How to Master the Griddle: Best Burger Methods thumbnail

How to Master the Griddle: Best Burger Methods

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3 min read


I make smashburgers on steel typically. The work is getting your burger bar together: sliced pickles, onions, cheese, special sauce.

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Get your frying pan or steel ripping hot. We're preparing these for 30-60 seconds per side, and you desire it yelling hot for that Maillard reaction, the sear that makes smashburgers legendary.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & SteakburgersFreddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers


I have actually made smash hamburgers on this thing that individuals still talk about. Smashing the beef thin takes full advantage of contact with the hot steel, triggering the Maillard reaction, the chemical process that develops that deep, mouthwatering, browned flavor we all crave.

Your very first hamburger and your 4th get the same amazing edge-to-edge crust without the temperature dropping. I 'd understand my household has actually remained in the steel organization for over 50 years at our store in Hanover, MA. I comprehend this product, and I constructed these frying pans specifically to fix the heat retention issue that cast iron can't.

Perfecting the Griddle: Professional Burger Skills

Let it pre-heat for 10-15 minutes up until it's ripping hot (around 500-550F). This is the very same concept behind our pizza steels load the steel with heat, and it does the work for you. Gently divide the hamburger into 4 x 4 oz (115g) balls. Do not overwork the meat; just form it into a loose ball.

Instantly smash them extremely thin (about 1/4 inch) with a stiff spatula or press. To avoid sticking, you can put a small piece of parchment paper in between the meat and the spatula. Season the smashed patties generously with kosher salt and fresh black pepper. Cook for 60-90 seconds. You'll see the edges turn a deep, crispy brown.

Utilize a bench scraper or stiff spatula to get under the patty, guaranteeing you scrape up all the crispy, browned bits. Flip it over. Immediately place a piece of cheese on the flipped patty. Cook for another 30-45 seconds to melt the cheese. Quickly toast your buns on a cooler part of the frying pan for 15-20 seconds.

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Cheese melting perfectly on the Mini Griddle Cast iron is the standard choice for smashburgers, and it works. I utilized cast iron for many years. After testing both side-by-side for over a decade, I switched to steel. And look, I'm not simply a guy with a viewpoint. My household has run given that the 1960s.

I comprehend how it stores and transfers heat in a way many people never believe about. Here's the distinction: That suggests it recovers temperature level faster between burgers.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & SteakburgersFreddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers


Steel does not drop. You get the exact same screaming-hot crust on your first hamburger and your fourth. It warms up faster and distributes heat more equally. No hot spots, no cold spots. Simply consistent, edge-to-edge browning. No seasoning, no babying. Simply cook, scrape, wipe tidy. I've evaluated cast iron, stainless steel, and every frying pan on the marketplace.

Preheat the grill and steel for 15-20 minutes on high heat, then smash your hamburgers right on the steel. You get the very same extraordinary crust with the added benefit of outdoor cooking and that subtle smoky flavor from the grill.

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Friends lose their minds when they see it. They walk up anticipating regular grilled burgers and rather they see me smashing patties on a slab of American-made steel on the grill. It's a whole thing. Perfect smash burgers made on the Baking Steel Original on an outdoor grill I developed each of these for a particular use case.

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It fits on a single burner and is ideal for families or hamburger night with pals. is compact and perfect for 1-2 hamburgers. It's excellent for small kitchens, homes, or solo cooking. Very same heat retention, smaller footprint. is the one that started everything. Utilize it in the oven for pizza, or take it outdoors and place it on your grill for smashburgers, steaks, and more.