For The Hands-Down Juiciest Burgers, Add Some Of This To The Mixture (It Works Every Time)

We're always looking for new ways to gussy up burgers, one of our favorite backyard cookout main dishes. Recently, we discussed why you should smoke burgers for extra flavor – but how about a tip that involves no extra time or equipment, and includes only a bonus ingredient you probably already have in the fridge? The secret is sour cream. Just a dollop of this tangy condiment mixed into your burger patty meat mixture provides unctuous additional fat, creaminess, and flavor all from one source. Over on Foodie's sister site Food Republic, a writer spoke with chef David Figueroa about why sour cream is a "must have" for juicy burgers.

"This stuff is like a moisture-locking magic trick, keeping your patty juicy by holding onto water and fat while adding a subtle tang that makes the beef taste even richer," Figueroa elaborated, calling the addition of sour cream "a steakhouse secret hiding in plain sight." All you have to do is gently mix some sour cream into your beef, taking care not to overwork, since that can make burgers tough regardless of what else is in the mixture. 

You can add anything else you normally do to your burger mix. The sour cream plays nicely with a melange of seasonings, so you don't need to worry about switching up your tried-and-true herbs and spices. Think of the sour cream as your secret weapon for something extra, and not a replacement for anything, per se.

The best burgers always start with remembering the right meat-to-fat ratio, regardless of what else you plan to put in them. Normally, we love an 80/20 blend for succulent burgers, but we're going to veer in the opposite direction and suggest you choose something a bit leaner for your sour cream burgers — nothing fattier than 85/15. Because the sour cream is doing so much heavy lifting in terms of adding fat, an 80/20 blend risks the burgers becoming too greasy and even falling apart if you aren't careful.

Many people like the combination of sour cream with French onion soup mix, whether the old faithful packet of Lipton's or any store brand you choose to pick up. Just like the soup mix and sour cream make a yummy dip, so are they a match made in foodie Heaven in your burgers. The sour cream's tang and the zest of the French onion soup mix are a flavor sensation. You can kick up those umami flavor notes with some Worcestershire sauce as well, along with plenty of fresh-ground black pepper. Yum! If it's not quite grilling season where you are — you can always bake your hamburgers.

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