How to Make Homemade Burgers: Tips, Tools and Frequently Asked Questions
If you are dining in tonight, your goal in making homemade burgers may be to make them look and taste as good as the steakburgers at your local Freddy’s. On the other hand, you may be attempting to perfect your own versions of homemade burgers, whether they are made of beef, turkey, beans or vegetables. While our Freddy’s Famous Steakburger & Fry Seasoning® and specialty sauces may be available at the Freddy’s near you, we can’t give away all of our secrets. However, this guide to homemade burgers may help you with your own cooking pursuits!
Preparing to Make Homemade Burgers
Before beginning any recipe or other kitchen creativity, it’s helpful to prepare. Different types of homemade burgers may have slightly different requirements in terms of the utensils and equipment that may be needed. However, previewing and then organizing the specified items in advance helps simplify the actual process of making the recipe. In addition to the specific ingredients for your homemade burgers, here are some other items that may be called for to help make them:
Mixing bowls: Although the number of ingredients may range drastically between recipes, the burger patty mixture typically comes together in a bowl. Make sure you have one that will fit all of the necessary ingredients and allow you room enough to mix them together.
Burger spatula or flipper: At Bon Appetit, a single flip may be the pro move to use when cooking homemade burgers. However, some recipes may call for more movement. Whether for that single flip or additional ones, having a utensil that fits the majority if not all of the patty helps ensure that the patty doesn’t break apart during movement.
Knife and cutting board: For some burger patties, the chosen ground beef may simply be combined with a few seasonings, while others may leverage the flavor of additional ingredients such as finely chopped onion, mushrooms or other ingredients. In fact, for some homemade burger recipes, a grater may also be used in preparing the patty mixture.
Burger press: As an alternative to hand shaping burger patties, some individuals may opt to use a burger press. This tool helps ensure that homemade burgers are consistent in shape and thickness, which may contribute to more even cooking as well as uniform appearance.
Food prep gloves: Often standard in many restaurants, these gloves are also available for use by the home cook. This choice may be a matter of personal preference for the sometimes messy patty-making process or made with safety in mind to reduce the potential for spreading bacteria.
Food thermometer: The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends this tool to ensure that homemade burgers are cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature. While other sensory cues may help with the sense of cooking completion, using a thermometer is the best way to identify when burgers have been cooked to a safe recommended temperature or the level of doneness preferred by your diners.
Skillet, grill or baking sheet: Grilling, pan-frying and baking are three of the most common practices for cooking homemade burgers. If you opt to cook on a grill, remember to clean it with a grill brush or grill brick, as recommended by Food & Wine, prior to cooking your next batch of burgers.
4 General Tips for Homemade Burgers
As with many other beloved and classic dishes, people love to agree to disagree on various aspects of how to make homemade burgers. From differing opinions about the ingredients to how to cook it, it might take a lifetime to test out all of the available advice for this dining endeavor. However, these four general (and mostly agreed upon) tips can help you make the most of your next batch of homemade burgers.
1. Add seasoning. From salt and pepper to assorted spices and prepared seasonings, as well as binders, vegetables and more, there are seemingly infinite possibilities in how to flavor your homemade burgers. You’ll also find that the timing of when to season may vary. As highlighted at Serious Eats, salting beef burgers in particular should be done just before they are to be cooked to maintain the moistness of the burger. This same burger exploration further reiterates the differences of opinions in terms of cooking, as it encourages cooks to flip burgers frequently!
2. Toast the buns. Toasting burger buns adds some additional flavor and texture with its bit of crispiness. Additionally, this burger bun preparation may also help it retain its integrity when the juicy burger, sauces and toppings are eventually added to it. At Freddy’s, serving our steakburgers with toasted buns is standard, though we also offer the customization of no bun or lettuce wrapped burgers to our guests.
3. Explore a variety of burger toppings. Homemade burgers are very versatile. The patties can be made with a variety of ingredients, and there are also many options for what to use as buns, toppings and condiments. Although cheese, lettuce and ketchup may be the familiar accompaniments, playing with different toppings in addition to patty mixtures can help you create many new and exciting burger experiences.
4. Think about storage. As you prepare and cook homemade burgers, your thoughts may be consumed by the eventual eating of these mouth-watering creations. However, having a plan for storage throughout the process and after it also helps ensure food safety and future enjoyment. For example, cooked burgers should be put in sealed containers or wrapped up as soon as possible, especially if the environment in which they are served is hot as per the FSIS. If you are preparing batches of patties, freezing them is the best option, even if you plan to use them later in the week.
