About homemade hamburgers...
By marguicha
@marguicha (230350)
Chile
May 29, 2011 6:34pm CST
I have noticed that here, when people talk about hamburgers, they all are speaking about a fast food chain or another or about patties that you buy already made.
Two days ago, I went to my daughter´s home for lunch. My eldest granddaughter anounced that her BF was coming for a late lunch after the university. There were no more steaks at the huse so she went and bought a couple of ready made hamburgers. I noticed they were more expensive than a real steak and I would not vouch for its contnts.
I make my own hamburgers at home and season them in different ways so they don´t always taste the same. I even grind the meat at home many times because I can do it with cheap meat in sale and prepare it taking away the fat and trimming it. Some of the unwanted meat I boil a long time with herbs and make good broths.
Do you make yyour own hamburgers? If you don´t, is it because you don´t like the homemade ones or for lack of time? Share!
5 people like this
21 responses
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
30 May 11
Hi marguicha 
We don't have them very often but I do make my own. I buy the lean ground beef and season them with Goya Sazon and garlic, mmm I love my burgers. I have not had a ready made on in so long and I have to be really, really hungry and unable to make my own to be able to buy them in the fast food restaurants.
I don't like the taste of the fast food ones they taste processed and not exactly meaty tasting.
We don't have them very often but I do make my own. I buy the lean ground beef and season them with Goya Sazon and garlic, mmm I love my burgers. I have not had a ready made on in so long and I have to be really, really hungry and unable to make my own to be able to buy them in the fast food restaurants.
I don't like the taste of the fast food ones they taste processed and not exactly meaty tasting.
3 people like this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
30 May 11
Has anyone ever really seen a raw burger at any of the fast food chains? I'll bet they look just like that dog food that looks like a burger patty (I can't remember the name of it)except not as large.
Yeah, I forgot about the garlic. I did add garlic powder to my burger as it was cooking along with a little salt. If I'm gonna kill myself with red meat I might as well do it up good.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
30 May 11
I agree with you both. Why should we gain weight and lose health eating dog food when we can do as well with yummy homemade food!? I don´t use much garlic powder because I can get fresh garlic the year around and I have an awesome garlic crusher that won´t leave my fingers garlic smelling until the end of time.
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
30 May 11
dying happy with a full stomach seems like enjoyment. 
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
30 May 11
What a coincidence! I just made a hamburger not 2 hours ago and ate it for my dinner. I didn't grind the meat but had bought lean ground chuck and used that. I didn't add any special seasonings today but just patted it out and threw it into the skillet. Onion, tomato slice, lettuce and mayonnaise on the bun and I was good to go. Homemade burgers are so much better than the Alpo burgers you get at the fast food chains and they are definitely better for you. No fillers or preservatives and no extra fat. I do this quite often. Usually when I get a package of ground chuck or ground round, I make patties and freeze them. I have a patty maker so they are all uniform and in the same shape and thickness.
3 people like this
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
30 May 11
lol @ the Alpo burgers you get at the fast food chains
I have not had a good burger in any of the fast foods here. Home made is by far my best, always. 
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
30 May 11
I don´t even know the names of the stores bought hamburgers as I do them as you do. I make the patties by hand although you can buypatty makers. But I´m sure I´d place it in an "intelligent place" so that I´ll forget where it is when I´m making the patties. Fortunatly, up to the moment, I know where my hands are. When I amke ground meat patties for hamburgers, I do them as you do. But I add other ingredients if I serve them with rice or mashed potatoes on the side.
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
2 Jun 11
If you prepare the hamburger at home with ground meat, you can add exactly the spices you are not allergic to
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Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks for sharing.2 people like this
@sid556 (30953)
• United States
2 Jun 11
Hi Marguicha,
Two of my daughters work at a fast food place and none of us really eat there except on very very rare occasions. Those burgers are just so unhealthy for you and they have enough calories for 2 days in each one. We actually don't have hamburgers very often but when we do, I broil them which is a bit better than frying them I think. I think it is worth the extra time to cook at home than rely on fast foods and things. It's cheaper and healthier and it doesn't have to take a lot of time. Tonight we had salad for dinner. I prepared all the veges earlier in the day and then it only took us a few minutes to make our salads. We will use the left over fresh veges to make vege wraps tomorrow night.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
2 Jun 11
I have checked and I can eat a nice potato, rice or some pasta too if I eat lean meat instead of a greasy one. That´s why I started making my own hamburgers. I don´t even have to buy very expensive meat because I trim it before grinding it and as it´s ground, it doesn´t matter if it is prime beef or not.
