May 28 is International Hamburger Day. So fire up the grill tonight and hold a 2-for-1 party celebrating of one of the world’s most beloved Beef dishes and the last weekend in May – the unofficial start of the Grilling Season! I humbly offer some tips and best practices…
A little history…
For those readers who have just arrived on Earth from another planet orbiting a distant star, the Hamburger contains no Ham. It’s named after the Germany city – Hamburg – where aficionados insist it was invented in 1881 by a German gent named Otto Krause (or Kause). The U.S. Library of Congress begs to disagree, claiming Newhaven, Connecticut lunch cart operator Louis Lassen invented the Burger in 1900 when a customer who was in a hurry asked him to ‘throw a [Ground Beef Patty] between two slices of bread’ to go.
A more likely story, according to Days Of The Year.com, is that the Chinese first started eating pieces of Meat between two pieces of grilled Bread in about the year 1045. Apparently, there are records of other cultures employing the technique on through the next 9 centuries or so in their own culturally appropriate ways.
According to Wikipedia, there are many claimants to the invention of ‘the modern Hamburger’. Whatever its origin, the Burger may be the world’s most beloved and ubiquitous Fast Food dish today.
The Basic Burger
As stated above, the Basic Burger is simply a Ground Beef Patty served on a laterally-sliced round Bun. But many variations of the dish add a multitude of Sauces, Toppings and Adornments that almost relegate the Meat to a subordinate role.
It’s accepted that there are a few contemporary classics in the Burger bestiary. The Big Mac from McDonald’s is probably the best known commercial Burger, followed closely by Burger King’s Whopper. All the fast Food chains (except those dedicated first and foremost to other foods, notably Chicken) feature Burgers prominently on their menus, and millions of regional and one-off joints also rely on their version of the Burger to draw the crowds.
Common ingredients
Today, Burgers can be more than just Beef. Other popular Patty types include:
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Lamb
- Buffalo
- Sausage
- Bacon
- Fish or Seafood
- Veggie
- Plant-based Meat Substitutes (eg.- Beyond Burger)
Or…
- Make your own
…and start up a family tradition! Burger Patties usually weigh 3 oz. / 85 g while popular ‘quarter-pound’ Patties weigh 4 oz. / 115 g before cooking. But you can make your own burgers as thick or as wide you please. Just be sure to cook them properly to ensure they are cooked through and food-safe (Internal Temperature at least 165 F).
As well as changing up Patty Type, many Burger purveyors also stack multiple patties. ‘Doubles’ and ‘Triples’ are not uncommon on the permanent menus of many Burger joints. Got someone in your family who has a really big appetite?
Whatever ‘formula’ of embellishments your fave Burger employs, there are a few key ingredients that the vast majority of Burger lovers agree upon:
- Mustard
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
- Ranch Dressing
- Green Hamburger (Sweet Pickle) Relish
- Pickles
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Onion
- Crispy Bacon
- Cheese
Any or all of these may be employed in any given iteration of the contemporary Burger. Use your imagination to come up with others!
Common Bun variations include:
- Sesame Seed
- Brioche
- Potato
- Onion
- Kaiser
- Pretzel
Choose your fave Bun, arrange your fave toppings on a buffet-style Burger Bar at the picnic table and let each member of your family build their own perfect Burgers!
Cooking and Grilling tips…
I’ve previously posted Grilling and general cooking tips for Burgers:
Grilling Tips: Your Meat Thermometer
My Favourite Homemade Burger Recipe
Recycling Leftover Burger Patties
Just go for it!
I’ll bet you a Bacon Cheeseburger that anyone can find a combination they love among the above Burger options. Let loose a little, try some toppings and Bun options you haven’t tried before and get some fresh air
~ Maggie J.