Diner Style Hamburgers Food

HAMBURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place a roasting rack on a foil-lined baking sheet in the oven.
• Using your hands, break the meat into small pieces and combine evenly but loosely on a parchment or waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Spread the meat out and season it generously with salt and pepper. If desired, add the spice mix at this time.
• Divide the meat into 4 portions (about 6 ounces each). Using your hands, form each portion into a ball-shape by gently tossing it from 1 hand to the other. (Don't over work or press too firmly on the meat.) Gently form each portion into a patty about 3 1/2 inches wide and 1-inch-thick.
• Preheat a large cast iron skillet over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Raise the heat to high and add the oil. Add the patties and cook, turning once, until well-browned, about 2 minutes each side.
• Using a spatula, transfer the hamburgers to the roasting rack in the oven and continue cooking to desired doneness, 8 to 9 minutes for medium-rare, 10 to 11 minutes for medium, and 13 to 15 minutes for well-done. If you are using the cheese, top the hamburgers during their last couple of minutes of cooking to melt.
• Transfer the hamburgers to a plate, let rest for a couple minutes before serving. Meanwhile, toast the hamburger buns. Assemble the hamburgers with the condiments and toppings of your choice. Serve.
• When cooking on a countertop grill, turn on grill, then place burgers on the heated grill.
• Timing for a countertop grill:
• For Medium-Rare: Cook for 3 minutes covered and then unplug the machine and continue to cook covered for 2 to 3 more minutes.
• For Medium: Cook for 4 minutes covered and then unplug the machine and continue to cook covered for 4 more minutes.
• For Well: Cook for 5 minutes covered and then unplug the machine and continue to cook covered for 5 more minutes.
• Combine all ingredients.

HAMBURGERS (DINER STYLE)

Steps:

• Add oil or butter to a large cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet and place over medium heat. Gently divide ground beef into 8 small piles of around 4 ounces each, and even more gently gather them together into orbs that are about 2 inches in height. Do not form patties.
• Increase heat under skillet to high. Put half the orbs into the skillet with plenty of distance between them and, using a stiff metal spatula, press down on each one to form a burger that is around 4 inches in diameter and about 1/2 inch thick. Season with salt and pepper.
• Cook without moving until patties have achieved a deep, burnished crust, a little less than 2 minutes. Use the spatula to scrape free and carefully turn burgers over. If using cheese, lay slices on meat.
• Continue to cook until meat is cooked through, approximately a minute or so longer. Remove burgers from skillet, place on buns and top as desired. Repeat process with remaining burgers. Serving two hamburgers on a single bun is not an outrageous option.

ALL-AMERICAN HAMBURGERS

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 4 patties. Grill burgers, covered, on an oiled rack over medium direct heat until a thermometer reads 160° and juices run clear, about 6 minutes on each side., During the last minute of cooking, top each patty with 2 triangles American cheese and 1 triangle Swiss cheese. Serve on buns. As desired, top with lettuce, tomato, onion, bacon, ketchup and mustard.

DINER-STYLE HAMBURGERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the chilled ground chuck with the Panko crumbs, grated cheese, and onion soup mix, working it with your hands just until they're well-mixed.
• Form into four patties about a half-inch thick. (Tip: pressing the center a little thinner helps prevent burgers from "balling up" as they cook.) Set aside while the buns are toasting.
• Spread the cut sides of the buns with a very thin layer of mayonnaise, and place cut-sides down on a hot non-stick griddle or skillet for 20-30 seconds, just until they toast. Remove and set aside where they'll stay warm.
• Now put the hamburger patties on the griddle, and cook over medium heat, flipping once, until they reach the desired degree of doneness. (These can handle being cooked to medium well or more without getting dry.) DO NOT PRESS ON THE PATTIES with the spatula as they cook; that just makes you lose the juiciness.
• There's cheese in these already, but if you want more, top each patty with a slice of cheese in the last minute of cooking, sprinkle a tablespoon of water next to it, and then cover with a lid over so the steam will melt the cheese. Serve the hot burgers on the toasted buns with your favorite toppings.

HAMBURGERS (TAVERN STYLE)

Steps:

• Add oil or butter to a large cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet and place over medium heat. Gently divide ground beef into 4 small piles of around 8 ounces each, and then lightly form these into thick patties of around 3 1/2 inches in diameter, like flattened meatballs. Season aggressively with salt and pepper.
• Increase heat under skillet to high. Put hamburgers into the skillet with plenty of distance between them and allow them to cook, without moving, for approximately 3 minutes. Use a spatula to turn hamburgers over. If using cheese, lay slices on meat.
• Continue to cook until meat is cooked through, approximately another 3 to 4 minutes for medium-rare. Remove hamburgers from skillet and allow to rest for approximately 5 minutes; meanwhile, toast the buns. Place hamburgers on buns and top as desired.