Frequently asked questions about making burgers at home
From our curated and specialty steakburgers to our celebrated veggie burger, we know how much effort and care goes into making all types of burgers. Additionally, we understand that each type of burger (and sometimes even recipes for the same kind of burger) may have different requirements. To help answer some of these common questions, the following FAQs address all things with homemade burgers. From beef to turkey and bean to veggie, if you need help planning or your next experience making homemade burgers, this is a good starting point.
What type of beef should I use in my homemade burgers?
Unsurprisingly, responses to this question vary in general, as emphasized by Taste of Home, and also based on how you are cooking these burgers and your individual health preferences. Individuals looking for homemade burgers with less fat, for example, will likely choose ground beef with a lower fat ratio. Others may want to leverage a higher fat content for additional flavor or specific characteristics of beef associated with particular cuts.
How long should I cook my burgers?
Instead of thinking about the minutes, focus on the temperature. There are multiple factors that impact total cook times, such as fat content, patty size, and cooking method, in addition to any personal preferences for doneness. A well-done beef burger typically means an internal temperature of 160℉ – the same temperature recommended by the USDA for safety reasons. So, rarer burgers may mean lower internal temperatures and a willingness to accept the potential risks associated with these temperatures.
Do I have to let my homemade burgers rest?
As noted at Simply Recipes, even just a minute of rest helps with the juiciness of homemade burgers. Homemade burgers like other types of meat preparation benefit from the greater moisture retention and flavor that this step helps achieve. However, it typically takes a minute or longer to assemble the completed burger before that first bite is taken, so you may be able to achieve that rest time while this step is happening and avoid overcooling.
Are homemade turkey burgers a healthier choice than ground beef?
This question, like many others, depends on a variety of factors. Any burger, including veggie burgers, can be presented with plenty of fat and numerous calories depending on its completed preparation. However, in its simplest preparation of the patty itself, Healthline’s nutritional comparison chart of ground beef v. ground turkey is helpful in seeing the difference between types of meat as well as meat ratios. Healthy choices like exchanging a bun for a lettuce wrap or swapping a higher fat sauce for a different one also contribute to final nutritional totals. To get a sense of how customizing components in addition to the patty itself may impact your homemade burgers, use Freddy’s nutrition and allergen guide to help you explore.
What can help make my homemade turkey burgers juicier?
Choosing ingredients for this purpose may also depend on your health goals or personal preferences. For example, at Southern Living mayonnaise is recommended instead of egg to serve as a binder for juicy patties, while mushrooms are the secret moisture-adding component in this recipe from All Recipes.
Is the cooking time for turkey burgers the same as other homemade burgers?
In addition to the factors described for beef burgers that impact cooking time, internal temperature again here is the key. Turkey burgers must be cooked to a minimum of 165℉. Unlike beef burgers, turkey burgers aren’t typically served at varying degrees of doneness.
What type of beans should be used in homemade bean burgers?
As used in Freddy’s Veggie Burger and this recipe from Love & Lemons, black beans are a popular choice for this type of burger. However, you can also use a variety of other beans that you may have in your pantry, including pinto beans, chickpeas and navy beans.
How can I ensure that my homemade burgers stay together when using beans?
Binding agents are often incorporated into bean burger recipes, such as eggs and breadcrumbs or even avocado as recommended at The Kitchn. Chilling these homemade burger patties prior to cooking also helps, as does making sure that the beans are mashed.
How do I cook homemade bean burgers?
While they can be grilled, making them in a fry pan or the oven may be a better choice to ensure that they stay together, especially if you are making them for the first time or they aren’t staying together too well.
Can you make homemade burgers without beans or meat?
Yes, you can! From grated beets as in the recipe from Chef Chloe to this mushroom burger from Elephantastic Vegan, homemade vegetable burgers don’t require beans or meat. Instead of beans, grains and seeds are often incorporated with vegetables and mushrooms.
Do homemade veggie burgers freeze well?
There may be more chopping and dicing involved in veggie burgers than with other types of burgers. Consequently, it can be helpful to make a big batch of burgers and then freeze them individually, so that they are available for upcoming meal times.
Are all vegetable burgers vegan?
Not necessarily! Recipes for homemade vegetable burgers or the veggie burgers available in the store may not be vegan, as they often include cheese, egg or even milk products. As with any other dietary or allergy considerations, it can be helpful to search for recipes specifically based on those parameters.
From homemade burgers to the ones at your favorite fast food location, meals featuring these mouth-watering creations are often the most crowd-pleasing. Hopefully, this guide will further aid you in making a variety of homemade burgers for you and your loved ones to enjoy. However, if you are opting to let the professionals at the Freddy’s near you handle lunch or dinner tonight, remember to join Freddy’s Rewards, so that you can earn points on your upcoming orders of steakburgers, frozen custard treats and more today!