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How should I cook a 1 lb hamburger?

DrezDrez Registered User regular
Long story short, I bought some meat last week via Amazon Fresh and the expiration date is today. I could freeze it, but I don't really like to freeze/defrost meat.

I have 2 lbs left. They are in separate 1 lb containers. I'm going to brown and store 1 lb. The other lb I was thinking of making myself a gigantic burger since it's already kind of in a patty form.

Is this a terrible idea?

Can I actually cook this glob of meat in one fell swoop?

Typically, I use my indoor George Forman grill to cook burgers. Typically, they are pretty thin, so I'm not sure what kind of cooking time would be required for a huge fat meat patty. I also have a frying pan.

Any advice?

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Posts

  • DarkewolfeDarkewolfe Registered User regular
    At that thick, it's going to be nearly impossible to consistently cook it throughout. What about making a meatloaf?

    What is this I don't even.
  • Solomaxwell6Solomaxwell6 Registered User regular
    Yeah, I recommend splitting it up and grilling a few normal sized burgs instead. It's going to end up much better than if you try grilling a giant slab-burger.

  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    I guess.

    But I was looking forward to making a giant slab burger.

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  • I ZimbraI Zimbra Worst song, played on ugliest guitar Registered User regular
    If you want to do it all in one go your best bet is probably to sear both sides in a cast iron skillet, and then throw the whole thing in a 375 oven until the center gets up to a safe temp.

    But as Darkewolfe said, this is probably going to be suboptimal in terms of actual burger quality.

  • EncEnc A Fool with Compassion Pronouns: He, Him, HisRegistered User regular
    Grab your crockpot and make chili. Will keep longer and can be a meal or a condiment!

  • CelestialBadgerCelestialBadger Registered User regular
    How hard is it to dig your hands in and squish up the meat into normal burgers for your Foreman grill? About as hard as playing with Playdoh.

  • MichaelLCMichaelLC In what furnace was thy brain? ChicagoRegistered User regular
    I'd make 10 thin burgers and just stack them up. Better meat and I think looks even cooler.
    Then you can add cheese in between each meat patty. And/or bacon.

  • Super NamicchiSuper Namicchi Orange County, CARegistered User regular
    If you want to be a badass, you could sear and then sous vide the burger to your preferred doneness.

  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    Yeah it's not difficult to make this into smaller burgers. And I'm not being lazy. I just want to put a gigantic circle of cooked meat in my mouth.

    It sounds like sear + oven like cooking a steak is the best method, if I go through with this.

    Maybe I'll just make meatballs.

    Different question: The 1 lb I am going to brown...if I want to flavor that, say with worstchestshire sauce or teriaki marinade...do I add seasoning/marinade while I'm browning the meat...or if not, when?

    Switch: SW-7690-2320-9238Steam/PSN/Xbox: Drezdar
  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    If you want to be a badass, you could sear and then sous vide the burger to your preferred doneness.

    That does sound badass but I am too impatient for that :)

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  • Super NamicchiSuper Namicchi Orange County, CARegistered User regular
    Add your worcestershires and soy sauces and what not while you're browning it

    It will cook down and the sugars will caramellize

  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    Add your worcestershires and soy sauces and what not while you're browning it

    It will cook down and the sugars will caramellize

    OK thanks.

    Switch: SW-7690-2320-9238Steam/PSN/Xbox: Drezdar
  • see317see317 Registered User regular
    Drez wrote: »
    Yeah it's not difficult to make this into smaller burgers. And I'm not being lazy. I just want to put a gigantic circle of cooked meat in my mouth.

    It sounds like sear + oven like cooking a steak is the best method, if I go through with this.

    Maybe I'll just make meatballs.

    Different question: The 1 lb I am going to brown...if I want to flavor that, say with worstchestshire sauce or teriaki marinade...do I add seasoning/marinade while I'm browning the meat...or if not, when?
    If you do this 1 lb burger thing, I hope you take pictures of the end result.

    For seasoning ground beef, I generally toss in the seasoning while it's cooking.
    Granted, I tend to use seasoning salt or garlic powder if I'm browning meat then mix in a sauce (or hamburger helper stuff) once it's cooked.
    Things may be different with liquid seasonings but with the surface area of the ground beef it's going to pick up a lot of whatever you toss in regardless of when you toss it in. But, you're not going to hurt anything by tossing the meat into a bowl with the seasoning and mixing it in there.

  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    Maybe I'll add onion and garlic too. And I'll just brown all 2 lbs and make a few meals from it over the next week.

    Fuck the giant burger.

    Switch: SW-7690-2320-9238Steam/PSN/Xbox: Drezdar
  • DarkewolfeDarkewolfe Registered User regular
    Worcestershire or teriyaki you'll want to add later, not during the browning process. If you want to season while browning, go to more simple things that'll crust. Some salt, pepper and garlic maybe.

    What is this I don't even.
  • MaguanoMaguano Registered User regular
    Spray an 8- to 9-inch cake pan with cooking oil. Salt and pepper the bottom of the pan. Press the seasoned hamburger into the pan. Salt and pepper the top of the patty.

    Place in a 350 F preheated oven. Bake the burger for abut 30 minutes until the center of the burger reaches 160 F.

    Let the burger cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Slide a knife around the edges of the burger. Slide a spatula underneath the burger to loosen it away from the pan.

