Hamburgers, or simply burgers as they are commonly referred to are mostly seen on restaurant and hotel menus but you don’t have to first go there to eat one. We have brought you a step by step guide on how you can make yourself one in the comfort of your kazigo, or apartment, whatever you call home.
Ingredients:
- Good quality ground beef – preferably 80/20 (80 percent lean beef to 20 percent fat). It needs the fat to be tasty. The better your beef the better the burgers.
- Salt and pepper
- Tasty buns
- Butter or oil
- Whatever toppings you enjoy
INSTRUCTIONS
- Divide the ground beef.
Divide the ground beef into 4 or 6 portions, depending on the number of burgers you would like to make.
- Shape the patties.
Gently press each portion of ground beef into a disk about 1-inch thick. Press the middle to create a shallow “dimple” and pat the edges into a round — the patty should look like a disc and be slightly larger than your burger buns. Don’t worry if there are some cracks in the edges; try not to mash the beef too much as you shape the patties.
- Warm the pan.
Heat a pat of butter or a teaspoon of oil in a grill or pan over medium heat.
- Toast the buns.
Working in batches if needed, place the bun halves cut-side down in the warm butter or oil. Toast until the surface is golden-brown. Transfer the toasted buns to a serving plate.
- Increase the heat to medium – high.
Increase the heat to medium-high, and keep a careful eye on the pan. When you see the first wisp of smoke, you’re ready to cook the burgers.
- Cook the burgers for 3 to 5 minutes.
Place the burger patties in the hot pan, leaving a little space between each one. Work in batches if necessary. The burgers should sizzle on contact — if they don’t, increase the heat up a little. Generously season with salt and pepper, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Flip the burgers and cook another 3 to 5 minutes.
Quickly flip to the other side. You should see a dark brown burn on the underside — if not, increase your heat next time. Season the other side generously with salt and pepper, and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes to your preferred doneness. If the burger falls apart when you flip, just press the edges together and carry on — your burger will still be great!
- To make cheeseburgers.
If making cheeseburgers, top the burgers with cheese as soon as you flip them. If the cheese isn’t melting fast enough, cover the pan with a lid or another pan to encourage the cheese to melt.
- Finish the burgers.
When the burgers have finished cooking, transfer them to the toasted buns and finish with your favorite burger toppings.