smash burgers
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Grate Smash Burgers

By Chef Michael

June 24, 2019

Prep Time

10 mins

Grill Time

10 mins

Total Time

20 mins

Categories

Flip your GrillGrates over so that rails are facing down and preheat your grill to medium high (about 500°F at the surface). Scrape any debris off the flat side of your GrillGrates.

Ingredients

Servings

0.1875

Pounds 80/20 Ground Beef

Salt and Pepper

1

Slices of Cheese- Your Choice (optional)

1

Burger Buns

Directions

Step 1

Begin by portioning the ground beef into 3 oz balls.

Step 2

Flip your GrillGrates over so that rails are facing down and preheat your grill to medium high (about 500°F at the surface).

Step 3

Scrape any debris off the flat side of your GrillGrates.

Step 4

Once the grill is preheated, pour a little vegetable oil onto a paper towel. Use a pair of tongs to wipe the flat side of your GrillGrates down.

Step 5

Place a 3 oz ball of ground beef onto the grill and using the GrateTool or a spatula "smash" the burger flat. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 6

Repeat until all 8 ground beef balls have been placed and smashed.

Step 7

By the time you have smashed the 8th burger you will be able to flip the first smashed burger you put on the grill.

Step 8

After flipping the burgers add the cheese. Continue to cook until the cheese has melted.

Step 9

Remove from grill.

Step 10

Place burgers on buns and enjoy your Grate Smash Burger.

Grill Like A Pro

48 Reviews

  1. Dale A Nick on 09/22/2020 at 11:36 pm

    I never thought about flipping the Grill Grates even after all these years that I’ve loved them. Thanks for the idea. I’ll have to give it a try!!

  2. Dale A Nick on 09/22/2020 at 11:36 pm

    I never thought about flipping the Grill Grates even after all these years that I’ve loved them. Thanks for the idea. I’ll have to give it a try!!

  3. TIM ADAMS on 07/28/2020 at 10:31 am

    I grind my own hamburger,this time did a packer brisket(after trimming the unusable fat)did the double grind at medium.8oz each.Cooked on Weber Genesis II gas grill indirect to 120deg then on grill grate(flat side down)to finish medium.Was unhappy with texture.Would flipping the GG to flat side up make me happier with texture& can I still smash@8oz or not smash or split the two 8 oz balls into 4 4oz.sorry for the long question

    • Meagan Bryson on 09/03/2020 at 8:43 am

      Just to clarify – you want to make sure you’re only smashing on the flat side.

      You can smash on wax paper first and then put on your flat side. We would also recommend two small 4 oz burgers, you’ll definitely get more crisp that way.

    • Scott F on 02/02/2021 at 3:47 pm

      Tim, I’m late to the party, reading this post and your question. I’ve been making smash burgers for over a year, using the flat side of the grill grates. You want the grates hot and over direct heat. The key to these burgers is to quickly sear the outside of the burger, while cooking the center without drying it out. At first glance, you’ll think the burger is burnt. Just like a wood fired pizza, the outside of a smash burger is charred (not burnt), sealing in some of the fat. This is a very quick process, you need to have everything prepped before the first ball of meat is smashed – and you want these burgers smashed relatively thin. You may even see some grate through the meat (not paper thin, but possibly broken) – you do not want a thick burger. Once you start to see some of the fat bubbling up, through the uncooked side, it’s probably time to flip (but take a peek and look for the char first). These are “small” burgers, if you want a larger burger, stack two, don’t make a larger patty. We do not eat burgers any other way. If the weather is bad and we can’t use the grill, I use a large cast iron skillet on the stovetop (messy, but does the job).

  4. TIM ADAMS on 07/28/2020 at 10:31 am

    I grind my own hamburger,this time did a packer brisket(after trimming the unusable fat)did the double grind at medium.8oz each.Cooked on Weber Genesis II gas grill indirect to 120deg then on grill grate(flat side down)to finish medium.Was unhappy with texture.Would flipping the GG to flat side up make me happier with texture& can I still smash@8oz or not smash or split the two 8 oz balls into 4 4oz.sorry for the long question

    • Meagan Bryson on 09/03/2020 at 8:43 am

      Just to clarify – you want to make sure you’re only smashing on the flat side.

      You can smash on wax paper first and then put on your flat side. We would also recommend two small 4 oz burgers, you’ll definitely get more crisp that way.

    • Scott F on 02/02/2021 at 3:47 pm

      Tim, I’m late to the party, reading this post and your question. I’ve been making smash burgers for over a year, using the flat side of the grill grates. You want the grates hot and over direct heat. The key to these burgers is to quickly sear the outside of the burger, while cooking the center without drying it out. At first glance, you’ll think the burger is burnt. Just like a wood fired pizza, the outside of a smash burger is charred (not burnt), sealing in some of the fat. This is a very quick process, you need to have everything prepped before the first ball of meat is smashed – and you want these burgers smashed relatively thin. You may even see some grate through the meat (not paper thin, but possibly broken) – you do not want a thick burger. Once you start to see some of the fat bubbling up, through the uncooked side, it’s probably time to flip (but take a peek and look for the char first). These are “small” burgers, if you want a larger burger, stack two, don’t make a larger patty. We do not eat burgers any other way. If the weather is bad and we can’t use the grill, I use a large cast iron skillet on the stovetop (messy, but does the job).

  5. Mike on 11/04/2019 at 3:02 am

    Here’s an additional step that I do. Reconstitute some dehydrated onion flakes with some water in the microwave (about 10 seconds on High). Put these on the flat side of the Grill Grate after wiping down with the vegetable oil. Put the ball of meat on top of the onions and smash. When turning over the patties, make sure you turn the onions over with it.

    • Brad Barrett on 02/17/2020 at 10:18 am

      What a grrrrrate tip on the onion flakes Mike!

    • David on 07/08/2020 at 2:44 pm

      Mike is Einstein! Great tip.

    • Brian Blasko on 08/02/2020 at 8:25 am

      The onions sound like a great idea. I’m going to try it tonight.

      • Meagan Bryson on 09/03/2020 at 8:39 am

        Awesome!



  6. Mike on 11/04/2019 at 3:02 am

    Here’s an additional step that I do. Reconstitute some dehydrated onion flakes with some water in the microwave (about 10 seconds on High). Put these on the flat side of the Grill Grate after wiping down with the vegetable oil. Put the ball of meat on top of the onions and smash. When turning over the patties, make sure you turn the onions over with it.

    • Brad Barrett on 02/17/2020 at 10:18 am

      What a grrrrrate tip on the onion flakes Mike!

    • David on 07/08/2020 at 2:44 pm

      Mike is Einstein! Great tip.

    • Brian Blasko on 08/02/2020 at 8:25 am

      The onions sound like a great idea. I’m going to try it tonight.

      • Meagan Bryson on 09/03/2020 at 8:39 am

        Awesome!



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