The Underrated Toppings that Define a Steakburger
Forget about the many different cheeses that make for tasty steakburgers. Opt out of the heated onion debate over whether raw, grilled or any other preparation of onion makes the best onion for burgers. Instead, let’s explore why several of the familiar toppings on the list of best burger toppings deserve more recognition for their contributions to the burger experience. In this guide, we’ll explore the following topics and more!
● The potent power of pickle slices
● The magic of mustard on burgers of all kinds
● A refresher on the role of lettuce and tomato
● Tips on burger topping ratios, burger construction and more
Whether you're contemplating dill vs. sweet pickle, marinating over the addition of mustard vs. mayo, or looking for inspiration from the Freddy’s menu, find out more below!
4 Burger Toppings Worthy of More Recognition
The choice of toppings often ensures maximum enjoyment of any type of burger, from gourmet burgers to homemade burgers. For one diner, yellow mustard and a thin slice of red onion define topping greatness. For another, the use of arugula for peppery freshness instead of the usual iceberg leaf or the perfect coverage of pickle slices on top of the burger equals the magical combination. Here, celebrate how pickles, mustard, lettuce and tomato benefit burgers whether dining out, ordering delivery or making craft burgers at home!
The Power of the Pickle Slice
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, pickle slices frequently appear on burgers of all kinds. For fans of this sometimes underrated burger topping, the various types of pickles offer a wide range of flavors and textures. Although the pickle slices that commonly appear on burgers are made with cucumbers, other pickled ingredients make similarly delicious additions and bring their own unique flair to a burger. Keep reading to learn about popular pickle slices, reasons to choose a dill pickle vs. a sweet pickle, and other pickled possibilities for burgers!
Popular Pickle Slices for Burgers
Pickle slices don’t just provide a splash of color or check the box on a vegetable component. Instead, their vinegary tang and crisp, perhaps cooling, contrast with other warm, soft ingredients, making them worthy of greater appreciation. Especially with rich, luxurious burgers and multiple patty offerings, these acidic elements might even bring a lightness to each bite as well as flavor that enhances the other burger components.
Some of the most popular pickles for burgers include dill, bread-and-butter, and spicy pickles. Each type of pickle offers its own unique tang based on the process of making that pickle, as well as other ingredients. In addition to salt and sugar, other seasonings like dill, garlic, mustard seed and red pepper flakes may be included.
Dill Pickle vs. Sweet Pickle on a Burger
In compiling the pickle section of a best burger topping list, both dill and sweet pickles may be in the running. However, the ranking of dill pickles vs. sweet pickles on burgers may come down to the type of burger or textural preferences, since both offer acidity in the burger experience. Sweet pickles, like bread and butter pickles, are usually softer than dill pickles. Their sweetness may be a welcome contrast in spicier burgers or simply preferable as they may not have the same bite as dill pickles. Often bringing a crunchier layer of acidity, dill pickles can help cut through the richness of some burgers. In conducting your own exploration of the best pickle slices for burgers, remember that the experience of even a single type of pickle can vary substantially due to the type of cucumber used, preparation, and recipe ingredients.
Other Pickled Burger Toppings that Pack in the Flavor
As emphasized in the discussion of over 20 types of pickles at Tasting Table, there’s no need to limit pickle consumption to burgers or otherwise just to cucumber pickles. Pickled red onions and pickled jalapeños enhance burgers and many other dishes, as do pickled components such as kimchi. When choosing pickles for burgers, keep in mind that some options work just as well for layering on burgers as cucumber slices, but others may need a bit more management to stay in place.
The Role of Mustard in a Classic Burger
American cheese and cheddar typically rank highly on lists of the best burger toppings in their category. Ketchup and mayonnaise similarly hold places of honor as burger condiments. However, like the pickle slice, mustard may not receive as much recognition, but its flavor can be the distinctive note that balances out the richness that cheeseburgers and other stacked steakburgers often offer. Featuring yellow mustard, Dijon mustard or one of the other types of mustard as explored in this guide from Serious Eats, mustards typically bring both color and a zesty intensity to a variety of burgers.
How to Choose Mustard vs. Mayo on a Burger
Choosing mustard vs. mayo or vice versa often depends on the components of the burger in question. For example, burger patties that are a little leaner or steakburger creations on the spicy side may benefit from the rich, cool creaminess that mayonnaise provides. On the other hand, mustard can help lighten and brighten a burger or balance sweeter toppings. Generally, mustard tends to be the lower calorie option of the two. Ultimately, there’s no reason you can’t put both mustard and mayo on your burger. Additionally, both mayonnaise and mustard can serve as a base for a tasty burger sauce, either individually or together!
Lettuce and Tomato: Freshness Matters
Nothing beats the flavor of freshly picked lettuce and tomatoes. While harvesting the crispy green leaves and slicing into sun-warmed tomatoes for a build-your-own burger bar may happen just prior to eating time at backyard cookouts, the freshness of the lettuce and tomato matters whenever you choose to enjoy a steakburger or any other type of burger. Next, discover more about the importance of each ingredient as a burger topping, along with alternative, equally delicious variations for each component to consider!
Choosing and Using Lettuce and Other Leafy Greens for Burgers
Fresh lettuce and other leafy greens bring vibrant colors, a range of textures and flavors, and versatility in steakburgers and other burger dishes. For the refreshing crunch that they impart and their role in burger construction, iceberg and romaine are two of the best lettuces for burgers. Boston lettuce and other butterhead lettuces are softer and subtly sweeter, while arugula and kale offer more flavor and additional nutritional benefits. From iceberg leaves to collard greens, many of the same ingredients used as burger toppings can also serve as wraps for steakburgers.
