"The practice of smashing burgers was also likely boosted by meat scarcity during the Depression, since a smashed burger stretches meat further than an unsmashed one."
"A properly smashed burger is super thin, yet tender. Its edges are frilly, uneven, and beautifully crusted, thanks to the Maillard reaction that occurs on the grill."
"More than 10 years after the original boom, we are living in a smash burger world. More and more chains dedicated solely to smash burgers are spawning."
"Five Guys is a burger institution with almost 2,000 locations. Its burger menu is as sparse as it gets, but the topping possibilities are endless and mostly free."
Smash burgers have existed for a long time but gained prominence in the 2010s, particularly through chains like Smashburger. The technique involves smashing patties thinly on a flat-top grill, resulting in a tender burger with a frilly, crusted edge due to the Maillard reaction. The trend has led to a surge in dedicated smash burger chains and adaptations by classic burger joints. A review of various smash burgers assesses which ones achieve the ideal balance of crust and tenderness while maintaining structural integrity.
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