Diner Burger Recipe

How to make it

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• For The Ground Beef

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• Cube the beef into 1-inch cubes and place on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Freeze the meat and the grinding equipment for 30 minutes.
• Mix the cuts of beef up and run through the grinder, using a thicker die.

• For The Hamburger Patty

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• Preheat a 10- or 12-inch cast iron griddle over medium-high heat (level 7-8 on your burner).
• Grab a small handful of ground beef and loosely form into a patty. The amount you use should be no more than a quarter pound, or about 1/3 cup. The patties should be pressed together just enough to hold their shape, and they should be at most a 1/4-inch bigger than the size of the bun since they'll shrink when you cook them.

• For The Bun

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• Once the patties are formed (you should be able to get 4-6 of them depending on the size), wet an equal number of paper towels and squeeze the excess water out. Wrap each bun in a paper towel and microwave for 20-30 seconds. Remove the paper towels and set the buns aside.

• For The Hamburger

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• Sprinkle salt and pepper on the top of each patty. Place each patty, salt and pepper side down, on the griddle and do not touch them. After a minute on the griddle, press each patty down with your spatula for about 5 seconds. After 1-2 minutes, flip the patties over and season with salt and pepper.
• Place a slice of cheese on each patty. Put an ice cube on the griddle near the edge, and cover the griddle with a metal bowl or lid to steam the cheese and melt it quickly. After 30 seconds, take the bowl or lid off. Place each patty on a bun.

• For The Condiments (optional)

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• If you want to add some condiments, you can order them however you'd like, but I would recommend the following order (remove any condiment from the order that you don't want): hamburger patty, spreadable items (like Thousand Island dressing, mayonnaise, or ketchup), lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions. If you do have items between the cheese and patty, then add those on the patty while it's on the griddle. This order will keep the items from sliding off the patty when you eat.