Why House Burgers Are Taking Over the Food Scene
From the moment you step into our burger house, you’ll know you’re in good hands. Our decor hearkens back to the golden age of burger joints, with iconic red and white checks popping up everywhere. These days, though, there’s no place for those mass-produced, pre-made burgers unless you’re specifically looking for a quick fast-food fill-up. The house burger – crafted and perfected in-house, from the choice of meat all the way to the grill – is the only way to go for that peak burger experience.
Burgers have always been an American standard, but they’re really having a moment right now. Chefs have worked to create their own unique combination of style, flavor, and technique so the burger feels tied to their burger house. At Smash House Burgers, we’ve put in the work to bring you the ultimate smash burger, one you simply can’t find anywhere else.
Currently, the smash burger is riding a trend wave. Burgers were standard for a long time, so we’re excited to be part of shaking things up. We don’t just want to make burgers: we want to make the perfect burger.
Secrets to the Perfect Burger
When figuring out what makes the perfect burger, there are tons of opinions out there. Once you cut through all the noise, it all comes down to the balance of different textures and flavors. If you can get that right, you’re on your way to success. Toppings and sauces might come and go based on personal preferences, but a few things are the gold standard regardless.
The best starting point is fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The better the ingredients you start with, the better every element of your burger will be. The quality of everything from the flour in the buns to the crispy lettuce your patty will rest on counts towards achieving burger perfection. If you’re not making everything from scratch, aim to buy fresh, preferably artisanal.
Making Flavorful Patties
The main event is, of course, the patty. If you want to take it to the next level, choosing and grinding your own combination of meat is the best place to begin. House burgers usually have a particular combination of meats, sometimes unique to that specific restaurant. Make sure that your meat is good quality and as fresh as possible. Once you’ve chosen your meat, the next step is seasoning. Sometimes, simple salt and pepper is all you need, but sometimes, it pays to go creative and experiment.
Once your meat is seasoned and ready to grill, it’s time for our favorite part: the smash. Our burger house is built on the smash burger for a good reason. Smash burgers have the edge over regular patties because the thinner patty creates more surface area to be browned to a delicious, almost caramelized crisp on the hot grill while maintaining a juicy center. This makes for a more flavorful mouthful – and that’s without a single topping or sauce.
A Combination of Cooking Methods
As much as we love the smash, we have to admit that there are many ways to make a burger. In fact, almost every way you can cook meat can be applied to burger patties. Some work better than others, of course, so it’s good to know the best options before you decide what’s best for your own personal house burger.
A charcoal-grilled burger is an American summer classic. If you love a thicker burger patty, tossing your patty on the barbecue is a good choice. Use a meat thermometer to check the patty’s internal temperature so you know exactly when to take it off the heat. Be aware that because of the slots in the grill, a lot of the burger’s fats and flavor will drip through, making it easy for your burgers to dry out.
Broiling might be the least messy method, but it’s also the one where you have the least control. You need to open the oven door to check on the cooking progress, but you don’t want to open it too often as it disrupts the temperature inside the oven. Always make sure that the oven is fully preheated before you put your patties inside. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the patty to ensure it’s cooked just right.
Frying your burger in a pan or skillet might be the next best thing to a professional flat-top grill. It allows the burgers to cook in their own juices, creating a richer flavor profile and a juicier bite. You can easily keep an eye on your burgers while they’re cooking and flip them as needed. Depending on the size of your pan, it also gives you a good amount of flat surface, which is particularly important when making a smash burger.
Kosher Burgers For Every Palate
One of our favorite things about our own house burger is the fact that kosher burgers are inclusive. Kosher food might be designed according to the dietary requirements of Jewish law, but our stringent attention to detail means that our burgers are also on the menu for a variety of other dietary restrictions.
For example, our meat is 100% pork-free, so it’s a worry-free treat for Muslims, some Christian denominations, and other religious and cultural groups that avoid pork. It’s also great for those with lactose intolerance. As there is a strict separation between meat and dairy products under kashrut, all of the cheese on our cheeseburgers is vegan.
Take a look at our burger house menu to see our full range of burger options. No matter which one you choose, you’re always welcome at the Smash House.
