What is a "Smashed Burger"?

The "Smashed Burger" is a special variant of the burger, which is characterized by its thin patties and crispy crust. The preparation method has been known since the 1920s and became popular in the United States, especially through diner restaurants.

The name "Smashed Burger" means something like "mashed burger".  The idea behind it is simple: Place a scoop of ground beef on a very hot griddle or pan and flatten it with a spatula. Such a spatula is part of our griddle cooking toolset.

Unlike traditional burgers, which often have thicker patties and remain pink inside, smashed burgers are usually cooked through. "Smashing" on the hot surface creates a crispy crust that adds a lot of flavors and keeps the meat juicy inside.

Special features briefly:

• Thin patties: Smashed burgers become very thin due to the flattening.
• Crispy crust: The high heat and "smashing" creates a unique, crispy crust.
• Intense flavor: The roasted aromas created by the preparation provide an intense meat flavor.
• Juicy interior: Despite being cooked through, smashed burgers remain juicy due to the preparation method.

Why should you cook the Smashed Burger on a grill?

Burger patties can also be prepared in the pan or oven. But they only get really good on the grill! It doesn't matter whether you grill with charcoal, use a gas grill or have an electric grill - you will succeed in roasting aromas on every one of them.

The advantages of grilling smashed burgers:

• Control over the temperature: On the grill, you can regulate the heat well and adjust the doneness of the patties to your liking. You need heat - and grills like the Essential Gas Grill are quickly preheated to 300°C with a grill plate. So you can sear the patties immediately.
• Extra crispy crust: The high heat of the grill and smashing creates a wonderfully crispy crust that gives the burger its special flavor.
• Extra roasted aromas: Grilling over high heat creates intense roasted aromas that significantly improve the taste of the patties. By "smashing", i.e. flattening the patty on the hot grill surface, the surface area of the meat is increased and thus the formation of roasted aromas is maximized.
• Smoky aroma: If you use a charcoal grill, the burger will get an extra smoky aroma. On a gas or electric grill, you can create the same aroma with smoking chips.

Tip: On a griddle, the heat is evenly distributed, so you can cook your patties optimally from all sides! We offer griddles as accessories, suitable for almost any grill.

Griddle Grills – our recommendation for preparing the patties

Burger patties are best prepared on a griddle. The ideal grills for burgers are therefore the "Griddle Grills": Instead of a grill grate, they consist of a continuous grill plate that has been cast from one piece. The Griddle 3400 gas grill, for example, offers a large grilling surface on which you can fry the Smashed Burger perfectly. These are the advantages of the Griddle Grill:

• Ideal temperature thanks to even heat distribution
• Smashing the patties directly on the griddle
• Three burners for fast heating
• Raised edge of the grill plate that prevents oil and gravy from draining off.

You want even more variety and don't want to commit to a pure griddle grill? Our Versa-Tile® gas grill is a griddle, grill and pizza oven all in one. Crispy pizzas turn out perfectly thanks to the pizza attachment and dome in the lid, just like steaks on the grill grate tile. And with the interchangeable griddle tile, you get an enlarged grill plate on which you can conjure up your smashed burger.

Sweet and spicy toppings for the Smashed Burger

The matching topping provides that certain extra for your Smashed Burger. You can experiment and change the taste a bit with each try. Let your imagination run wild!

• Cheese variations: Cheddar, Gouda or blue cheese go well. Camembert with cranberries adds some sweetness to the burger.
• Exotic vegetables: Lettuce, tomatoes and onions are the standard. Try avocado, grilled pineapple or caramelized onions for a special touch. Or how about pickled tomatoes combined with arugula?
• Sauces: Sure, everyone has ketchup, sef and mayonnaise in the house. It gets a little spicier with BBQ sauce, aioli or Sriracha mazonnaise. Chili combinations such as mango-chili sauces or chili cheese make the Smashed Burger fiery.

More ideas:

• Fried mushrooms
• Jalapeños and corn
• Pickles and bacon
• Fried egg
• And so on.

Feel free to experiment with the different combinations to create your perfect smashed burger!

Which meat is best for the burger pattie?

For Smashed Burgers, we recommend high-quality beef with a high fat content. We recommend rib eye meat, as it impresses with its marbling and intense taste. The fat in the rib eye ensures that the patties remain juicy and aromatic. Alternatively, minced beef with 20-25% fat content tastes good so that the burgers are nice and juicy.

In general, it is important that the meat is freshly "minced", i.e. freshly put through the meat grinder. If you don't want to grind the meat yourself, you can also buy ready-made burger patties.

How do I create the perfect crust for the Smashed Burger?

Follow these tips and your patties will get a super-crispy crust:

• The right grill temperature: The grill surface must be very hot before the meat balls are placed. Ideally, the temperature is 250-300°C. This is the only way to create the desired crust.
• The right tool: For flattening the minced meat balls, a stainless steel burger smasher or a large scraper is best. Alternatively, you can also use a sturdy grill turner.
• Quick and strong pressing: The meat balls should be flattened firmly and evenly immediately after placing them on the hot surface. This achieves the maximum contact area with the grill, which promotes the formation of a crispy crust.
• Don't turn too early: Do not flip the burger patties until they have formed a nice brown crust on the underside. If you turn them too early, they could fall apart.