Professional Flat-Top Methods for 2026 Summer Grilling

Heat a large cast-iron frying pan or griddle over high until smoking cigarettes. Add 2 tablespoons oil. Include 4 meatballs, and right away flatten to 1/4-inch-thickness with a sturdy, broad spatula. Prepare until bottoms are crisp and deep brown, about 1 minute. Flip patties, leading each with 1 cheese piece, and cook up until bottoms are well charred and cheese is melted, 45 seconds to 1 minute.

Repeat with staying 2 tablespoons oil, remaining 4 meatballs, and staying 4 cheese slices. Preheat broiler to high with oven rack 5 to 6 inches from heat. Brush cut sides of buns with butter. Set up buns, cut side up, on a baking sheet. Broil in preheated oven till toasted, 1 to 2 minutes.

Cover with top bun halves, and serve right away.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Among my preferred things to cook on the Blackstone Frying pan is the A homemade smash hamburger is super-thin hamburger patties prepared on a griddle with lots of taste from the browned bits that develop throughout cooking. Those bits form a scrumptious and tasty crust with a fantastic texture. Ground beef (at least 80:20) American Cheese Leaf Lettuce Tomato slices Sugary food onion slices Garlic salt Black pepper Butter Ketchup Mayonaise Mustard Relish Hamburger buns There's no right or wrong way to prepare a smash burger on the Blackstone griddle.

These hamburger patties can also be prepared in a hot skillet like a cast-iron pan. Generally, I will make 4 ground chuck burgers per pound of beef.

Perfecting the Flat-Top: Essential Burger Methods

I value and respect his approach I frequently utilize a bigger bun than he does and like the hamburger to hang over the edge. That extra meat is practically like a tiny appetizer before consuming the hamburger's primary bite. The Serious Consumes method uses a mix of both ground chuck and brisket for their hamburgers.

Believe it or not, among the finest places I have discovered brisket burgers consistently is at WalMart. These brisket burgers make a fantastic smash burger on the griddle but I discover they need to sit about 30 seconds longer than typical on the griddle before smashing. Hamburger being smashed under parchment paper If I'm not utilizing a brisket hamburger blend, I use an 80:20, or even a 75:25 meat to fat ratio whenever possible.

Use newly ground beef over formerly frozen whenever you can to make the hamburgers even more scrumptious. I'm convinced the foundation of any tasty ground meat burger begins is a quality hamburger bun.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

A few of my preferred Smashburger toppings are: Bacon Tomato Lettuce Mayonaise Mustard Dill Pickles Ketchup Relish Sauteed mushrooms Barbecue sauce Grilled onions Blue Cheese collapses Jalapeno peppers Pimento Cheese Slice of cheese Toasted buns add a pop of flavor that's a bit salted and nutty. Toasting a burger bun likewise assists to keep the bun from being soaked if you include hamburger sauce or other condiments like ketchup, relish, or smash sauce.

Exploring Flat-Top vs Traditional Grilling Methods

Many take pleasure in at least some toppings on hamburgers; the most typical are lettuce, tomato, and onion. I find that the thickness of the tomato and onion can change the taste of the burger.

If the onion slice is too thick, its flavor can be overwhelming. However if you get the slices to the correct thickness, it complements the burger rather well and highlights how delicious the dish is. To achieve the best density of onion and tomato slices, it is necessary to use a really sharp knife.

Beyond a sharp knife, some griddle devices will make this cook more fun. For the tomato, I try and cut round pieces slightly thinner than the density of a pencil.

If you intend on putting cheese on your hamburger you can add cheese simply after turning the burger. Some people will likewise include special sauce at this time however I prefer to slather that straight on the bun rather of on top of the piece of cheese. Always toast your buns over medium high heat in a little bit of butter first and allow them to keep warm while the hamburgers prepare.