All You Need to Make the Smash Burgers of Your Dreams Is This $15 Lodge Cast Iron Burger Press

As a person who cooks at home daily, one of my favorite aspects of dining out is getting to experience food that seems beyond what I’m capable of doing in my own kitchen. This isn’t to say that I couldn’t bake world-class sourdough for my morning toast, prepare some award-winning barbecue in my backyard, or create beautiful vermouth spheres for an experimental cocktail if I wanted to — I’m sure I could, with some practice. But, on the whole, letting restaurants wow me with mind-blowing techniques is something I truly do ride out for. 

That said, there are some dishes that are easier to do at home than you might think. And creating perfectly caramelized smash burgers that can rival your favorite diner, bistro, or burger joint is absolutely something you can achieve in your own kitchen, provided you have the right tools. Whether you love using a griddle, a propane-powered flat top, or simply a classic pan or skillet on the stove, you’re in luck right now, because Lodge’s cast iron burger press is currently on sale for $15.

Lodge Cast Iron Burger Press

Chefs refer to the majesty produced on the edges of a perfect smash burger as the “Maillard reaction” — aka what happens when sugars and amino acids come into contact with the right amount of heat — but you might know it as those crispy edges that you think can only be produced in restaurants. Spoiler alert: You can do it at home, and easily. 

Using a burger press could not be more simple. Look at this recipe for hatch chile smash burgers, for example (which I’m probably going to make this weekend, holy moly). The smashing technique is described thus: “Heat a large cast-iron skillet or griddle over high until smoking. Add 2 tablespoons oil. Add 4 meatballs, and immediately flatten to quarter-inch-thickness with a sturdy, wide spatula.” 

Spatulas are OK for smashing burgers if you want to go through the labor of finding something else heavy to push down on it, and then moving the spatula around to ensure that you’ve covered the whole meatball. Instead, imagine using a 1.8-pound piece of cast iron to transform your meat in one fell swoop into a dazzlingly flat, charred masterpiece. Anyone can do it! Literally, there’s a reason this thing has nearly 12,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. 

Now just envision having your friends or neighbors over this summer for dinner. See their faces light up when, instead of a big, beefy hunk of meat whose large bites are simply too unwieldy for public viewing, you give them the most picturesque smash burger they’ve ever seen. Finally, you are their burger lord — and it only cost you $15.

Shop More Bread Tools at Amazon:

OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Turner

Lodge Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle

Weston Burger Press/Mold

Blackstone Premium Signature Series Spatula