to build upon the patty.
This tells you they are ready to flip over.
How thick should smash burgers be?
They should be1/4-inch-thick. You can use a large metal spatula to smash the balls into that thickness.
Should I add egg to hamburger patties?
It’s not necessary. Although some ground beef recipes, such as meatballs, may require eggs to bind them, hamburger patties don’t
What is the secret to juicy hamburgers?
The secret is to avoid overcooking the meat and pushing the burgers down as you cook. Ensure you are also gentle whine flipping them. Lastly, give them time to rest after you have finished cooking them.
Wrapping it up
Nothing beats a smash hamburger prepared on a griddle in flavor. This delicacy is worth knowing how to prepare, especially when you are in a hurry and need to grab something.
The prior preparation process is simplistic, and the cooking takes only two minutes. Within no time, you have your juicy burger ready for enjoyment.