Should you avoid ordering a hamburger at a barbecue restaurant? We asked an expert

Barbecue and hamburgers are arguably the two most iconic American dishes. Since they’re both meat-centric, you might think it would be pretty easy for a barbecue restaurant to make a mean burger. We asked Robbie Shoults, expert pitmaster and third-generation owner of Bear Creek Smokehouse, for his thoughts on whether it’s a good idea to order a burger at a barbecue restaurant.

Burgers may be grilled, but barbecue is smoked, a difference that might as well be a world apart. Grilling is hot and fast, while smoking is gentle and slow, developing much more complex flavor notes. Still, Shoults says, “If a barbecue guy smokes their hamburger patties over the pit, it’ll be some of the best you’ve ever had!” » A pit boss is an expert at timing and infusing flavors, and Shoults thinks that expertise can be applied to burgers. He knows this from experience, proclaiming that he “loves smoked burgers because they are full of flavor and give a nice pink color inside after being smoked.”

Still, using a low and slow method on a relatively thin cut of meat like hamburgers has its risks. Shoults admits, “If a pitmaster leaves the hamburger patty on the smoker too long, it could eventually dry out. » So you’ll have to trust that the stand chef is attentive enough to bring out a burger at the right time.

Read more: 13 Underrated Cuts of Meat You Should Grill

More Signs of a Good BBQ Burger

Brisket burger with cheese sauce – paulzhuk/Shutterstock

In May 2024, Tasting Table interviewed another barbecue expert who objected to ordering a burger at a barbecue restaurant and advised readers to stick to menu items the restaurant specializes in . Of course, smoking meat is a specialized skill that results in a very different taste and texture than a grilled burger. However, Shoults believes that certain barbecue specialties would actually indicate the likelihood of a good burger. “If you go to a barbecue place that knows brisket, they’ll definitely be able to make you one of the best burgers you’ve ever had,” he exclaimed.

Smoked brisket is a succulent, fatty, smoky cut that is often recommended in place of or in addition to typical ground brisket. So if your local barbecue restaurant makes a particularly good brisket, chances are the burger is worth ordering. After all, a burger as juicy and melt-in-your-mouth as smoked brisket would be delicious. Plus, homemade barbecue sauce and classic sides like coleslaw, mac and cheese, pickles, onions, and baked beans would all make amazing burger toppings.

Read the original article on the tasting table.

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