How do I Make Hamburgers on a Cuisinart Griddler?

Use the Cuisinart Griddler to create the perfect hamburger indoors.

The Cuisinart Griddler is a multi-functioning cooking unit with four different cooking options. The unit contains a contact grill, Panini press, full grill and full griddle; there is also a half grill/half griddle plate. The Griddler works well for cooking healthy hamburgers, as the grooved cooking plates drain grease into a drip tray to decrease fat. Dual temperatures also help you achieve the perfectly done burger. The unit has a floating hinge, so the Griddler is able to accommodate and adapt to burgers of any size. Its nonstick surface also ensures burgers separate easily from the tray when done.

Instructions

1. Preheat the Griddler before beginning to make the hamburgers. It takes about 5 minutes to preheat. If you like your hamburgers rare, use a higher heat setting to quickly cook the hamburgers on the outside while leaving the inside more raw. For well-done hamburgers, use a medium heat setting to cook the hamburgers more slowly and all the way through.

2. Form the hamburger, using ground beef (or other ground meat, as desired). If you are using an add-in (such as an onion mix to create onion burgers), make sure you mix it in well to minimize the residue left on the Griddler's grill surface.

   As you form the individual hamburgers, pack the meat tightly to prevent your burgers from separating once the weight of the top plate of the Griddler is on them.

3. Cook the hamburgers. If your Griddler is well worn, you may want to spray the grill plate with cooking spray or grease it with olive oil before you put each hamburger on it, as the nonstick surface will gradually be worn down with use. Monitor the hamburgers as they cook but try to open the top of the Griddler as little as possible, as this allows heat to escape. Hamburgers do not need to be flipped because they are being cooked on both sides by the opposing plates, which will also create sear marks on your hamburger.

4. Remove the hamburgers from the Griddler using a spatula. If you are cooking more than one batch of hamburgers, scrape the Griddler's grill plates to remove grease and leftover burger residue from the grill to avoid burning and to provide the cleanest cooking experience. Also check the drip tray and empty it if you are cooking a lot of hamburgers or using non-lean ground meat.

References

• Cuisinart: GR-4N Griddler