If you’ve known me for more than 3 minutes, you know that I like to grill. I also like a really good burger (see Stufz). The best burgers I’ve ever had weren’t cooked on a grill. How could that be?
Cast Iron Magic
The secret to a fantastic burger is to cook it on cast iron. You could use a cast iron skillet. I use a griddle. I put it on the grill right over the coals and let it heat up. Add a small amount of butter or oil and drop the burger patties on it.
The Restaurants’ Secret
Why are restaurant burgers so good? The flat top grill. You can replicate that flavor and texture. There are a couple of benefits to cooking on a cast iron griddle over a charcoal fire. First, there are no flareups because the grease from the meat isn’t dripping onto the hot coals. Second, you can actually sear the meat without burning it.
When cooking over charcoal, you get the added benefit of real smoke flavor.
Go from Beginner to Expert
A common problem for backyard grillers is overcooking some of their food and undercooking the rest. Cast iron does a great job of creating balanced, consistent heat. There are no hot spots. It is all about the same temperature. This characteristic makes it very user friendly.
Dig that cast iron skillet out of the basement and put it to good use. You won’t regret it.
How do you prefer to cook your burgers?