Contents
How to Choose Meat for Burgers
Other Burger Ingredients
Equipment for Cooking Burgers
Secrets to Making Perfect Burgers
How to Season Burgers
How to Shape Your Burger Patties
How to Cook Burgers
How to Determine Burger Doneness
How to Grind Your Own Meat
How to Melt Cheese on Burgers
Beef Burger Recipes
Basic Hamburger
Tex-Mex Burger
Pesto Burger
Lamb Burger Recipes
Lamb Burger with Tahini Sauce
Lamb Burger with Feta and Olives
Pork Burger Recipes
Barbecued Pork Burger
Pork and Chorizo Burgers with
Chili Mayonnaise
Chicken Burger Recipes
Herbed Chicken Burger
Buffalo Chicken Burger
Turkey Burger Recipes
Basic Turkey Burger
Thanksgiving Turkey Burger
Fish Burger Recipes
Tuna Burger with
Tangerine-Scallion Relish
Salmon Burger with Dill Mayonnaise
Vegetarian Burger Recipes
Portobello Mushroom Burger
Spicy Lemongrass Tofu Burgers
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Other Burger Ingredients
Meat alone does not make a burger. The buns you choose, ingredients you mix into the meat, and condiments and toppings you use all affect how your burgers taste.
Burger Buns
Buns are an important and often overlooked component of burgers. Aside from allowing you to eat with your hands, buns can also contribute lightness, texture, and a variety of additional flavors.
The Size of the Bun
The most important attribute of a bun is its size in relation to the burger. It should be large enough to surround most of the patty but not so thick that the taste of bread overwhelms or masks the burger’s flavors.
Types of Buns
The standard sesame seed bun is a popular choice for a reason: its light texture and mild flavor allow the burger itself to claim the spotlight. But mild burgers, such as chicken, turkey, fish, or vegetarian burgers, as well as burgers with a more ethnic flair, often benefit from more strongly flavored buns. Popular alternatives include:
- Kaiser rolls
- Potato buns
- Semolina rolls
- Onion rolls
- Sourdough rolls
- Pita bread
- Cornbread
- Tortillas
- Seven-grain rolls
- White bread
- English muffins
- Brioche rolls
- Focaccia
- Bagels
Mix-Ins
Mixing ingredients into burgers before forming patties can liven up the mild flavors of poultry, fish, and vegetarian burgers and transform ordinary burgers into exotic creations. Mix-in ingredients include both dry and liquid seasonings:
- Minced garlic
- Minced onion
- Worcestershire sauce
- Dijon mustard
- Minced bell or chili peppers
- Dried herbs and spices
- Soy sauce
- Ginger
- Barbecue sauce
- Grated cheese
- Roasted peppers
- Breadcrumbs
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Citrus juice or zest
- Peeled and minced apples
- Olives
- Balsamic vinegar
- Wine
- Toasted nuts
- Prepared horseradish
Condiments and Toppings
The list of potential burger toppings is practically endless and extends far beyond the classic combination of ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, and American cheese.
- Mayonnaise
- Pickles
- Relish
- Cheese (blue, cheddar, Swiss, Brie, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Gouda, mozzarella, provolone, feta)
- Mushrooms
- Bacon
- Chili
- Thousand Island dressing
- Ranch dressing
- Salsa
- Avocado
- Guacamole
- Coleslaw
- Pesto
- Barbecue sauce
- Roasted peppers
- Chutney
- Tapenade
- Aioli
- Yogurt
- Eggs
- Sour cream
- Bean spread
- Ham
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