hamburger hamburger hamburger--- maybe with chesse?

Hamburgers from restaurants and fast food joints never taste like the hamburgers you make at home. There are a number of factors that contribute to this unfortunate reality, most of them disgusting, but, as a person that grew up eating hamburgers way more than I ever wanted, I have come to find some really great hamburger tips.

1. Super thick patties aren't great. They aren't juicier. They aren't more flavorful. They're just bigger. Keep them thinner than 3/4 of an inch thickness.
2. Unless you're a grill master (which I'm not) implore different cooking methods. Foreman grill, Baking, Steaming, or even frying will be better. A grilled burger is the best...a badly grilled burger is the worst.
3. Don't add french onion soup powder, ranch powder, or any of those nasty recipes you find on the back of a bottle/box/packet into your meat! The meat should stand alone. Buy super lean and season to bring the flavor of the meat out, not mask it. Salt and pepper work just fine on hamburgers. Nothing more, nothing less. 
4. Buy your meat fresh, from behind the counter, if you can. Defrosted meat never quite tastes the same.

A great great great hamburger...

1lb of 93% lean ground beef (Laura's as a great prepackaged one)

salt and pepper for taste

• Make 4 patties about the size of the palm of your hand (again this is totally relative, you're making each patty about 1/4 of a pound)
• Salt and pepper them
• Pan sear them on HIGHEST heat to lock their shape in place if you're using ultra lean meat. Do not cook the burger through and through...go to the next step.

large pot with room for 4 burgers on the bottom and a lid

Flat Steamer

1 cup mushroom broth

1 cup water

1 teaspoon salt

• Add all ingredients into pot and bring to a boil
• Place flat steamer into the pot (this shouldn't be submerged into water)
• Add burgers and cover
• Cook 5-9 minutes depending on how done you'd like your burger
• Remove from steam, keep water going for cheese

Munster or cheddar cheese....or whatever cheese you'd like...if you want cheese

one tuna can washed in the dishwasher with all the labels peeled off

• Cube your cheese. 2-3 cubes is plenty for one burger
• Place into tuna can
• Place tuna can into the pot with the steam
• Monitor the cheese! It will become melty and delicious. Pour over the hamburger. 

Remember that there are a million ways to have a burger. Some of them are better than others but its important to have a lot of options. Keeping sliced tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and different condiments around is a great way to easily add to your burger. 

Enjoy!