hamburger into meatloaf?

[bbqLuv]

The Only Ingredients Bobby Flay Uses To Season His Burgers (msn.com)
According to grill master Bobby Flay, there are only two ingredients you need to season your burgers: Salt and pepper. Adding other spices, garlic, or onion is a no-no. "That is meatloaf," he told Today Food.

For what it's worth, Flay isn't the only famous chef who sticks to just salt and pepper. "Adding junk like onions, herbs, eggs, bread crumbs, anything to your ground meat not only forces you to over-handle the mix but instantly relegates your burgers to the 'meatloaf sandwich' category," J. Kenji López-Alt wrote for Serious Eats

At first blush, this rule seems a little arbitrary. If you like onions, why not add them to your burger mix? Well, there's actually a strategy behind this unspoken rule. The more you handle ground beef, the denser it gets. When you add extra ingredients to it, it's easy to overwork. As for turning your burger into meatloaf, well, that's a matter of preference. If you like meatloaf sandwiches, you like meatloaf sandwiches -- and that's okay. Just don't expect to win any best burger contests.

But I do like meatloaf sandwiches and a good burger or three.

[Mosca]

You certainly won’t ruin your burgers with this advice.

Myself, I think you can get away with spg shake right before it hits the grill/griddle/pan. I don’t think it’s better, just different, and acceptable.

[jfmorris]

The only time I have ignored Master Flay's advice is when following Meathead 's diner burger recipe for smash burgers on the free side:

https://amazingribs.com/tested-recipes/hamburger-sloppy-joe-salisbury-steak-recipes/diner-burgers-recipe-aka-quarter-pounder/

I have great results with that recipe, but I had been following that rule about not over-handling the meat since I started grilling back around 1988 when I graduated college and bought a little Sunbeam H-burner gas grill for my patio at my 1 bedroom apartment.

Maybe a little mixing in of spices doesn't hurt in this case because smash burgers get SMASHED anyway, i.e. compacted but spread out thin?

That said, last time I made smashburgers, I just made the balls at lunchtime from a 80/20 chuck, then smashed them at dinner time, and sprinkled my spices (Meat Church Holy Gospel BBQ rub) on the top right after smashing. Nothing after the flip. I figured a commercial rub like that covered the salt, pepper, onion, garlic, plus I was lazy...

[Mosca]

I sprinkle Montreal Seasoning on a plate, and roll the balls around in it right before smashing.

[Duanessmokedmeats]

I will add whatever I want to my burgers.
Just what we need someone redefining our meat.
What's next? If you add more than salt and pepper to your steak, like onion or garlic, it is now a chuck roast.

[Oak Smoke]

Heck do what ever floats your boat to your burgers. Remember “no rules in the kitchen”.. I made some incredible retro burgers last fall that had Lipton onion soup mix in them. They reminded me of the ones my mom made. If you’re on the west coast or where it’s legal you could pioneer the West Coast Weed Burger. You’d probably end up hungry again faster than Chinese food. The bottom line is enjoy what you’re cooking.

[Duanessmokedmeats]

I forgot about the Lipton onion soup mix burgers.

[bbqLuv]

Lipton onion soup mix in them--I haven't used Lipton onion soup mix in meatloaf in a long time.
That would make great meatloaf burgers too, I bet!

[Rob Johnston]

I used to try to follow recipes to the letter, but then realized I am cooking for my family--not a restaurant or other people. I now cook however my family likes it best. That and whatever my kids will eat. If that means adding other spices to hamburgers or other meals that is how I do things.

[bbqLuv]

well said, cook for the intended audience.
Since just about everyone I Traegerized ribs for likes fall-off-the-bone ribs, that is how I cook them,.

[smokenoob]

I’ll have a cheese meatloaf in paradise please!

[bbqLuv]

Pix of each plz

[captainlee]

I've been over it a long time with advice from the EXPERTS, just make em as you like em. I guess you can't put lettuce, tomato or onion on them because that is salad.

[bbqLuv]

Are you referring to a meatloaf or burger salad?

[captainlee]

Burger

[texastweeter]

My burger seasoning breaks those rules, and gets rave reviews on both smash burgers and Bubba burgers:

2.5 tsp Kosher salt
2 tsp smoked paprika
1.5 tsp black pepper
.5 tsp MSG
.5 tsp dark brown sugar
.25 tsp Chipotle powder
.25 tsp onion powder
.25 tsp garlic powder

seasons 6 6oz burgers, or 9 smash burgers.

[Johnny Booth]

I’m always looking for different spices for my burgers. Thanks!

[texastweeter]

holehogg yes, and it helps with the crust.

[randy.56]

It was all going good until I got the brown sugar, have to try it.

[Spinaker]

How about this…..

“there are no rules in the kitchen or the bedroom” -Meathead

[bbqLuv]

What to do with burgers in the bedroom????

[Johnny Booth]

bbqLuv - Anything you want. Just don’t share…. The story OR the burgers. 😂

[dubob]

Hmmmmm! Do I want a cigarette or a burger?

[Huskee]

We love nothing more than someone in front of a camera or a computer telling us what we should and shouldn't season our food with. Can he tell me which instruments should be in the music I listen to as well? A good song only needs bass and vocal perhaps? I would find that helpful too. </sarcasm>

[bbqLuv]

It is really easy to tell people what to do and enjoy it. Just read a book to quote.
Now as an expert. . . well you get the idea.

[Johnny Booth]

Heck - My neighbor told me - so it Must be true. 🤣