Smash Burger Night: The One Tool That Makes Diner Burgers at Home
Smash burgers are all about the crust. A heavy, flat press and a very hot griddle do most of the work.
Our top picks
- Top pickCrispy edges, even thickness Cuisinart Smash Burger Press
- 2 lb cast iron press with a 6.5-inch flat face for griddles, grills and stovetops.
- No griddle? Use cast iron Lodge 10.25" Skillet
- Pre-seasoned cast iron that gets hot enough for a real sear.
If your griddle mostly makes pancakes, smash burgers are the reason to fire it up on a weeknight. Thin patties, lacy brown edges, done in a few minutes.
The method
- Get the surface very hot. A flat-top griddle or a cast iron pan, lightly oiled.
- Use loose balls of 80/20 beef, about 3 ounces each. Don't pack them.
- Smash once, hard. Lay a square of parchment on the ball and press it flat in the first 30 seconds. Don't press again later; that squeezes out the juice.
- Season and wait. Salt and pepper, then leave it alone until the edges are deep brown.
- Scrape and flip. Use a stiff spatula to get under the crust, flip, add cheese, and pull it once the cheese melts.
Food-safety reminder: USDA's safe minimum internal temperature for ground beef is 160°F.
The press
Cuisinart Cast Iron Smashed Burger Press
A spatula bends and leaves uneven patties. This press is 2 pounds of cast iron with a 6.5-inch flat face, so one push gives an even, thin patty edge to edge. It works on a griddle, a cast iron pan on the stove, or a griddle insert on the grill.
What buyers love: the weight does the work and the patty comes out even. What to know: hand-wash only, dry it fully and wipe on a little oil, like any cast iron.
Cuisinart Cast Iron Smashed Burger Press (CISB-111)
- 2 lb of cast iron does the smashing
- Flat 6.5-inch face for even, thin patties
Watch out: Hand-wash only; dry it and oil it like a skillet
No griddle? A cast iron skillet
A preheated cast iron skillet on the stove or grill gets hot enough for the same crust.
Lodge 10.25-inch Cast Iron Skillet
- Lasts a lifetime, better with use
- Stovetop, oven, grill or campfire
Watch out: Needs basic care: dry it and oil it
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