Cast Iron skillet vs charcoal grilled hamburgers.

I had always heard cast iron skillets were top of the line for cooking burgers
so I went out and got one. Cooked 1/4 pound patties over butter and onions then
melted provolone on them. I used a light coating of salt and pepper (Weber Chop house
fine mix) before I cooked and put the grilled onions on the burger. 2.5 minutes on
each side over medium flame. They came out a perfect medium.

The next day I cooked the other two burger from the same 4 pack on my Smokey Joe
to see which one I liked better. I used my standard 1/2 full with charcoal, 1 min
30 sec on each side then 2 min melting the cheese on the no coals side. I also had
these coated with the Weber Chop House mix too. These burgers also came out a perfect
medium.

To my taste, there was no comparison. The Smokey Joe won hands down. It was not even
close.

I'm going to re-season the skillet with some bacon and see how it does eggs. I'm sure
it will be good for something, but Smokey Joe will keep quick burger duty probably forever.

Sorry I didn't take pictures

Cant beat a charcoal grilled burger in my opinon.

I use lump charcoal and wood chips for flavor and they are hard to beat.

I used to use different wood chips (settled on oak or Stubb's mixed), then my wife had
me make her one without wood smoke and I made one that way for me too.

Tastes better to me without the smoke. I couldn't hardly believe it, haven't
used wood chips on burgers since.

We're just the opposite, like them both ways but with smoke the best. Really like apple right now but pecan and mesquite are my ol standbys.

Cast iron is great, much better than the modern cookware for most things you cook on the stove top but they are not god's answer to everything. A charcoal grill or wood coals is far better for burgers, steaks and just about anything you would normally grill. If there is a heavy rain storm and burgers were what was on the menu I would probably break out the cast iron.

I have a bunch of cast iron that if free to a good home. Come and get it.

Cast iron only. Its all in the crust. Every great burger place uses a griddle.

I agree with this. Cooking on cast iron is just a little different, it has a learning curve. Cans say as ive mastered it yet, but it makes some good eats from time to time.

flip a coin

I'll take it off your hands if you still have it next time I am down around Houston

Depends on my mood I like both. Recently I have started slow smoking burgers on my smoker too. Delish

I like smoke flavor in the burgers so preference is over coals be it charcoal or wood.

But sometimes that is not convenient so the cast iron gets the nod. For those times though I really like the Bacon burger with the bacon having been smoked so much it is no longer good as bacon but when ground with the venison burger 75/25 mix the burgers taste like they were cooked outside even when cooked in cast iron or in the George Foreman grill.

Cast iron is top of the line for cooking most things...IF...you're cooking in a pan. Can't beat the grill for most meats though!

Cast iron, all the way.

Try putting the cast iron skillet on the coals. With the lid on the grill, you could get the best of both.

Be careful; a castiron pan of mine split on coals

I have made some pretty mean elk burgers in a cast iron skillet before when in a pinch.

I always make my elk burgers (well any burger) by mixing real bacon pieces, cheddar cheese chunks, dry ranch dressing, and seasonings with the meat. Throw them in a cast iron and you have a quick delicious burger in no time!!

Whenever I make them, I normally make more than I intend on cooking that day. I will grill what we are eating that day and leave the extra raw in the fridge that way I can do a quick burger for a quick meal in the cast iron.

I don't know if I can say how I like it better but I can say that right now I wish I had one of them in front of me...my mouth is watering!

It all has to do with your personal preferences. I believe you should cook everything the way you prefer it cooked, but that doesn't mean the next person will think your way is better.

amen!

Not sure where anyone told anyone else what they need to like

But heck you guys can get an "amen" out me cause I agree with the sentiment.

Cast iron will make a good burger with lean meat, say 90% lean. But 90% lean burgers on a grill will be like cardboard, got to go 80% or 85 lean on the grill.

Cast iron hibachi is awesome for just a couple steaks. Haven't tried burgers on it.Fill with hardwood and make it glow red.

http://m.target.com/p/lodge-logic-hibach...wKhwhoC2Drw_wcB

I use charcaol & mesquite wood

Winner.

Hank Hill is wrong.

Taste the heat.