Your Freezer Is The Best Tool For The Crispiest Smash Burgers
Smashburgers: delicious, crispy, easy to make, and perfect for when you don't have the time to fire up the backyard grill. Making a smashburger is simple — just take ground beef and smash it in a pan or on a griddle til it's thin and flat, then flip it and top it with cheese. But there's another step that will bring smashburgers from good to fantastic: freezing them for a short amount of time before cooking.
That might seem counter-intuitive; why freeze something you're about to put on the griddle? There's a science to it, though, and it makes burgers all the more juicy and delectable.
The trick comes by way of Shake Shack's culinary director, Mike Rosati. He explained to Epicurious that Shake Shack's burgers get a quick rest in a super-cold refrigerator before cooking to solidify the fat pockets in the burger meat. The result? A perfectly medium smashburger.
Why freeze the fat?
So, how does freezing make a better burger? Getting the meat nice and cold before smashing slows the cooking process and helps render out the fat in the burger more slowly. Room-temperature or chilled burgers from the fridge will cook extremely quickly and can overcook or even burn if you're not careful. On the flip side, super-cold burgers will keep from overcooking and ensure a pink and tender center. It also makes for a better, crispier crust, as chilled beef will split into a craggier texture in the pan or on the flat top.
If your refrigerator isn't super-cold like Shake Shack's, a freezer will work just fine. You don't want to fully freeze the patties, though. Just a 15-minute chill is perfect for patties of around 2 ½ inch thickness.
One more consideration to remember — don't season the meat before smashing it. Adding salt to the patties too soon can mess with their texture and make them rubbery. Add the salt after the patty is smashed onto the grill.
Smash and serve successfully
Once your burger's been chilled, smashed, and cooked to perfection, it's time to finish it with accompaniments that will let the flavor shine. The classic Shake Shack combo is lettuce, tomato, and American cheese on soft, fluffy potato buns.
And don't forget the sauce. Go with a classic bottled version, or make homemade special sauce if you prefer to get creative. You can also add your favorite burger toppings to mix it up. Pickles and onions are favorites, or add a few slices of bacon for more crispy goodness.
What about sides? For perfectly crispy french fries, double-fry the potatoes and salt them while they're still hot. Don't want to mess with deep-frying? Air fryer french fries are a treat with less hassle and easier cleanup. If you're feeling extra decadent, you can pair the meal with a tall, frosty milkshake, just like the local diner.