How To Make The Perfect Burger

With many people ready to fire up the grill and griddle in their backyards, it’s time to find out how to make the perfect American burger.

So I asked Joe Isidori—Chef-slash-owner of Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer and two-time winner of the People’s Choice Award at the New York City Wine and Food Festival Burger Bash—to share his thoughts.

Here are his tips.

How to make this?

 ALEKSANDER MICHAUD, MADONNA+CHILD

The Meat

#1: GET HIGH-QUALITY, FINELY GROUND MEAT

“Preferably 100% American beef produced by Creekstone Farm—which is a certified, all-natural product.”

#2: NEVER SQUEEZE OR OVER PACK THE MEAT

“Gently form the eight-ounce patty so it won’t toughen the protein or dry up the meat.”

#3: GRILL OVER CHARCOAL, NOT GAS

“Generally, I prefer to griddle the meat that’s not exposed to open flame to create a crust-like texture. But if you must grill, then do so over charcoal since it retains a higher cooking temperature than conventional gas grills. It will impart a better sear (flavor) to the burger patty."

#4: COOK THE MEAT TO CHEF’S MEDIUM

“Chef’s medium generally means it’s somewhere between medium rare and medium. For a 1.5-inch patty to be cooked perfectly, it normally takes four minutes per side.”

#5: SEASON THE MEAT WITH KOSHER SALT

“I like to keep things simple, so stay away from pepper or sea salt, because the pepper’s taste is too harsh and sea salt has moisture in it.”

#6: DON’T OVERFLIP

“Timing is everything when it comes to making the perfect burger. Try to flip only once so there's enough time for the patty to form a crust. (Usually, that's about four minutes on each side to form a crust with great flavor and texture.) But don’t worry if you flipped a little too early or too late, just make sure the total time is roughly around eight minutes.”

The Bun

#7: USE A STANDARD BUN

“By standard, I'm referring to the most generic type of burger and potato bun by somewhere old school like Pepperidge Farm or Martin’s, which toasts well and has a nice, sweet flavor. I’d stay away from anything fancy like pretzel or brioche, since they are pretty dry and compete with the flavors of the burger itself.”

#8: LIGHTLY TOAST THE BUN

“Typically, I would spread a little bit of butter on the bun and toast it for no more than a minute or two after the burger patty is made.”

The Rest

#9: CHOOSE AMERICAN CHEESE

“Hands down, the perfect cheese for burgers is American because it has great elasticity, melts well, and gives you that beautiful, cheesy pull after each bite.”

#10: PICK THE RIGHT GARNISH

“Like everything else in a classic American burger, simplicity is key. So when it comes to garnishes, I’d go for classic accompaniments such as green leaf lettuce, a crisp slice of tomato, plus a kosher dill pickle on the side. Remember to go for green leaf lettuce instead of iceberg lettuce, because it’s more crisp and herbaceous with less moisture. Keep the tomatoes thicker for a more unctuous bite.”

#11: DON’T USE KETCHUP

“At Black Tap, we like to use a kicked up thousand island sauce with chipotle and Korean pepper. But for those at home, I’d generally stay away from ketchup because it’s too acidic and takes away the true flavor of the burger. Go for mayo with a splash of ketchup and hot sauce instead.”

As a quick roundup, here’s a step-by-step guide according to the burger expert.

1. Loosely pack patty.
2. Griddle the meat after seasoning with kosher salt liberally.
3. Sear for four minutes on each side.
4. Place the cheese on top for it to melt.
5. Toast the bun for a minute or two.
6. Place the meat (with melted cheese) on the bun.
7. Assemble with the rest of ingredients.
8. Add sauce, pickle and other desired accompaniments on the side.