Ripe Tomatoes: The Perfect Slice and Other Tomato Toppings to Try
Color, tang, freshness and juiciness come with the inclusion of ripe tomato on a burger. Even a single slice of tomato on a steakburger provides such benefits. To ensure the best possible cuts, The Kitchn offers some recommendations for slicing success. However, this classic topping format isn’t the only way to capitalize on this ingredient's freshness. For example, you might consider grilling tomatoes alongside your burgers to transform them into a sweeter, softer and smokier addition. Tomatoes are also yet another ingredient that can be pickled, if you want to further boost their inherent tartness!
The Perfect Topping-to-Patty Ratio and Other Tips
To achieve the perfect burger bite, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are three tips for choosing toppings and layering them into the complete burger:
Balance helps to achieve the perfect topping-to-patty ratio. Generally, the patty is the largest slice of the flavor pie chart. The ratio of the other toppings depends largely on exactly what they are, as well as personal preference. Consequently, it can be helpful to start with smaller amounts of toppings and keep in mind how their flavors relate to each other and to the overall dish.
Stack your burger with intention. Most burger fans have been guilty of a hurried assembly process at some point – the goal being to get the burger, with all essential toppings, into the mouth as quickly as possible. However, to enjoy the potential of a burger to the fullest and create the best possible eating experience, some burger topping placements work better than others. As with which topping deserves to reign supreme on the list of best burger toppings, there is similar variation around layering methodology. As one chef-guided model, Reader’s Digest offers a visual guide to stacking toppings, including the ones featured here.
Go seasonal with your topping selections. The four toppings included in this guide typically make any list of the best burger toppings. However, there are so many other seasonal burger toppings to enjoy, besides the familiar favorites like onion, lettuce, pickles and tomato.
Freddy’s Steakburger Selections Showcasing These Toppings
Both savory items like steakburgers and the sweeter frozen custard treats on our menu feature our recommendations for what makes these dishes shine. Although customization is always an option, the following steakburgers at Freddy’s show how topping choices contribute to their flavor and overall experience.
Freddy’s Original Double
Featuring two steakburger patties, the cheese in the Freddy’s Original Double helps keep the patties in their scrumptious layers on the toasted bun. Stacked on top of these meaty and creamy components, the layers of mustard, pickle slices and onions bring the welcome contrast of acidity and crunch to the melted cheese and crispy burger edges.
California Style Double
This steakburger illustrates how layers of green lettuce and sliced tomato provide a refreshing element to the components they sandwich. In addition to offering some crunch, the lettuce also helps keep the Thousand Island dressing on the California Style Double. Similarly, the onion and tomato slices protect the lettuce from wilting from the heat of the cheese and burger patties at the base of this burger.
Steakburger Burger Bowl
The usual topping-to-patty ratio is reversed in a dish like the Steakburger Bowl. Therefore, this menu selection further illustrates how well the tasty combination of lettuce, tomato, and onion, along with a dressing like honey mustard, works. Freddy’s guests have the option to skip the bun in favor of a lettuce wrap for their burgers, but the steakburger bowl amps up the fresh factor with a variety of vegetables and gives all the burger ingredients a more equal opportunity to shine in terms of flavor.
Other Toppings to Add to Your “Best Of” List for Steakburgers
While many of Freddy’s steakburgers and other sandwiches benefit from toppings like lettuce, tomato, pickles and mustard, they aren’t the only toppings in our diverse selection of offerings. In fact, they are just a few of the more than 25 different choices in our topping collection. Here are some of the other choices that may appeal to you when you next customize your Freddy’s steakburger or make one at home:
More meat: Crispy bacon and an extra patty are familiar choices when topping a burger with even more meat. However, choices like thinly-sliced prime rib, chili or BBQ brisket are some of the other components that may also be featured on burgers or available for selection at the Freddy’s near you.
A choice of cheeses: American cheese is often considered one of the best cheeses for burgers. Consequently, it is sometimes the only choice that diners have for their burgers. While this type of cheese is a standard topping on some of Freddy’s burgers, guests also have the option to swap it for a blend of Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, or pepper jack cheese. Cheese sauce is another possibility, and some limited-time only steakburgers also incorporate unique cheese components like the Fat Tire Beer Cheese on the Pretzel Bacon BBQ Steakburger.
Various veggies: Fresh lettuce, onion and tomato slices and pickles have rightfully earned their place as some of the best burger toppings. However, alternative preparations like grilled onions offer a smoky, softer sweetness instead of the raw bite of the onion slice. Earthy additions like sautéed mushrooms enhance the savoriness of burgers and add extra juiciness to each bite. Offering a fresh crunch like lettuce and a similar acidity to pickle slices, sauerkraut is a single topping that serves multiple purposes on a burger.
Special sauces: Ketchup, mustard and mayo aren’t the only standout sauces to finish steakburgers at Freddy’s or anywhere else. For example, garlic aioli might be the mayo upgrade that you’ve been looking for and one that’s also featured on the Prime Rib Steakburger. You’ll also find a range of Freddy’s sauces to enjoy, such as Freddy’s Famous Smoky Fry Sauce®.
As your best burger topping list continues to grow, Freddy’s is the perfect place to experiment with new possibilities as well as the classics. To order a featured steakburger as is or to customize it to your preferences, stop by the Freddy’s near you today!