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What Makes the Best Homemade Burger?

Posted Mon, Mar 03, 2008, 3:00 pm PST
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A friend of mine, Blake Royer over at The Paupered Chef, spent way too much time conducting some obsessive pseudoscientific kitchen experiments with his new KitchenAid mixer and a meat-grinding attachment trying to come up with the perfect burger recipe. But that's why I like this guy. The results are exhaustive, hilarious, and replete with clever cattle line drawings.

Blake's verdict: Equal parts freshly ground untrimmed brisket and sirloin make the tastiest homemade burgers. My only question: How come he didn't invite me to the burger party? The dude made 36 burgers, and I didn't get a bite of one. That's not right.

19 Comments

  • 1. Posted by Grillinman75 on Tue, Mar 04, 2008, 6:57 am PST

    I use our KithenAid all the time to make different types of sausage. I've only used it a few times for burgers. It is time consuming, but tasty! I usually have the butcher grind it for me & just bring it home to "doctor" it up w/spices! Good Article.

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  • 2. Posted by ianlt2 on Thu, Mar 06, 2008, 9:06 am PST

    Question: rough or fine grind?

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  • 3. Posted by kirkdraut on Wed, Mar 12, 2008, 1:40 pm PDT

    I like to use a mix of sirloin and bacon. I grind it twice to ensure that it is well mixed, then cook it over oak.

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  • 4. Posted by sportygirlbeachfun on Tue, Mar 18, 2008, 12:32 am PDT

    This is really the good!I would like to invite you to join my circle of friends. on http://www.uniformedcuoid.com

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  • 5. Posted by bunnybandit007 on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 12:49 pm PDT

    I actually do a mix of turkey and buffalo meat. Add a few secret spices for flavor and to keep it moist then off to the grill wil a nice pesto mayo to finish it off. You want the real recipie, Food Network better hire me. (teehee)

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  • 6. Posted by chicagosuitelady on Sun, Mar 23, 2008, 2:51 pm PDT

    In trying to stick to turkey- I would say, fine grind some turkey- and add some Jenira Sauce- check www.jenirasauce.com. A little steak sauce (to add beef flavor)- some dried basil and thyme- and you have a terrific turkey burger... Some swiss cheese- a kaiser bun, grilled- with mayo- grilled onions- you are good to go. I always go for the most humongous burger I can make- ALWAYS make sure it hangs over the sides of the bun...

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  • 7. Posted by lyraangeltan on Mon, Mar 24, 2008, 6:15 pm PDT

    For my burgers, I use grinded meat and add some steak sauce and some herbs and Italian flavors, like garlic powder and dried basil and thyme, and grill it (till well-done), and then Presto! Searve on a Sesame Hamburger bun (Of course) with Lettuce, Tomato, Mayo, Red Onions (fresh or fried lightly), Cheese (Cheddar, Swiss, Parmesan, Romana, just to give you ideas), and if you like Ketchup and of course, Bacon, if you like. Perfect for the wonderful summer, when you want to go out and grill all afternoon, in the HOT sunshine. The beautiful aroma of burger's fill the house... until you gobble the burger's up. Yummy!

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  • 8. Posted by James on Wed, Mar 26, 2008, 10:30 am PDT

    It looks delicious!

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  • 9. Posted by joe c on Sat, Mar 29, 2008, 6:41 pm PDT

    the best burger Ive ever had is made with Gimme lean brand ground beef style..overall better than beef no cruelty and no animal fat! can be cooked in olive oil and sated with shallots and mushrooms,salt n pepper or any spices..

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  • 10. Posted by tamlwells on Mon, Mar 31, 2008, 7:17 am PDT

    Well the way to keep your burger truly juicy is with a trick that I learned from the food channel. If you mix in a little, just a few spoonfuls of ice cold water as you mix the seasonings and then shape your burgers they will so juicy! I kow it may sound crazy but it really works. Yum!!!!

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  • 11. Posted by megan.doney on Fri, Apr 04, 2008, 7:23 am PDT

    hey...i just wanted to let everyone know who is in the greater washington area that it is that time again!!! that you can vote for 2008 best and worst restaurants for washingtonian magazine! I love voting and its a fun way to see who wins!!! one of my favorite places is california tortilla...they have the best burrittos!!...here is the link to vote and please vote for them cause they are great....http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=GEAdJ0PGD2wOBH0l0BEOOQ_3d_3d

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  • 12. Posted by rainbow31701 on Mon, Apr 07, 2008, 3:21 pm PDT

    My grandmother was a wonderful cook and taught me to put baking powder with a little cold water in any ground meat, along with seasonings of your choice, to keep it moist and delicious when grilling or pan frying. She made the best hamburgers ever - she browned them in an iron skillet over high heat then put them in a roasting pan in a slow oven to finish cooking. It was something we all looked forward to on Sunday nights.

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  • 13. Posted by thumper2508 on Mon, Apr 14, 2008, 1:23 pm PDT

    My mama's burgers are the BEST. It's not any specific recipe, and she never does anything overly special, but they are AWESOME. I think she uses hamburger meat (20/80...you need a little fat ok?!) and then some worchteshire sauce, butter,garlic, black pepper, salt and she puts it in a skillet and cooks them on the stove...it does not get any better than that. I think it's because she makes them.Yep.

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  • 14. Posted by wesley_morrison on Mon, Apr 14, 2008, 2:26 pm PDT

    I know that in Texas we like to use sirlion for the meat, and we add salt, pepper to taste and we shredd the jalapeno that have been grilled already. Mix in bowl with a homemade steak sauce into your size of patty and place on the grill using mesquite for the wood, about 6 min, for med well done. And we like to place jalapeno slices on the bun with a slice of avacado, lettuce, tomatoand red onion with your choice of mayo or mustard, oh yes and dont forget two slices of cheese.

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  • 15. Posted by dtkall on Thu, Apr 17, 2008, 10:02 am PDT

    cool site to show off what you cooked...RankMyMeal.com

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  • 16. Posted by Kit on Thu, Apr 17, 2008, 12:58 pm PDT

    Lots of cheese

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  • 17. Posted by Oatmeal Cookie Guy on Thu, Apr 17, 2008, 2:22 pm PDT

    Cheese and bacon! www.oatmealcookie.typepad.com

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  • 18. Posted by andrewsgpaandrewsgpa on Tue, Apr 22, 2008, 2:18 pm PDT

    BIG MAN I like reading your way of cooking. it gives me new ideals and I like trying the new way everyone cooks their food.

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  • 19. Posted by cezatrina b on Thu, Apr 24, 2008, 9:22 pm PDT

    im in the philippines, are the ingredients available in my country? if not, what are the alternatives?

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