Add This Pantry Staple To Ground Beef For Juicier Burgers
Few people want a dry hamburger, and while your favorite restaurant may be able to deliver a juicy burger, it can sometimes be difficult to achieve similar results at home, especially if you're using a leaner cut of meat.
“At my last job as a chef we had burgers on the menu and we added a little bit of water with the spices [into] the meat ... they were probably the best burgers [I] have eaten.”
This trick works incredibly well to make your burgers extra juicy because the broth melts in the middle of the patties and is absorbed into the meat. Choosing beef broth is also a smart move since it echoes the flavor of the protein, ensuring you don't have another type of ingredient detracting from the star attraction. Because this savory liquid can taste a little subtle, adding an extra condiment can also boost the overall flavor profile of your finished dish.
It's also important to note that you only want 1 tablespoon or so of liquid, which makes a relatively thin ice cube. This measurement ensures your burger patties won't turn out overly thick when it comes time to get them on the heat. If you want to try out this tip, just make sure not to wait too long cook your burgers after you assemble the patties, otherwise the broth might leak out as they sizzle.
More ways to make your burgers extra juicy
While freezing little rectangles of beef broth and encasing them in ground meat does lead to juicier burgers, you don't always need to make ice cubes to get the same effect, and it doesn't have to be broth, either. Mixing liquids directly into your meat can also lead to moist hamburgers. One Redditor shares, "At my last job as a chef we had burgers on the menu and we added a little bit of water with the spices [into] the meat... they were probably the best burgers [I] have eaten." The magic ratio seems to be about 10% to 15% water to beef, or about 3 to 4 tablespoons of liquid for every pound of meat.
You can also steam your burgers, like they do in Connecticut, which will also make for a tender patty. But if you still want to get a bit of a char on your hamburger, try searing your meat first, adding a bit of liquid to the pan, and then covering it to continue the cooking process.
Finally, steak sauce isn't the only thing you can add to give your burgers extra flavor and moisture. A little bit of Worcestershire sauce will also do the trick, and Maggi seasoning will add loads of umami, the fifth taste that is responsible for giving foods a savory character. You can also take inspiration from Asian cuisine and use dark soy sauce, a Chinese ingredient that can elevate any cuisine. It adds flavor and color without too much additional salt. Wine or beer will also add further nuance to your finished burgers while making them extra juicy.
