The Perfect Classic Grilled Burger

Nothing screams summer like burgers on the grill. And nothing can match the taste of a true, homemade, juicy burger stacked with fresh tomato, crisp lettuce, beautifully ripe avocado, and if you’re really indulgent, add some sauteed onions and a little secret sauce. Let the splashing around in the pool, lake, ocean, kiddie pool? begin! It’s summertime! Enjoy it while it’s still here.

With the wonderfully convenient development of the flash frozen hamburger patty, we’ve all gotten sucked into the trap of pulling those suckers out of the freezer, slapping them on the grill, dousing them with a little seasoned salt, flipping once after four minutes, then plopping them on a cold bun and dinner is served in less than 10 minutes. In all honesty, they’re actually not bad, and a great solution when time is of the essence.

But sometimes (well, almost always), it’s worth the additional 15 minutes it takes to make a real, homemade, thick, perfectly grilled, sloppy, messy, backyard burger. Everyone will ohhhh and ahhhh over the rare treat of a homemade grilled burger.

Here are a few tips to making great homemade burgers on the grill:

• Use between 1/4 and 1/3 pound fresh ground beef (at least 15% fat for flavor – none of that lean stuff) for each burger.
• Do not over work the meat as you form the patties. They will be very tough.
• When you shape the patties, press an indentation about the size of a deep thumbprint in the center to prevent the burger from mounding in the middle when it cooks. (There’s some science to this, but I really don’t know what it is. Post a comment below if you can explain it to me!)
• Don’t forget to oil the grates a bit before you toss the burgers on the grill!
• And please don’t over cook them!

Once the grilled burgers are cooked to a perfect medium-rare, lightly toast the buns on the grill while the burgers rest. Then build your masterpiece – secret sauce (explained below – so simple and a great addition to any grilled burger), sauteed onion, crisp lettuce, juicy tomato, ripe avocado. Grab hold of that bad boy and sink your teeth into summertime!

 [wpurp-searchable-recipe]The Perfect Classic Grilled Burger – Kick summertime up a notch with this classic grilled burger! – ground beef (no less than 15% fat), season salt, Worchestershire Sauce, black pepper, onion (cut in half, then sliced), ketchup, ranch dressing, lettuce, large tomatoes (sliced), avocados (pitted and sliced), hamburger buns, , Turn on your grill to medium-high heat. ; In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, season salt, Worchestershire Sauce, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly, but do not over work.; Make the secret sauce – Mix the ketchup and ranch dressing in a small bowl. Set aside for burger toppings. ; In a medium skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil for a minute, then add the sliced onions. Saute on medium-low until soft and lightly caramelized, approximately 10 minutes. Set aside for burger toppings. ; Form patties by dividing the ground beef mixture into 8 parts. Carefully mound each part into a sphere, then flatten to approximately 1" thick. Press firmly with your thumb in the middle of each patty to form an indentation. ; Using long thongs, wipe grill grates with an oiled paper towel. This will prevent the grilled burgers from sticking.; Place burgers on the gill and close the lid. Flip burgers after 4 minutes, and grill another 4 minutes. Remove from grill and lightly cover with aluminum foil. Let burgers rest 5 minutes. This should produce medium rare burgers. Adjust cooking time according to your personal taste. ; Lightly toast buns on grill while burgers are resting. ; Assemble burgers with your choice of toppings. My favorites are the secret sauce, iceberg lettuce, vine ripened tomatoes, avocado, and sauteed onions. Feel free to throw on some cheese, mustard, or raw onions if you like. Serve with potato chips and dig in! ; ; – – Lunch – Main Course – Main Dish – American – Camping – Beef – Cooking for a Crowd – Easy – Main Dish – Summer[/wpurp-searchable-recipe]