    Put a plate on top of the burger. Flip the burger so the pan side is up. Gravity helps the burger come out of the pan on top of the plate.

    stolen fromhere

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  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    Darkewolfe wrote: »
    Worcestershire or teriyaki you'll want to add later, not during the browning process. If you want to season while browning, go to more simple things that'll crust. Some salt, pepper and garlic maybe.

    OK but lets say there is no more cooking process once the meat is browned.

    For example: I might brown meat, independently make rice, and then just mix the two together. If I'm not adding the sauces during browning, when/how do I introduce the sauces?

    Switch: SW-7690-2320-9238Steam/PSN/Xbox: Drezdar
  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    Maguano wrote: »
    Spray an 8- to 9-inch cake pan with cooking oil. Salt and pepper the bottom of the pan. Press the seasoned hamburger into the pan. Salt and pepper the top of the patty.

    Place in a 350 F preheated oven. Bake the burger for abut 30 minutes until the center of the burger reaches 160 F.

    Let the burger cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Slide a knife around the edges of the burger. Slide a spatula underneath the burger to loosen it away from the pan.

    Put a plate on top of the burger. Flip the burger so the pan side is up. Gravity helps the burger come out of the pan on top of the plate.

    stolen fromhere

    Thanks!

    Switch: SW-7690-2320-9238Steam/PSN/Xbox: Drezdar
  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    see317 wrote: »
    Drez wrote: »
    Yeah it's not difficult to make this into smaller burgers. And I'm not being lazy. I just want to put a gigantic circle of cooked meat in my mouth.

    It sounds like sear + oven like cooking a steak is the best method, if I go through with this.

    Maybe I'll just make meatballs.

    Different question: The 1 lb I am going to brown...if I want to flavor that, say with worstchestshire sauce or teriaki marinade...do I add seasoning/marinade while I'm browning the meat...or if not, when?
    If you do this 1 lb burger thing, I hope you take pictures of the end result.

    For seasoning ground beef, I generally toss in the seasoning while it's cooking.
    Granted, I tend to use seasoning salt or garlic powder if I'm browning meat then mix in a sauce (or hamburger helper stuff) once it's cooked.
    Things may be different with liquid seasonings but with the surface area of the ground beef it's going to pick up a lot of whatever you toss in regardless of when you toss it in. But, you're not going to hurt anything by tossing the meat into a bowl with the seasoning and mixing it in there.

    Thanks!

    Switch: SW-7690-2320-9238Steam/PSN/Xbox: Drezdar
  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    Is hamburger helper on the table?

  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    Well...I could go buy some, but I don't have any right now. I was thinking that too.

    Switch: SW-7690-2320-9238Steam/PSN/Xbox: Drezdar
  • TNTrooperTNTrooper Registered User regular
    If you want to cook a 1lb patty you want to flatten and stretch it out otherwise you get a 1lb meatball that is medium well on the edge and rare on the inside. Start on the grill for that grilled meat texture and flavor then transfer to the oven.

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  • XaquinXaquin Right behind you!Registered User regular
    pics when it's done

  • ED!ED! Registered User regular
    You can absolutely cook a one pound burger. If you're worried about being sick, I wouldn't; it's not hard getting a 160 degree internal temperature to kill off bacteria that MAY be there. The only thing to really worry about is a consistent cook throughout the burger and it's rare (pun intended) that you get that anyway.

    "Get the hell out of me" - [ex]girlfriend
  • Super NamicchiSuper Namicchi Orange County, CARegistered User regular
    To elaborate on my comment earlier, you want to add your sauces after the meat is cooked but still searing for that sauce caramellization

  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    I went with hamburger helper.

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  • EclecticGrooveEclecticGroove Registered User regular
    I would have broken it into 2 patties. Way easier to cook exactly as you want it. You still have your 1lb burger, but it's just a double burger (with or without extra middle bun piece as per your liking).

  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    Drez wrote: »
    I went with hamburger helper.
    I won.

    And you won because Hamburger Helper is tasty.

  • SimpsoniaSimpsonia Registered User regular
    Use the Reverse Sear Method.

    Basically cook in a 250F oven on a cooling rack (to keep dry) until the desired temperature (including Med Rare, if you bought good quality meat or ground your own). Pat the patty with a paper towel to dry the surfaces, then sear for 30-45 seconds per side in a rip roaring hot cast iron skillet to get a good browned crust. I've done this method many times for thick burgers (usually half pounders, but you can easily scale up).

  • darkmayodarkmayo Registered User regular
    id make a few smaller ones cook em, stack em together, put a different cheese between each patty then unhinge your jaw like a snake and pop it in.

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  • BurtletoyBurtletoy Registered User regular
    Alternatively;

    Food expiration dates are, mostly, nonsense.

  • FiggyFiggy Fighter of the night man Champion of the sunRegistered User regular
    Drez wrote: »
    Maybe I'll add onion and garlic too. And I'll just brown all 2 lbs and make a few meals from it over the next week.

    Fuck the giant burger.

    Surprised noone caught this.

    You shouldn't really be keeping cooked ground beef for a week. 3 or 4 days after you've cooked it, tops.

    XBL : Figment3 · SteamID : Figment
  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    Eh.

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  • PeenPeen Registered User regular
    Bullshit. You can keep cooked ground beef in the refrigerator for a week and it's fine. If it still looks fine and smells fine, it's fine. Surface mold is pretty obvious to see and smell.

  • IrukaIruka Registered User, Moderator mod
    Seems like this is resolved.

This discussion has been closed.