Food - Drink
Bobby Flay's Go-To Oil For Cooking Burgers In A Cast Iron Pan
By MEGGAN ROBINSON
When he’s not filming for the Food Network, celebrity chef Bobby Flay keeps busy with his Bobby's Burgers restaurant chain, so he definitely knows how to make an amazing burger. The chef is a fan of cast iron for cooking his patties, and his choice of cooking oil is also important for achieving the best results.
Flay uses a couple teaspoons of canola oil when cooking burgers in a cast iron pan, because canola has a neutral flavor and relatively high smoke point of around 400 degrees F. Therefore, it doesn’t alter the flavor of the beef and lets you cook at a high enough temperature to achieve the perfect crust, without burning.
This is also why canola oil is recommended for seasoning cast iron itself: It doesn’t impart any off flavors and allows you to then use the cookware at a high temperature. To cook burgers in cast iron Flay’s way, avoid unrefined oils like walnut, hemp seed, or sesame, since they have low smoke points and distracting flavors.