hamburgers this weekend

[TheCook]

Grilling up some burgers for the inlaws this weekend. Someone gave me the idea to use Lipton onion soup mix to season the hamburger. Have y'all tried that?

What kind of ground beef should I use? Fat content?

Do you grill them direct or indirect heat?

Is there a way to keep them from shrinking?

Anything I should avoid, like pressing them with spatula, etc?

Thanks in advance. Pictures will be coming as soon as I get internet setup at the new house.

Nick

 

[Cliff H.]

I like the onion soup mix also. Don't forget to pour in some wooster. Cook direct and don't squish the juice out with a spatula. You need some fat content for sure.

You are down in Texas so try Texjoy steak seasoning and wooster together on some also.

 

[Bill The Grill Guy]

Grilling up some burgers for the inlaws this weekend. Someone gave me the idea to use Lipton onion soup mix to season the hamburger. Have y'all tried that?

What kind of ground beef should I use? Fat content?

Do you grill them direct or indirect heat?

Is there a way to keep them from shrinking?

Anything I should avoid, like pressing them with spatula, etc?

Thanks in advance. Pictures will be coming as soon as I get internet setup at the new house.

Nick

I use onion soup mix alot in my burgers. Gives them great flavor. I like 80/20 or even leaner beef. If they have top or bottom round on sale have them grind that up for you. Good stuff there. The lower the fat content the less shrinking you will get. Also, dont over cook them. People think that the damn things have to be burned to be done. Use the Finger test. DONT squash the meat. It didnt do anything to you. Form your burgers bigger than the bun and they will shrink down to fit.

 

[TheCook]

I've used Texjoy steak seasoning on burgers and its pretty good. Its awesome on a big ol ribeye.


Thanks for the info Bill and Cliff!!!

 

[john a]

I use to use chuck but have switched to a 70/30 mixture from my butcher, Ahh. Yes on the onion soup mix.

 

[Puff1]

Ground chuck mixed lightly with s&p and a little garlic powder.
Depending on the size cook direct to sear and indirect to finish.
Smooshing burgers does nothing but sqeeze out all of the flavor.
Never tried the onion soup in burgers. I will now

 

[wittdog]

80/20 mix of beef...soup mix is good..don't press the burgers down...when you make the burgers make them concave in the middle...they will cook more evenly.

 

[Cliff H.]

80/20 mix of beef...soup mix is good..don't press the burgers down...when you make the burgers make them concave in the middle...they will cook more evenly.

That's a new one for me. That is on my todo list now.

 

[TheCook]

I wonder how much ground chuck i'll need for 5 adults??

 

[Diva Q]

witt,

that is a pretty cool tip. I never heard of that. Must try.

Onion soup mix and wooster here with an extra shot of garlic powder.

Also sometimes it is neat to stuff the burgers with a cheese mixture or even some sauteed onions and mushrooms.

The possibilities are endless. Please though no squishing of the burgers flip once or twice at the very most and if you are concerned about the temp use an instant read thermometer.

Another spice I like to use in burgers and meatloaf is vegeta. It is a European spice mix you can use to make just about anything. It also doesn't contain any salt which is great for a lot of people.

 

[TheCook]

One package of onion soup mixture will "service" how much ground beef?

I was told the onion soup package has a recipe for burgers on the back. I imagine it will say how much to how much.

 

[Cliff H.]

Two lbs will give you 5 nice size patties. Not baseballs like Larry likes, but oversize patties that shrink down while cooking.

 

[Captain Morgan]

One of my favorites on the grill is mushroom swiss burgers. Don't like ketchup or normal burger toppings here...just a juicy patty, thick layer of swiss and mounds of sauteed or grilled mushrooms.
I make a sauce that is a reduction of worsh., red wine, and garlic, finished with a splash of balsamic and a big pat of butter.

 

[cflatt]

80/20 here as well, not much on the onion soup, just a little S&P, and on some occasions a bit of chopped up bacon in them. Saw one on TV the other night that has been done here too. Once flipped put a cooked onion ring on top and fill the ring with blue cheese. Gonna have to try the Witt tip, sounds like a good idea.

 

[007bond-jb]

Boys & Girls Attention Please, Use dry hidden valley ranch dip mix instead of the onion woster & garlic powder... Its all in their BOY. Personaly Jb likes to grill his burgers with S&P only. Mixing in seasoning messes up the texture of the fresh gound meat

 

[Captain Morgan]

ummmm...I just play it by ear...start by reducing about
3/4 cup of red wine to a decent thickness, add in...I guess
2 tblsp of woos and add the minced garlic...let that simmer
together for about 10 mins I guess...then add about
1 tblsp of balsamic and a giant heaping spoonful of butter...
simmer until the butter is melted, stirring often.
It should still be a little thick when done. just guessing
here. It's great on the mushrooms and the beef.

 

[Greg Rempe]

Do you use cabernet, merlot, shiraz, petit verdo, syrah, tempernillo, malbec...????

 

[boar_d_laze]

Greg,

For cooking beef, always 2 Buck Chuck Cabernet (or any other Charles Schwab red for you heretics). Why spend more? Why use worse? Why waste better?

Rich

 

[WalterSC]

Burgers here are not normal . I usuall make my own and they are about 1 inch thick when done , I buy 95 percent fat free ground beef ( 2 big tubes of meat from Sams) , put meat in our biggest mixing bowl add 3 eggs , 2 cups of shredded chedder cheese, 2 containers lipton onion soup mix , Tony Chachere`s Seasoning a good 4 good shakes, worcestershire sauce 1/4 cup , and anything else any one wants in the mix, hand make the paddies , 1 good shale of Tony C`s season then it off to the grill . At my home you get a burger to fill even the greatest of eaters , and if you go away hungry from my house its your own damn fault!!!!! [smilie=a_bravo.gif] [smilie=drink.gif] [smilie=a_holyshit.gif] 8)

 

[Diva Q]

Do you use cabernet, merlot, shiraz, petit verdo, syrah, tempernillo, malbec...????