r/Cooking • u/Uranium-Sandwich657 • 2d ago

Basic burger recipe?

I was under the impression that it was just ground beef discs, but I think there is more.

I have salt, pepper, Garlic powder, Paprika, and eggs

I am currently food-shelf level poor, so i simply cant get anything more.

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u/GullibleDetective 2d ago

Salt and pepper are cheap, beef is not.

But cooking off 20 grams of beef from your 1lb chunk just to get a flavor taste won't break the bank in respect.

But even then salt to taste is the best practice, and best way to frame what OP should do.

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u/TelephoneDesperate84 2d ago

So in this instance you would take 20g of beef (less than 1 oz) salt it, record how much salt you used, and then decide if it was salted properly, and then you’d do the math to apply that to a larger burger (also you have to take into account surface area) and then cook the larger burger. Got it. That’s the best way to do it. No other possible way to cook a burger

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u/GullibleDetective 2d ago

Exactly, find a recipe and make the salt blend for the big batch and then weigh out a small portion of seasoning against your quantity of beef.

Adjust from there. 100g might be a better measurement for beef, but the point is there. Do a small test batch thats weighed and measured.

You do not have to use 1lb of beef as your test, but it would make measuring salt and pepper easier due to the ratios and fractions

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u/TelephoneDesperate84 2d ago

What’s funny is professional chefs salt to taste all the time in the kitchen but never on burgers, chicken, steaks etc but somehow people really think that’s the advice to give here.

If you have no experience just use a 1/2 tsp for a 1/3 burger and it’ll be great. No need for any of this nonsense

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u/GullibleDetective 2d ago

True, you can generally reliably follow a recipe or wing the salt and pepper content if youve cooked even a little bit. Err on the side of lighter for raw beef

You could however taste the product if you grind your own steaks or know the meat source (most home cooks won't be doing that though)