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When i wrote Add baking soda to beef For better browning and moisture retention, the reader was clearly divided – who think This chemical reaction Pure snake oil is, and those who want to know immediately how to apply this technique to Hamburger. Well, your Memorial Day Weekend Grill Game for those of you, Sandal Up. This very real chemical reaction is really perfectly suited to improve your summer burger.
How does baking soda tender meat?
Baking soda reacts with protein in meat, whether it is ground or not, prevents them from tightening as they normally do during cooking. This is a technique that is for age in Chinese cooking, Is calledYou have probably seen stake, chicken, bacon, and hamburger, with which the baking soda has not been treated after cooking. The protein network begins to squeeze and rise up, with heating up the natural juices of meat. When you cut it, the meat feels rubber and dry because the protein wounds are tight and the juice is left in the pan or in a charcoal pit.
Baking soda-painted meat contains relaxed protein networks that maintain more natural juices in comparison. For the palate, it looks like a tender, juicy, more delicious hamburous patty with a crispy brown exterior. Oh: Browning also gets better about that.
How does baking soda improve browning?
it turns out that Mylad reaction (Charming and delicious browning that occurs for foods when they cook at about 300 ° F) are rapid in more alkaline environment. A spraying of baking soda is sufficient to increase the pH and causes more pronounced browning, whether in banana wafles or with meat. This truly creates new tastes in your food, thus your burger will actually be more delicious by including a pinch of this original pantry item.
To display, I divided 93% lean ground beef divided and added half a teaspoon of baking soda to a half of the meat. I shaped the meat in the patties and grid both types of burgers in a light spirit of canola oil to ensure good contact with heat. I cooked each burger to reach 140 ° F to 145 ° F degrees for moderate donations. You can see in the picture, it is very easy to mention who was treated with baking soda.

Backing soda tried burgers on the right have better browning and less shrinkage.
Credit: Ellie Chantorn Rainman
How to make better burgers with baking soda
This small amount of baking soda leaves the back flavor in your burger, and it reduces the loss of moisture, which keeps the shrinkage minimized (you’ll not finish with small burgers on the huge buns). The result is tender meat, and you will be rewarded with a beautiful brown crust. Here’s how I do it.
1. Ground meat season
I add ground burger meat to a large bowl and season it with salt. Go ahead and add any other seasoning of your choice. Then dust baking soda on the surface of the meat. For every eight ounces (half pound) of ground meat, I used half a teaspoon of baking soda.
What do you think so far?

Credit: Ellie Chantorn Rainman
2. Mix it well
Then you need to dirty your hands. I am sure you can do this with a spoon, but I feel very quick to do it with your hands. I think the seasoning is distributed more well in this way. If you want to keep your hands clean, then donate some vinyl food-safe gloves. Squeeze and toss the meat in the bowl until it is well mixed.
3. Shape and cook the patties
Make patties with your hands and prepare them on a rowed sheet pan with parchment paper, or a plate for a small batch. When you get a pan or grill ready, let them rest in the fridge. Cook as usual.
I recommend testing for donation with meat thermometer instead of color. With a quick browning of the exterior, you do not want to remove the burger soon. I use the Thermopen forest and I like it. Try to insert the investigation end at one side angle towards the center as much as possible. You want a reading for the center, not to hit the other side. Once done once, let your burger relax from heat for a few minutes – which I think naturally it happens as you plate them and wear them with a fixin – and enjoy the first bite of the summer grill season.