This is why I wish Nick Solares would order his burgers Medium Rare. It is clear that very few AHT readers order their burgers Rare. Some of those pictures in his reviews are disturbingly raw. I love his reviews, but often wonder how it would change (if any) if the burger was cooked a little longer. Would it still be juicy? Would the grind of the meat stand out more? How much additional char would there be?
I also think it would be more useful to see how accurately a place can cook a medium rare or medium burger. With all the bad press on ground beef, I can't blame a place for slightly overcooking a burger that is requested rare.
I'd also like to see an AHT definition of burger doneness - order the same exact burger from a single place that cooks them right done each way, rare, MR, medium, MW, well. Show us the autopsy pictures. That sort of thing.
To me, rare/medium rare just means 'undercooked,' medium means 'almost cooked,' medium well means 'getting there,' and well done is 'mmmmm.' Seeing it all laid out as far as what to expect and when to send back a burger for not being cooked right might encourage me to branch out a little..
Could the poll be flawed? I think I responded that I order my burgers Rare, but the problem behind my response is that more often than not, when I order a burger Medium Rare, it disappointingly comes out to a doneness that is in fact Medium. So, in reality, I prefer a true Medium Rare.
It has always been my understanding that Medium means hot and just barely pink (definitely not red and bloody) in the center, with the meat becoming progressively more gray away from the center. My understanding of Medium Rare is that the meat is warm and red (not pink) in the center. Rare is cool and red in the center. Etc. Medium Rare is perfect, but I'd rather have Rare than Medium if a place cannot produce a perfect Medium Rare for me. So I often order Rare just to be on the safe side of assuring a juicy burger.
@Lorenzo: I feel the same way: when I order med rare, many times it comes medium. I've wondered if I should just order rare in hopes of getting med rare, but then...I should see if a place can actually cook the burger the way I ask. :[
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6 Comments:
that burger looks yummy.
Prairie at 12:41PM on 08/21/09
I echo my previous comment...
This is why I wish Nick Solares would order his burgers Medium Rare. It is clear that very few AHT readers order their burgers Rare. Some of those pictures in his reviews are disturbingly raw. I love his reviews, but often wonder how it would change (if any) if the burger was cooked a little longer. Would it still be juicy? Would the grind of the meat stand out more? How much additional char would there be?
I also think it would be more useful to see how accurately a place can cook a medium rare or medium burger. With all the bad press on ground beef, I can't blame a place for slightly overcooking a burger that is requested rare.
burgerluver at 6:20PM on 08/21/09
I'd also like to see an AHT definition of burger doneness - order the same exact burger from a single place that cooks them right done each way, rare, MR, medium, MW, well. Show us the autopsy pictures. That sort of thing.
To me, rare/medium rare just means 'undercooked,' medium means 'almost cooked,' medium well means 'getting there,' and well done is 'mmmmm.' Seeing it all laid out as far as what to expect and when to send back a burger for not being cooked right might encourage me to branch out a little..
ratbuddy at 7:21PM on 08/21/09
Glad to see people are moving away from rare burgers! Not only is it disgusting but it can pose potential health risks!
Medium to medium well is really the best way to go.
jlewfoodie at 2:12AM on 08/23/09
Could the poll be flawed? I think I responded that I order my burgers Rare, but the problem behind my response is that more often than not, when I order a burger Medium Rare, it disappointingly comes out to a doneness that is in fact Medium. So, in reality, I prefer a true Medium Rare.
It has always been my understanding that Medium means hot and just barely pink (definitely not red and bloody) in the center, with the meat becoming progressively more gray away from the center. My understanding of Medium Rare is that the meat is warm and red (not pink) in the center. Rare is cool and red in the center. Etc. Medium Rare is perfect, but I'd rather have Rare than Medium if a place cannot produce a perfect Medium Rare for me. So I often order Rare just to be on the safe side of assuring a juicy burger.
Lorenzo at 1:21PM on 08/24/09
@Lorenzo: I feel the same way: when I order med rare, many times it comes medium. I've wondered if I should just order rare in hopes of getting med rare, but then...I should see if a place can actually cook the burger the way I ask. :[
Robyn Lee at 1:36PM on 08/24/09