FOOD NEWS
Take Burgers To The Next Level With One Secret Sweet Ingredient
BY ELIZABETH OKOSUN
Brown sugar is a blessing to everything it's added to, and it's the one thing your burgers truly need. The dark, toffee-tinged flavor brings a rich, headiness to burgers.
This is thanks to the molasses that brown sugar is made with. Beef has an umami element that's only heightened with the addition of deep, honeyed ingredients like brown sugar.
Besides flavor, brown sugar tenderizes meat and makes for a moist burger. The sugars are the first thing to caramelize, producing a perfectly browned crust.
Just make sure not to go overboard with it — too much sugar can result in a burnt burger rather than a charred one. Go with a pinch or two for the best flavor and texture.
To focus on tenderizing, add the brown sugar to a liquid marinade. Pair it with acidic ingredients to ramp up the tenderizing component while preventing too much sweetness.