Stovetop Well-Done Hamburgers

Published January 1, 2007.

Serves 4.

Why this recipe works:

While developing a well-done hamburger recipe that would still be tender and moist, we opted to pack the patties with a panade, a paste made from bread and milk that's often used to keep meatloaf and meatballs moist. To punch up the flavor in our well-done hamburger recipe, we added minced garlic and tangy steak sauce.

Adding a panade (a paste of bread and milk) to the ground beef creates burgers that are juicy and tender even when well-done. For a burger that cooks up flat, press the center of each patty down with your fingertips before cooking. Serve the burgers on your favorite buns or rolls.

Ingredients

1large slice high-quality white sandwich bread , crust removed and discarded, bread chopped into 1/4-inch pieces (about 1/2 cup)
2tablespoons whole milk
3/4teaspoon table salt
3/4teaspoon ground black pepper
1medium clove garlic , minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1 teaspoon)
2teaspoons steak sauce , such as A-1
1 1/2pounds 80 percent lean ground chuck
2teaspoons vegetable oil
6ounces cheese , sliced, (optional)
4 hamburger buns or rolls

Instructions

1. Mash bread and milk in large bowl with fork until homogeneous (you should have about 1/4 cup). Stir in salt, pepper, garlic, and steak sauce.
2. Break up beef into small pieces over bread mixture. Using fork or hands, lightly mix together until mixture forms cohesive mass. Divide meat into 4 equal portions. Gently toss 1 portion of meat back and forth between hands to form loose ball. Gently flatten into 3/4-inch-thick patty that measures about 4 1/2 inches in diameter. Press center of patty down with fingertips until it is about 1/2 inch thick, creating slight depression in patty. Repeat with remaining portions of meat.
3. Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until just beginning to smoke. Add meat patties, indentation side up, and cook until well-browned, about 5 minutes. Using wide spatula, flip burgers and continue cooking, about 4 minutes for medium-well or 5 minutes for well-done. Distribute equal portion of cheese (if using) on burgers about 2 minutes before they reach desired doneness, covering skillet with lid to melt cheese. While burgers cook, toast buns. Serve on buns with desired toppings.

Recipe Testing

A Half-Ounce of Prevention

Our quest for a juicy well-done burger ended when we hit upon a surprisingly effective addition--a bread-and-milk paste (or panade).

A panade prevented the burger this burger from becoming dense and dried out...

...like this one.

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