On busy weeknights, or when I'm just plain pressed for time, popping a flank steak, a couple of pork blade steaks, or a few burgers under the broiler frees up my hands and some time to set the table, toss a salad or fix a side-dish and collect a couple of condiments. In exactly 18-, 22- or 16-minutes respectively (17 minutes if we want cheeseburgers), dinner is on its way to the table. To those who contend that broiling is not the ideal method for cooking any of the above, I say "poppycock". Position the oven rack 5 1/2"-6" underneath the heat source, purchase steaks or make burgers within my pounds/ounces recommendations, then, time them as directed.
After the first moist, juicy perfectly-cooked bite, you'll convert.
For my all-purpose 'burger seasoning:
2 teaspoons fine sea salt
1 teaspoon coarse-grind black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon beef bouillion
Stir spices together. Makes a scant 2 Tbsp.
For the burger patties:
3 pounds lean, fresh-never-frozen, ground beef (85/15)*
*Note: The best 'burgers are made with freshly-ground meat meaning: not out of the freezer and thawed. I am not here to tell you not to freeze ground meat. While it works great for things like sloppy Joe's, tacos and chili, freezing does compromise the taste and texture of 'burgers.
~Step 1. Using a kitchen scale, divide the meat into 6, 8-ounce portions. Form each portion into a 5"-5 1/2"- round disc, approximately 1/2" thick. Place three patties on each of two 11 3/4" x 8 1/2" x 1 1/4" disposable aluminum broiler pans (the kind with corrugated bottoms). Using your fingertips, lightly season tops of patties with the seasoning blend.
~Step 2. To broil the 'burgers to nice, moist and juicy medium- medium-rare, place the pans of seasoned patties, side-by-side, 5 1/2"-6" underneath preheated broiler for exactly 8 minutes. Remove from oven, use a small spatula to flip patties over, lightly-season second sides and return to broiler for 8 more minutes. Do not overcook.
~Step 3. To make cheeseburgers, remove from oven, place one or two slices of cheese-of-choice (this is yellow American) atop each burger and return to broiler, just until cheese melts, less than 1 minute, watching carefully during this time.
Serve ASAP w/favorite 'burger condiments, &, chips or fries:
The Perfectly-Seasoned 16-Minute Broiled Burger: Recipe yields instructions to perfectly-broil 6, 8-ounce hamburgers or cheeseburgers/6 servings.
Special Equipment List: kitchen scale; 2, 11 3/4" x 8 1/2" x 1 1/4" disposable aluminum broiler pan w/corrugated bottom; spatula
Cook's Note: To make 1 1/2 cups of My Copycat McDonald's Special Sauce:
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup each: ketchup and sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon each: garlic and onion powder and paprika
"We are all in this food world together." ~ Melanie Preschutti
(Recipe, Commentary and Photos courtesy of Melanie's Kitchen/Copyright 2019)
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