Flavorful Dinner Inspiration for Grilling in 2026

I make smashburgers on steel often. They are bad ass and once you try it in this manner, you'll never go back. I invented the Baking Steel back in 2012 for pizza however honestly, smashburgers might be the thing I cook on steel more than anything else these days. The work is getting your burger bar together: chopped pickles, onions, cheese, unique sauce.

Get your frying pan or steel ripping hot. We're cooking these for 30-60 seconds per side, and you desire it yelling hot for that Maillard reaction, the sear that makes smashburgers legendary.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

I've made smash burgers on this thing that individuals still discuss. Smashburgers at home are off the charts. Here's how I do it. More surface area equates to more flavor. Smashing the beef thin makes the most of contact with the hot steel, triggering the Maillard response, the chemical procedure that develops that deep, savory, browned taste all of us long for.

Your very first burger and your fourth get the same extraordinary edge-to-edge crust without the temperature level dropping. I 'd know my family has actually remained in the steel service for over 50 years at our store in Hanover, MA. I understand this material, and I constructed these griddles particularly to fix the heat retention problem that cast iron can't.

Savory Dinner Ideas for Summer 2026

Let it pre-heat for 10-15 minutes until it's ripping hot (around 500-550F). This is the same principle behind our pizza steels pack the steel with heat, and it does the work for you.

Season the smashed patties kindly with kosher salt and fresh black pepper. Prepare for 60-90 seconds.

Utilize a bench scraper or stiff spatula to get under the patty, ensuring you scrape up all the crispy, browned bits. Flip it over. Instantly position a piece of cheese on the flipped patty. Prepare for another 30-45 seconds to melt the cheese. Briefly toast your buns on a cooler part of the griddle for 15-20 seconds.

Designing Savory Menus with Signature Burgers

Cheese melting completely on the Mini Griddle Cast iron is the standard choice for smashburgers, and it works. After checking both side-by-side for over a years, I changed to steel.

I comprehend how it shops and transfers heat in a way most individuals never ever think about. Here's the distinction: That indicates it recovers temperature quicker in between hamburgers.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

You get the very same screaming-hot crust on your first hamburger and your 4th. Simply cook, scrape, wipe tidy. I have actually tested cast iron, stainless steel, and every frying pan on the market.

Desire to take your smashburger video game outside? Put your Baking Steel Original directly on your outside grill grates. Pre-heat the grill and steel for 15-20 minutes on high heat, then smash your hamburgers right on the steel. You get the same extraordinary crust with the included advantage of outside cooking and that subtle smoky flavor from the grill.

Creating Elevated Menus with Signature Burgers

They stroll up anticipating routine grilled burgers and rather they see me smashing patties on a piece of American-made steel on the grill. Perfect smash hamburgers made on the Baking Steel Original on an outside grill I developed each of these for a specific use case.

It fits on a single burner and is ideal for households or burger night with buddies. is compact and ideal for 1-2 burgers. It's terrific for small kitchens, homes, or solo cooking. Same heat retention, smaller footprint. is the one that began it all. Utilize it in the oven for pizza, or take it outdoors and place it on your grill for smashburgers, steaks, and more.