Hamburgers and hot dogs are All-American food favorites! According to a recent survey of American adults sponsored by the American Meat Institute and National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, these Summer holiday favorites are at the top of the list of foods most associated with America.Hamburgers are America's favorite grilled food. For the best grilled burgers, start with the freshest ground beef. To avoid major flare ups, don't use ground beef with a high fat content. Use ground chuck or ground sirloin with about a 25% fat content for burgers that are tasty and moist, but without excessive fat. Burgers made with even leaner meat will be drier, but if you're following a very low fat diet for health concerns or serious weight loss, use ground beef labeled extra lean, 90% lean, or ground round.
To grill, place the hamburgers on a grid about 6" above hot coals. Don't repeatedly turn the patties from side to side....Turning only one time is best. Never press a hamburger pattie while it's grilling or pierce it with a fork. To do so will cause flare-ups and create dry, tasteless burgers. A properly grilled hamburger is no longer pink in the center. Ground beef should be cooked to 160º F.
For the taste of burgers made on a sizzlin' campfire, add hickory chips to the coals. Soak the chips in water for about an hour, then scatter them around the hot coals just before placing meat on the grill.
Big Burger Special Sauce
Preparation -
Whisk all ingredients together. Use instead of ketchup or mayo as a burger topping.
More Toppings
Focus on Ground Beef - Questions about "ground meat" or "hamburger" have always been in the top five food topics of calls to the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline. Here are the most frequently asked questions.
Versatile Ground Beef - Information on safe handling and cooking + recipes
