Adding water to a pan-fried burger
I picked up this trick from one of the restaurants I used to work at.
When cooking a beef hamburger on a med-high stove-top, they would add a half ounce of water midway through cooking and cover the pan. It's the only way I cook my burgers now, as I've noticed a significant difference in fat content reduction.
- Can anyone explain the science behind this reduced fat content?
Best Answer
With this method, you are effectively steaming the meat which allows the top of the burger to cook directly, instead of the gradient heating that happens from pan to bottom to top of the burger. Therefore the cooking time will be reduced because you can cook for less time once you flip to the other side.
I've not seen this technique used to reduce the fat content before, and I can't comment on the science behind that.
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Quick Answer about "Adding water to a pan-fried burger"
I picked up this trick from one of the restaurants I used to work at. When cooking a beef hamburger on a med-high stove-top, they would add a half ounce of water midway through cooking and cover the pan. It's the only way I cook my burgers now, as I've noticed a significant difference in fat content reduction.How do you keep burgers moist when frying?
Texas chef and grillmaster Tim Love recommends mixing 1 to 2 tablespoons of mayo per pound of ground meat to keep it moist and juicy even as you cook it thoroughly. And yes, Tim is a spokesperson for Hellmann's Mayonnaise, but that doesn't change the fact that this actually works.Is water added to hamburger meat?
There is no added water in any fresh, unprocessed beef. Beef is washed during slaughter, but the small amount of water would be absorbed on the surface of the meat, not bound to the protein or inside the tissue and would quickly evaporate or drip out. Beef is often ground while partially frozen.How do you cook a perfect burger in a frying pan?
Heat a large skillet over medium/high heat. When the pan is hot, carefully place the patties in the skillet (no need to grease skillet) leaving some space between each patty. Cook the burgers until nicely seared and they have browned halfway up the sides. Flip the burgers and cook to your liking.How do you fry hamburger meat in water?
Fill the pot with enough water to fully cover the meat. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat into small crumbles. Bring the water to a boil, stirring often so the beef stays in small pieces. Once it boils, lower the temperature, cover the pot, and let it simmer until the beef is fully cooked through.Bobby Flay's Burger Tips
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Answer 2
For the same reason that fast food burgers are often dry :)
When beef hits high heat, the juices go in the opposite direction. This is why when pan-frying a steak, you know it's close to medium rare once you see the juices start to come through the top. The fat in burgers does the same thing, it moves away from the heat source, and back into the rest of the meat. That's just what happens when meat cooks and constricts.
Many fast food joints use a double grill (you pull an inverted flat top down on top of the burger on the flat top). Whoops, there goes practically everything moist in the 3 or so minutes they cook them.
Using steam, you make this a much gentler process. As the patty is cooking from the top and bottom and sides at once, but with a more gentle heat, the fat (and some juices) come out instead of going to hide on the other side of the patty that isn't on a heat source.
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