Burgers, an open discussion
Burgers are often a great spluge for americans. I'm not talking about that cheap greasy disc resembling a hamburger at your local mcfast food. I'm talking about a nice ground sirloin 100 percent grade a beef which is taken care of and cooked properly.
I was at this place for lunch with coworkers in which a lot of us ordered burgers, when they asked us how we would like them cooked, I was the only one that said medium rare, all the others said well done, with one exception of medium well.
After asking why someone would want a well done burger, I almost felt scolded for ordering my medium rare. E. Coli they say. Then tried to school me on the dangers, which included a session on ground meat and why steak is okay to eat medium rare or rare because e. coli exists on the outside of the meat, so sear a steak and you kill it, but grind up the meat and its in the middle, and every where else. I understand this logic but it just doesn't seem to ring really true. Lots of high end burger joints serve rare and medium rare burgers. Some places don't ask you others do, if they ask you they are probably trained in cooking these meats and the risk is minimal. From the chowhound boards it varieying opinions but one person pointed out that you have a larger chance of slipping and dying in the shower than you do from e. coli in a restaurant burger.
This morning I caught a segment on the today show about a burger of the month club. BOTM, as the today host called it "Bottom". Its a group of 10-15 friends that once a month go and get a burger together around NYC or surrounding areas. It's a cool idea as it gives these guys a reason to come and hang out, shoot the shit, and have some guy time together and rate a burger. I think they rank mostly on meat, extra meat products such as bacon, and cheese. and also the bun, all other is tossed away.
So what do you think about burgers? What is your favorite?
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i'm not ashamed to admit that I love a fast food burger from time to time. totally my favorite thing to regret.
i haven't had the opportunity to have a high quality burger, but the best i've ever had was at Ted's Montana Grill. They have an insane list. "George's Cadillac" is really good--bacon and cheese and bbq sauce. they serve buffalo burgers there too but i've never had one.
other than that, we always grill burgers at home and my dad always tries to get the best meat from the local delis. i like spicy mustard pickles and cheese. that's it.
Huey's in Memphis had decent burgers but the meat was not near as good. (Memphians will claim it's the best burger ever. They have also never lived anywhere else.)
Of the fast food burger it would have to go to Hardee's. Their beef for one is great but when you order a 3/4 lb. burger you get 3/4 lb. of meat after it is cooked.
Favorite: Pineapple teriyaki burgers. Chuck or Sirloin mixed with Beefy Onion soup mix, teriyaki marinade, pineapple juice and topped with an actual pineapple ring. Mmm.
Close second: Reconstituted dehydrated onions rolled into the meat, grilled with some good BBQ sauce.
Still good: Ground chicken mixed with Spinach and Feta. Topped with Pesto.
Chain:
There used to be some 'Backyard Burger' places around here, but they all folded about 10 years ago. Those were delicious. Or at least I remember them being really good. I also remember 'Alf' being a great TV show, and that's not really true.
Max and Erma's 'Tortilla Burger' is heavenly with their cheese-based Tortilla Soup piled on top.
I'm also a fan of the Pepper Stack Bacon burger at Champps.
For fast food, I still like Wendy's. We Ohioans like our food cut in squares, be it Pizza or Burgers. Except White Castle.
Local (Columbus, OH):
Pepper Burger at King 5. Burger coated with whole peppercorns, then finished off with a slice of pepperjack cheese.
Angus burger at Hoggy's. The burger is good, but the fact you can add BBQ pork, coleslaw, no-bean chili, onion rings or just about anything else makes it delicious.
We had backyard burgers as well and they were delicious and were voted Orlandos best burger for a while, but something happened, the company slipped, some closed, I think there is still one open somewhere.
but 5 guys burgers and fries has taken over chain wise.
I would love to try that pineapple terriaki burger, my huband however hates pineapple So I'd have to make it when he's working.
I don't eat fast food except on road trips and it's often Wendy's.
Both of those local burgers sound delicious. Must try next time I'm in Columbus, if ever. lol.
I've never been to red robin and as far as I know, there has never been a fast food place that has asked me how I'd like it cooked. I say I'd like such and such burger and if they say how would you liked that cook then I say medium rare.
I figure that if they are asking me they are used to cooking the burger at different temps, I would never walk up to a fast food place and say I want a medium rare burger.
I have a dislike for anything well done the meat is tougher and any meat, even the older stuff can be cooked well done. I know we are talking about burgers here but if you had two people ordering burgers and one ordered theirs well done and the other orders there med rare, you'd cook the older meat to well done and the fresher meat to med- rare.
That sounds great, I'm really going to have to try Ted's Montana Grill now when I'm in the area. I've had buffalo burgers though, rather tasty if you ask me and not even very gamey. I thought they would taste more like venison but it's probably right in the middle between beef and venison.
Wow so indulgent. I love fried eggs but have never had them on my burger. I'd love that jalopeno, bacon burger, that sounds delicious.
I'd be interested in making my own hamburger buns. That sounds like fun you could do a cheese bun, or a garlic bun, or a spicy jalopeno bun, to accommedate the burger.
opps I delete J. comment. It was
"Well, the one I really like right now is the Fat Boys burger at Burger Ranch, which is a local chain in our area. It's named after a diesel repair shop next to the Pasco location; its employees are regular patrons. It's made with two beef patties, two slices of cheese, a slice of ham, a fried egg, some bacon, pickles and lettuce topped with fry sauce (whoever made the Wikipedia entry screwed up and missed some ingredients).
I'm sure it's a heart attack waiting to happen, but it's really good. The other burger I like there is the Texas Rancher, which simply adds jalapenyo peppers, bacon, and cheese to a hamburger patty.
Otherwise it's the chicken grilled Sourdough Jack at Jack In The Box.
None of those sound very gourmet, I know. I've read that you can get MUCH fancier burgers at posh restaurants-- even drop a small fortune on some. But I will say that local chains here (such as Burger Ranch, Zip's, and Miner's) are a cut above the McChain joints, at least in that the SOP for all I listed make milkshakes with real milk and real fruit.
Yeehaw Murghi has a few posts about making burgers 100% from scratch, right down to the buns-- far more thorough than I am. But overall, I must admit, grilling at home is easier to get a consistently good burger for cheap, especially in the fixings. The George Foreman grills suit me just fine, more especially since I usually grill onion slices (can't slip through on a flat plate) to go with it.
Much more info than you were looking for, I'm sure, but they are a food Americans are quite passionate about-- and they don't necessarily need to be a splurge"
I'm not super against fast food burgers, I just wasn't raised on them, and see a burger as more of a splurge so to speak not an every day item. Cooking burgers at home is the most healthiest option but going out every so often is fine too.
Here in Orlando we have plenty of burger spots, in the tourist region, that we host the worlds largest Mcdonalds, and the world's fanciest Mcdonalds. Not that I'm proud of that.
but we have some great local joints. I think its important to order the burger, and then if they ask you how they want it cooked. if they don't ask just get it as ordered.
I'm soooo going to have to try ted's montana grill though.