1 person likes this
@ladym33 (10978)
• United States
14 Jun 11
I have made my own before and they are really good that way. However, when I do cook hamburgers, it is mostly because I need to make a meal really quick for some reason or I just want to make an easy meal, so I will use the pre-made patties from the store. I think of hamburgers as easy convenient foods. Homemade ones are very good though, yours sound fantastic by the way.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
15 Jun 11
Many times I buy more meat than needed, make lots of patties and freeze them with a plascit wrap between each one so you can take out only what you need. The only imppotant thing about making hamburgers and freezing them is to add less salt than what you normally put.
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
2 Jun 11
I have a wonderful recipe for the chilean empanadas. YUMMY!!!
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
30 May 11
I know what is to feel proud when grandchildren say that granma cooks best!
1 person likes this
@elisa812 (3026)
• United States
5 Aug 11
Wow, your homemade burgers sound great! I have started making homemade burgers more often lately for my husband and myself, but I actually make turkey burgers instead of regular hamburgers. At first, the main reason I was making them myself was because we both love burgers, and I wanted to find a way that we could still have burgers, but without so much fat and calories. They turned out to be so tasty, that now we have totally switched over to the homemade turkey burgers! They are still pretty quick to throw together, and much better quality than buying the pre-made burgers.
I have started making homemade burgers more often lately for my husband and myself, but I actually make turkey burgers instead of regular hamburgers. At first, the main reason I was making them myself was because we both love burgers, and I wanted to find a way that we could still have burgers, but without so much fat and calories. They turned out to be so tasty, that now we have totally switched over to the homemade turkey burgers! They are still pretty quick to throw together, and much better quality than buying the pre-made burgers. @marguicha (230350)
• Chile
8 Aug 11
Thy are also lss expensive, if you think of the quality of the meat you use. And I spice them differently sometimes, just for the fun of it. Sometimes, I ever put in the middle a thin piece of the kind of cheese that melts with heat. YUMMY!!!
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
30 May 11
Whwen I grind my own meat I save money as I use cheper meats to grid, but I know exactly what I´m eating. I trim the meat before I grind it and save the best pieces for casseroles.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
2 Jun 11
They can taste very different depending on the seasoning. Parsley is awesome. My mom invited me for lunch yesterday and said that she had coarselly diced onions, parsley a clove of garlic and some old bread and blended it. Aferwards, she threw in diced meat to blend and made the patties. They were incredible and she did not fry the onion so everything was more dietetic.
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
31 May 11
I like making my own ground meats for the same reason that you do. You know what goes into it, and can control the fat content. Usually I make a bunch at once and freeze the extras for quick meals at a later time.
I don't have a hamburger press, but I've found that silicone egg rings make ideal forms, and I can vary the thickness, depending on what I'm going to do with the burger once it's cooked.
I also like grinding my own chicken and turkey burgers, although because of the reduced fat content, they don't freeze as well. My husband is a hard-core beef eater. One day I made black bean turkey burgers, and he thought they were the best 'hamburgers' he'd had in a long time. Boy, was he surprised when I told him what they were....
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
2 Jun 11
I don´t have a hamburger press either, but hands are good to press hamburgers
. I have taught my index finger to give them a pat on the sides so they look better. I haven´t made turkey burgers but I mix chicken and beef often.
. I have taught my index finger to give them a pat on the sides so they look better. I haven´t made turkey burgers but I mix chicken and beef often.1 person likes this
@jahernandezrivas (11287)
• United States
30 May 11
I don't really like fast food very much at all especially hamburgers, I don't like the ones like you described either the ready made I like to cook my own and when I do I like them on the grill!! Yummy!!!! L.O.L.
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
30 May 11
You mean the dog food my granddaughter bought for her BF?
I don´t like them either. Even a plain homemade ground meat and salt is so much better. I love grilled hamburger patties. I put then a wonderful spice made my our natives: dry very hot red chile that is previously smoked. It´s called "merken". I´m sure your hubby would be as happy with some of out dishes as I was with mexican food whenn I went to Mexico.
I don´t like them either. Even a plain homemade ground meat and salt is so much better. I love grilled hamburger patties. I put then a wonderful spice made my our natives: dry very hot red chile that is previously smoked. It´s called "merken". I´m sure your hubby would be as happy with some of out dishes as I was with mexican food whenn I went to Mexico.@jahernandezrivas (11287)
• United States
31 May 11
L.O.L. Yes Dog Food ALPO!!! I agree even the ones made inside home are better than that!!! Yes I am sure he would love a hamburger like you mentioned! So would I,
I agree even the ones made inside home are better than that!!! Yes I am sure he would love a hamburger like you mentioned! So would I, 
@epicure35 (2814)
• United States
31 May 11
You are correct in asserting that homemade burgers are better and safer than those made with supermarket standard meats and fast food burgers.
At least, if you grind the meat yourself, you know what you are eating. I'm told that supermarket ground beef, as a rule, is conglomerate mix of beef from several sources, some of which are not so reputable.
