We’ve all been there. You think you’ve got your Burger game down and then, oops, you overcook it. Burnt and dried out Burgers are not generally a crowd pleaser, but not to fret, we’ve got some tips for adding moisture back into a dried out piece of meat, and making that overcooked Burger palatable again.

You might be asking, “How did that even happen?”.

High heat and a prolonged cook time are usually the culprits. So, it’s a good idea to set a timer when you’re cooking Burgers and check the accuracy of your heat source. How you like your Burger cooked should determine how long you cook it for. Also, have a thermometer on hand to check the Burger’s internal temperature, so you always know how cooked it actually is! The USDA recommends cooking Burgers to 160°F.

Reasons For Burnt or Dry Burgers

• Moisture Loss: The longer a Burger cooks and the more heat it is exposed to, the more moisture evaporates. The longer it stays over heat, the Burger patty will shrink due to the natural juices being squeezed out. 
• Protein Coagulation: The Burger becomes tough and less tender because the proteins in the meat change structure and coagulate tightly.

In addition, the loss of moisture and tightly coagulated meat affects how a Burger tastes, taking away the delicious flavor a Burger normally has. You will find that burnt Burgers even have a bitter taste.

How Do You Salvage Your Overcooked Burger?

We’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve…

1. Butter: Place a small pat of butter directly on top of the Burger (while still warm if possible). The heat of the Burger will melt the butter and reintroduce some much-needed fat and moisture.
2. Broth: Warm some broth (beef or even chicken is preferable) and lightly brush the Burger with the warm broth. For a super dry Burger, you can even simmer the overcooked patty in a shallow pan with a little bit of broth.
3. Sauce: While we generally want the flavor of a Burger to shine on its own (like The All American Burger from Schweid & Sons, for instance), when it’s cooked to the point of no return, a flavorful rescue is needed. Saucing it up will not only add flavor but also a bit of moisture back into the patty. For example, BBQ sauce, gravy, creamy aioli, or a ketchup and mustard combination works perfectly.
4. Crumble It: For Burgers that have reached hockey puck consistency, it may be best to rethink it. Crumble it up and use it in chili, pasta sauce, or a shepherd’s pie. Paired with other ingredients and liquids will disguise the dryness of the meat.  

If all else fails, be a master of flavor disguise…

• Wrap your Burger in melted cheese. It adds flavor, covers a not-so-pretty and burnt patty, and adds a layer of much-needed moisture and fat. Melt it on while the Burger is still on the heat source or right when it comes off.
• You can also butter the bun. Hide that imperfect patty among layers of creamy buttered goodness. Lightly toast the bun on the grill or in a pan until golden brown and add the requisite condiments.
• Speaking of condiments, don’t skimp in this scenario. These extra toppings will help compensate for the dryness of the overcooked Burger. When it comes to condiments, there are no bad choices. Try a creamy mayo, spicy mustard, tangy relish, crispy lettuce, sweet onion, just to name a few. 

We all learn from our mistakes, so now you know how to fix your Burger mishap, but also how to avoid it in the future!

• Starting with premium ground beef is the first step to a juicy Burger. Find Schweid & Sons at a store near you.
• Browse the many Ground Beef and pre-formed Burger patty options online.
• Share your tips for how you fix an overcooked Burger by tagging Schweid & Sons on Instagram @Schweidandsons.
• We’ve got no shortage of Burger tips to share! To stay up to date by subscribing to the Schweid & Sons email newsletter.