The Smash Burger Manifesto.

I guess you never realize how much goes into a smash burger until you come up with a video idea, do the research, film it, and eat lots and lots of burgers. Hope you all enjoy.

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--- My Perfect Smash Burger ---
Ingredients:
- Two 3 oz (85 g) balls of 80/20 beef + Salt & Pepper
- Browned onions (1/2 onion + 2 TBSP butter)
- Slice of American cheese
- Martin's potato roll
- Lettuce
- Tomato, thinly sliced

Heat your cast iron pan or griddle to medium heat for about 5 minutes. Right before cooking the smashed burgers, but them on high heat.

Sprinkle your balls of meat with salt and pepper right before and plop them on the griddle. Immediately smash the burger into the griddle, applying firm and even pressure. Lift up and do not touch the burger. It needs to remain untouched for crust development.

After a minute or two, the crust should have developed. Flip your metal spatula upside down and scrape all along the edges to make sure that the brown crust is intact. Once the crust is released, flip the burger over.

Moving quickly, add some browned onions to one burger and a slice of American cheese. After another 30 seconds. Add slide the other patty on the cheese and assemble the burger in the following layers:

1. Toasted Bottom Bun
2. Burger Sauce
3. Smash Burger #1
4. Browned onions
5. American Cheese
6. Smash Burger #2
7. Burger Sauce
8. Tomato
9. Lettuce
10. Burger Sauce
11. Toasted Top Bun

--- My Favorite Burger Sauce ---
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise - (105 g)
- 1 TBSP ketchup - (20 g)
- 1 TBSP mustard - (20 g)
- 1 TBSP sweet relish - (20 g)
- 1 chile in adobo sauce, minced
- 1 TBSP fresh onion, grated / minced - (10 g)
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika - (1 g)
- ⅛ tsp celery salt - (.5 g)
- ⅛ tsp kosher salt - (.5 g)
- ¼ tsp fresh cracked pepper - (1 g)

1. Mix everything together in a bowl.
2. Stores in the fridge for about a week.

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MISCELLANEOUS DETAILS

Music: Provided by Musicbed
Filmed on: Sony a6400 w/ 18-105mm F4
Voice recorded on Behringer Ultravoice
Edited in: Premiere Pro #SmashBurger

Research Sources:

[Trevanadian]

Oops I don't know who you are, but it's time to watch every single one of your videos.

[jummychu]

3:06 The part about the hamburgers being our happiness, independence and comfort really touched me 🥺 Great writing and amazing content as always!

[etherdog]

This may well be the most beautiful video on the internet, E. You are citing Kenji and evoking Alton, using Martin's potato buns, getting the terminology correct, explaining the science, and producing (depending on your cheese) the best bite humankind has ever known. Well done!

[Sackboy]

Its like I'm watching a burger documentary on TV. The quality on this video is extremely high

[ryan.k.r]

The cinematics, music, and speech about this almost made me cry watching this, I never thought of burgers as such a pure and beautiful thing

[Itsallover]

You did convince me. I've been getting tired of my cheat meals being expensive, unsatisfying and unsatiating so I finally decided to start cooking for myself and this is the first thing other than spaghetti I have really cooked. Thanks Ethan.

[hossel_]

I started binging your videos yesterday and I'm just amazed how high quality they all are. The video and audio quality are great, the script is well written with great explanations, and the foods look absolutely phenomenal. I hope growth comes soon enough for you because if someone you deserve it.

[bbshane]

I find it hard to watch chefs on yt bc most of the time, they just cook and never really tell you anything.
But this man right here knows exactly what he's talking about, he's like a young Alton Brown lol

[GotEmAll]

9:24 thank you for these thoughtful layouts of text right next to the picture, really makes it easy to get the layering right.

[andrewkupres]

2:56. I legit shed a tear when this part started. I absolutely love smash burgers and CANNOT wait to try this at home.

[dannymaguire]

I absolutely love your approach to cooking. Following the science behind method, can be more important than the ingredients themselves at times. I am not speaking about quality of ingredients, but merely the amount of ingredients. I've seen people add so many ingredients that the burger gets lost in the outcome. Your approach, of properly achieving the 5 tastes (Salty, sweet, bitter, sour and of course umami) is spot on. By achieving the 5 tastes, you already have a winner, then you add in proper technique and explain it perfectly as to WHY IT MATTERS. Being a chef for over 40 years, all I can say is THANK YOU!

My only suggestion to your videos, is maybe explain what ripping hot means a bit better. I understand completely, but maybe others do not. Maybe a heat gun thermometer could explain or convey that message to then again it might be more confusing.

[Austinwhite]

I love how your older vids are popping up in my feed. Can't wait to try it

[Therover]

Just made it and it's definitely the best burger I have ever made! Just wish I had the griddle. Used the bottom of a pot for smashing. Still worked great.

[priayief]

Awesome! I've cooked hundreds if not thousands of burgers but never a "smash burger". I think I now understand the principles behind making them and why they would taste differently from a traditional burger. I'll give this one a try. Thanks.

[LowResHero]

I just kind of stumbled across your videos. I really like that you're willing to go a step further in your content and get into some of the more complex topics, such the emotional factor in this particular video. You've clearly put a ton of effort into your work and it shows. Subbed.

[shaybaines]

Made them yesterday for the first time, and had to make them again today! Easily the best burger we’ve ever made or have eaten.

[abolmiamenx]

The details on the production quality is insane!
Color and all

[mazenb]

the music, the speech, and the vocal performance are FREAKING Awesome.

[marks]

Hey man, I just stumbled across your channel the other day, and I’ve gotta say, it’s real quality content. Thank you for putting stuff on here that actually deserves to be viewed. Great production quality, but more important, great content. I appreciate your non pretentious approach as well. Keep up the good work.

[BenSea]

This is my go-to smash burger recipe. My family it. So delicious!!!