It doesn't take a lot of time to make a good homemade hamburger.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
2 Jun 11
I don´t even want to think what meats they use!
I have eaten several times non conventional meats, such as guinea pig, frog legs and hares. But I want to know what´s in my burger.
I have eaten several times non conventional meats, such as guinea pig, frog legs and hares. But I want to know what´s in my burger.1 person likes this
@jak2010 (1550)
• Papua New Guinea
30 May 11
Yes, it can actually be made in homes, but you are right, it is a kind of fast food product. As you described, it is convinient for such life, life style where there is no time for cooking. It readily available for people to grab and goble. It is also considered as one fo the worst food in terms of fat, but hummy for those people on the run.
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
30 May 11
I jak,
I don´t think that homemade hmburgers are as full of fat as the ones you buy in fast food chains. I make my own with lean meat that I grind myself (because that way I can buy cheaper meat and trim the fat) and many times I serve it with white rice or mashed potatoes. None of them are as fattening as those bought french fries. Even the fried potatoes, when fried at home, are done with better oil and so it´s healthier.
I recognise though that if you cannot take your lunch to work or come to eat at home, you are prey to those fast food chains that are expensive and unhealthy.
@jak2010 (1550)
• Papua New Guinea
31 May 11
Yes, you are correct, What I said was for the takeaway or fast food outlets.
@bhabycatch013 (9150)
• Philippines
30 May 11
hello marguicha,
Before I sell hamburger sandwich at my place I don't used the ready one instead I made my own homemade burger patties 
.
But now if I want to eat hamburger I just buy on a fast food chain.
happy mylotting
.
But now if I want to eat hamburger I just buy on a fast food chain.
happy mylotting
@xtedaxcvg (3189)
• Philippines
30 May 11
Homemade burgers are always the best burgers in my opinion. The fact that it will be way cheaper than the burgers you buy from groceries and restaurants is already the winning factor. You can also decide how your burgers will taste so that's always a win for me. Lastly, you can always make bigger burgers if you make your own.
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
30 May 11
I make the patties to suit the bread I bought, but many times I make a homemade groundmeat patty to serve with rice, mashed potatoes or even fries.Those are usually bigger unless an unexpected visitor comes before I fry them. Then I put it all together and make them smaller
@allen0187 (59828)
• Philippines
30 May 11
hi marguicha.
i prefer home made burgers as well but sadly do not have the time to prepare it. i remember vividly my mom used to make home made burgers and it would rival any of the high end burgers that one can get in expensive restaurants. anyway, reading this post of yours has got me thinking into leaving work on time later in the day to get home and prepare has homegrown burgers using my mom's recipe. not only am i sure about the quality and cleanliness of the burgers, i can also put in alternate ingredients to make my burger healthier.
cheers to home made burgers!!!
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
30 May 11
If you buy a lean ground meat and have a couple of kitchen utensils (to crush garlic and a good knife) and have around onions and some spices (that you can even have dried) you can make several patties and separate them with a plastic so that you only take as many patties as you need. Then you can make many at once and just take them out a few minutes before frying them or grilling them whichever way you prefer.
@Princelierocks (817)
• India
30 May 11
I love homefood very much. Making things at home is more tastelier as compared to street foods. When I comes to hamburger we dont make it since in our indian culture we mostly make bread with pattis and is somewhat like a burger taste. When my mom makes it I enjoy my mommy's food. We do eat burgers but ony when we go to some restaurant or some fast food centers we have that sort of food. My mom makes different types of fastfood. Thus I prefer home food very and I enjoy it very much.
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
30 May 11
I´d love to learn how your mother makes the patties. Indian food uses different spices that in my country but I love indian food the few times I have tried it.
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
14 Jun 11
I think generations have changed. Instant is quicker.
Also I noticed last night a lady in the grocery store looking at meat with her child looking with her.
Unfortunately even hamburger is getting pricy per pound, and it can me much easier to grab a burger (even I have done this) because its cheaper.
I do grill hamburgers though when hubby is home on the weekends, and I also put them in the oven using liptons onion soup mix.
Really makes that pound of burger come out with flavor.
I hear others use the ranch dressing mix too. not being a big fan of ranch dressing except on my salad I have not tried that.
Enjoy your homemade burger!
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
15 Jun 11
Thanks! I really enjoy cooking and at least in my country, if you know how to shop, food can be less expensive if you cook from scratch.
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
18 Jun 11
I buy meat on sale when I go to the super, ground it and put it in small containers in the freezer. If I have time, I make the hamburgers and put a plastic wrap between each one. I grind my stale bread when I have it and use it for different purposes. As for spices, onions, garlic and eggs is part of what I always have in my kitchen. So I never have to go anywhere when I want a hamburger.
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
24 Jun 11
Tell him to give out the recipe of such wonders so we can try to make them.
