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The end of the school year and our Summer warm-up mean that I’ll likely be taking my cooking ventures outdoors. Summer is our favorite season of the year for many reasons, not the least of which affords us the opportunity to sleep in, stay up late, and think outside of our weekly meal routine. Admittedly, I find myself confined to the same handful of meals during the school year because I can prepare them seamlessly without much thought effort. Summer is my creative window to test out new recipes and meal ideas as we prepare to head into the Fall and new school year. One of my favorite ways to add flavor and dimension to foods is through the art of grilling. And with temperatures that can exceed 100 degrees, taking our culinary adventures outside to the grill can make the process of meal prep less grueling.
Over the weekend, I spent a few hours taking part in Weber’s Grill Academy where Grill Master Jeff Carter demonstrated 6 tips for grilling the perfect burger. While I prefer a black bean or veggie burger, my kids really enjoy a 100% beef burger, so it was helpful to learn the amount of time required to thoroughly cook a burger, how to prevent the meat from drying out on the grill and the safe internal temperature for consumption. After Carter schooled us on the art and science of grilling a burger, we put our skills to the test with Weber’s brand new q 1200 grills. While I have some experience with grilling, I know that I often overcook any type of protein because of my concern for food safety but my results can be variable when it comes to flavor and tenderness. The tips provided by Carter make it an almost certainty that you’ll succeed.
Tips for Grilling the Perfect Burger
Meat Matters…Unless You’re a Vegetarian!
1. Meat Matters: The ideal burger is consistently juicy, perfectly and precisely medium-rare, according to Chef Michael David. And the key to a consistently juicy burger lies in the type of meat you select. Grill Master Carter recommends selecting Chuck with an 80:20 ratio of protein to fat so that the burger will stay juicy through the grilling process. Despite the fact that we all want to eat leaner, meats with less fat tend to dry out when grilled.
2. Keep It Clean: Admittedly, cleaning my grill isn’t one of my favorite chores. However, the flavor of your food depends on it so keep it clean! Ideally, you’ll want to clean the cooking grate when it is hot with a stainless steel grill brush.
3. Turn Up the Heat: Along with ensuring your burger (and any other food, for that matter) cooks consistently, you will need to preheat your grill for at least 15 minutes. This also ensures the food won’t stick to the grates. For beef burgers, grill at 400-450 °F over direct heat.
4. Season Sparingly: Salt and pepper will suffice for your ideal burger. However, you can get creative as long as you disperse seasonings throughout the meat (Carter recommended using a plastic bag). If you plan to use moist ingredients such as Worcestershire Sauce, remember that as the burger cooks, it will want to push those ingredients out causing the burger to lose its shape. Also avoid overworking the meat when adding seasonings so the heat from your hands does not break down the fat, causing the burger to grill too quickly.
5. Shape It Well: If you’ve experienced uneven, mismatched burgers, you’re not alone. Weber developed a solution for uniform burgers every single time. The Weber Original Burger Press is ideal for making 1/4 to 1/2 pound burger patties. Be sure to use your thumb or the back of a spoon to create a small dimple or indentation into your patty before grilling to ensure the burger flattens out during the cooking process (as opposed to puffing up like a giant meatball).
6. Lookin’ Ain’t Cookin’: I am the type of cook that is always peeking in on my food! If you understand the science of grilling, you’ll know that every time you open the lid you lose heat and flavor. So while the tendency is to “check in,” use a timer and flip the burger at the 4 minute mark. Eight minutes and an internal temperature of 155 °F will ensure your burger is cooked safely and thoroughly while preserving its moisture and flavor.
Tip: Want to take your burger to the next level? Add a bit of crunch with popchips “hottest” new flavor, Crazy Hot.
Before I really started delving into grilling, I assumed that I was limited to meats and fish. The day I learned how to grill a peach cobbler opened up a world of culinary possibilities. Practically anything that you can cook in your oven or on your stove can be grilled via direct or indirect heat. At the conclusion of the Weber Grill Academy, we put together an easy Grilled Apple Bites dessert using popchips soon-to-be released flavor Cinnamon Twist Sweet Potato. Here is what you’ll need to re-create this recipe at home.
Grilled Apple Bites
- Sliced apples
- Brown Sugar (optional: a hint of cinnamon)
- Cinnamon Twist Sweet Potato popchips
- Whipped Cream
- Caramel Sauce
- Sprinkle cinnamon/brown sugar mixture on both sides of apple slices
- Grill thinly sliced apples for 1-2 minutes per side
- Place a grilled apple slice on top of a single popchip
- Top with fresh whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce
Win It! popchips has teamed up with Weber to host a contest to help you spice up your summer with the Ultimate Backyard Barbeque Prize Pack. Prizes include a 1-year supply of popchips, a Weber Genesis Grill, a grill set, a wireless bluetooth speaker and more! Simply visit popchips on Twitter to enter!
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