Summer is officially here and we know a lot of you are breaking out the grill (if you haven’t already). Our kitchen crew members are masters of the flat top and a lot of their tricks for great burgers will work at home too! If you’re looking for perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned burgers this summer, here’s what the crew suggests 👇🏼👇🏽👇🏾
Start with a clean grill.
This one is pretty easy! You don’t need to be a grillmaster to start with a clean grill. How you clean your grill will depend on what kind it is. If you’re not sure what the best way to clean your specific grill is, there are literally millions of videos on the internet about it.
Choose high-quality meat.
All of our meat is sourced from longtime Lockport favorite Scapelliti's. You can grab a few pounds there for your burgers at home too. There are plenty of other local options for high-quality meat as well!
Season your meat.
Starting with high-quality meat means it has great flavor of its own. You’ll still want to season your meat though! Don’t start off too strong; you can always add more seasoning later but there’s no going back once it’s on your meat. Too much seasoning might make your burgers taste salty.
Defrost your meat.
Sure, you can stick a frozen patty straight on the grill. But we don’t recommend it. Frozen meat will take a lot longer to cook, and there’s more of a chance that your burgers will be burnt on the outside and still frozen on the inside. 😬 To avoid this, defrost your meat and read the next two tips.
Keep a consistent temperature.
You’ll want to keep your grill at a consistent temperature so you’re cooking your meat evenly. This is a lot harder on a charcoal grill than a gas grill, but not impossible! It involves preheating your grill to the temperature you need (which depends on what you’re cooking) and keeping a close eye on it.
Use a meat thermometer.
If you’re an experienced griller (and eater 😆) you might not need a meat thermometer to tell when your meat is cooked. For newbies, a meat thermometer can make you feel more confident! Make sure you’re taking the temperature of the very middle of your meat, which will be the least done part. The temperature you’re looking for depends on how well done you like your burgers!
Be patient.
Good food takes time, no matter how you cook it. Grilling great burgers (or any other meat) takes patience. You’ll want to stay close to your grill to keep an eye on it. Don’t go overboard though! Opening your grill lets out the heat you need for a consistent temperature. Preserve the flavorful juices in your meat by flipping just once!
