Connecticut Steamed Cheeseburgers

By lorik

The test kitchen's favorite steamer basket is the Progressive Easy Reach Steamer Basket. We prefer these burgers cooked medium well, but for medium burgers, steam them for 7 minutes before shutting off the heat and adding the cheese. Serve these burgers with the usual array of garnishes and condiments.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs 85% lean ground beef
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp pepper
• 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (1 cup)
• 4 hamburger buns

Preparation

Step 1

Combine beef, soy sauce, onion powder, tomato paste, salt andf pepper in bowl. Divide beef into 4 balls. Gently flatten into patties 3/4 inch thick and 4 inches wide. Press shallow divot in center of each patty. Bring 4 cups water to boil in covered Dutch oven over medium high heat (water should not touch bottom of steamer basket).

Arrange patties in steamer basket. Set steamer basket inside Dutch oven, cover, and cook for 8 minutes. Remove Dutch oven from heat and divide cheese evenly amoung burgers, cover, and let sit until cheese melts, about 2 minutes. Place top buns on burgers and bottom bun, cut side up, on top of top buns. Cover and let sit until buns soften, about 30 seconds. Transfer bottom buns to cutting board, add condiments, and top with burgers and top buns. Serve.