Have you ever been able to cook a burger at home that tastes like a burger at your favorite burger joint? (garlic powder, onions)

[bg7]

Originally Posted by Ivory Lee Spurlock

Fry up some bacon (or melt some butter, if you prefer) in a skillet and then fry the burgers in the bacon grease or ( the melted butter). That will give the burgers a really good flavor.

If you're trying to cook a burger so it tastes like a McDonald's Quarter Pounder, try adding some MSG - (aka food enhancer) to the burgers. I realize MSG is not healthy, but it's what gives food a flavor that makes a person automatically want to take another bite. If you remember the old Lay's Potato Chip slogan - "Betcha can't eat just one" - that's the MSG doing a "heightened taste sensation" number on your taste buds.

The actual medical evidence on MSG is that it is neither healthy nor unhealthy. The only people it actually seems to be a problem for is certain people who suffer from migraines.


Of course the food blogging world has had MSG as a villain for some time, and web searches will reflect that. In most actual research literature, salt is way worse than MSG.

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Originally Posted by bg7

The actual medical evidence on MSG is that it is neither healthy nor unhealthy. The only people it actually seems to be a problem for is certain people who suffer from migraines.


Of course the food blogging world has had MSG as a villain for some time, and web searches will reflect that. In most actual research literature, salt is way worse than MSG.

With all the negative publicity about msg, I'm surprised it hasn't been banned in the United States.

Msg and high fructose corn syrup I try to avoid. Many restaraunts do not serve drinks with hfcs. It's supposedly more unhealthy than msg, but I've never experienced side effects from hfcs. As a rule, I try to avoid it whenever I can.

Except for occasional stops at KFC, I avoid msg for the most part. I always check the ingredients on the labels for msg. It's really surprising how so many foods in the grocery stores are loaded with msg. Unless I request no msg, I'll get a migraine headache right in my eyeballs after eating any kind of Asian food. I call them migraines. I never been diagnosed. They are painful. It feels really good to pressure rub my eyeballs and my temples and the bridge of my nose.

[Dirt Grinder]

Originally Posted by Ivory Lee Spurlock

With all the negative publicity about msg, I'm surprised it hasn't been banned in the United States...

Well, where do you draw the line? Do you also ban parmesan cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes, broccoli, peas, walnuts, dried kombu? In other words, do you ban any food containing glutamates?

Peanuts aren't banned, and they can cause far more harm than MSG.

[CrowGirl]

All I know is this. My husband loves burgers. He loves loves loves Five Guys. But he actually preferns turkey burgers if done in a way he likes, We have several turney burger recipes he enjoys but the folowing is his favorite. But again, after several years I have learned that a simple George Foreman Grill and a little open-mindedness can bring you YOUR perfect burger.

The folllowing makes about 4 burgers.

1 pound ground turkey
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, finely chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 slices mozzarella cheese
4 hamburger buns, split and toasted
*
1.Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil grate. Place the ground turkey, onion, cilantro, chipotle chile pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl; mix well. Form into 4 patties.
2.Cook the hamburgers on the preheated grill until the turkey is no longer pink in the center, about 4 minutes per side. Place the mozzarella slices on the patties 2 minutes before they are ready. Serve on the toasted buns.

Nutrition info without cheese or buns, per serving: Cal: 151; total fat: 8g; saturated fat: 2g; cholesterol: 60.5mg; sodium: 1,089.5mg; potassium: 132mg; carbohydrate: 2.4g; fiber: 0.8g; sugars: 1.1g; protein: 16,45

[TheLastPatriot]

I rather my home cooked burgers taste nothing like a burger joint burger.

My home burgers are ate with no bread or bun. I select nice fresh ground beef and make a 1/2 lb patty and grill or fry it to medium and enjoy it with a couple slices of bacon and a dill pickle usually. Maybe some brown mustard for dip or a small amount of BBQ sauce on the side.

I rarely eat bread, so thus the bare burger is best burger for me.

[Missy2U]

I wouldn't even try. If I want something that tastes like a burger from McDonalds I go to McDonalds.

[Debsi]

I know what you mean, OP, I think a lot of posters are being tough on you about this.

I believe the reason we can't duplicate that burger is the wonderful grills they use to cook them on, which have been seasoned by the cooking of 1000's of burgers before, like your grandma's precious cast iron skillet.

[nurider2002]

Originally Posted by Dirt Grinder

Yep - coarse ground, 70/30, chuck, minimally handled, seasoned with salt/pepper, and cooked in a cast iron skillet or cooked over hot coals.

Exactly! Mine are better than any fast food or restaurant but then, I don't like my burger heavily salted.

[Sand&Salt]

Our beef down here is too lean---Brahma-type cows only. A friend with his own burger joint told me this:


Mix in the ground beef:


Raw egg
Finely chopped onion
Garlic powder
Little bit of olive oil
Paprika
Red pepper flakes to taste


I put a little-finger-size hole in the center to avoid shrinkage. Best burger ever! And that wasn't even on the grill---regular ole skillet.

[Nomadicus]

Never taste like but sometimes even better. I don't know their spices and they don't know mine. This would be impossible for me to get an exact match for taste.