The Best Beef Hamburgers (in Bulk)
Whenever I make food in bulk, I always try to make sure the dish checks a several boxes:
The food has got to be at least as delicious as when first prepared once reheated (or just served again in the case of cold dishes).
It has to line up with dietary goals for myself and my family (this generally means it is not processed and made from fresh ingredients).
It needs to be budget friendly. This generally means, I’m looking towards ground beef, turkey, dark chicken meat, and stews or soups for main dishes.
For many years, I was trapped in the chicken, rice, and broccoli food vortex. This is the stereotypical bodybuilding diet that is devoid of much in the way of healthy fats and flavor. Never again. Taste is king and you can get that while aligning with your other goals.
One of the most simple and delicious bulk meals I like to make - that everyone loves - are hamburgers (with or without a traditional bun). If you don’t eat red meat, then this isn’t the recipe for you. But if you do, here is the best way to make the most delicious burger.
I like to read recipes and tend to try to learn from trained chefs and brilliantly creative home cooks, alike. Recently, I learned from a chef that putting other ingredients into ground beef for a loaded-style burger is really frowned upon by the upper echelons of the culinary world. Personally, I like burgers with stuff packed in the meat! But, I kept reading because this chef claimed that all you need for the perfect burger patty is a fatty ground beef (85/15 or 80/20) and a lot of salt.
Hey, if he was correct, then all I was saving was preparation time and money.
Not only does this simple approach cut down on preparation time, but it also reduces the cost per burger significantly - given the other ingredients you are not having to buy and the encouragement to enjoy a ground beef with higher fat content.
The Perfect Burger (in Bulk)
3-lbs ground beef (the fattier the better)
Sea salt to taste
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Form each patty into LOOSELY packed patties. I can’t emphasize how important it is to pack them loosely. If they are packed too tight, each burger patty ends up feeling like you are eating a dry hockey puck.
Then generously season one side of the burger with salt and pepper. Throw them seasoning side down on a skillet or grill and season the other side before letting them cook for 4-5 minutes (or however long you need to get the desired level of doneness).
Let the burgers rest for about 5-minutes and then plate them up however you like! They may be so delicious and juicy that you don’t find the need to add much of anything at all to the top.
The last step in this is equally as important as the preparation - it’s the storage of the leftover burgers. After taking whatever is being eaten for that meal, immediately place the leftovers in airtight storage containers. I really like this style because when you reheat, the moisture stays in the container and helps keeps the meat juicy and fresh tasting.
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Sunday Routine
How do you get ready for the week ahead? Coach Sarah Walls shares tips for the Sunday Routine to keep you ahead of the curve.
How I get ready for the week ahead, in my experience, will determine the outcome. I tend to use the “Sunday routine” method to help me stay ahead of the curve.
The Sunday Routine is simply the act of dedicating a few hours of the day to preparing for your work week. Of course, you can use whatever day of the week works best for your schedule.
If you have children and/or a spouse, then it can feel like a pretty heavy investment of time. But, it’s completely worthwhile. The return on the investment is the ability to cruise through each day in your week feeling successful, on track, and less stressed.
When time gets tight *BAM* you’ve already got plenty of food ready and waiting in the refrigerator. When your day gets hectic *SURPRISE* you already scheduled time for your evening workout, have food to eat before leaving work, and have your gym bag waiting in the trunk of your car.
My Sunday Routine always involves making sure my family is ready for the week, too. In this case, it was having some fresh cookies on hand for my kids.
How to get the Routine going:
Grab your calendar: get a sense of your week - are there any after work events you will be attending? What is the schedule of your kids activities? When will you fit in your trips to the gym?
Hey, while you’re in there - go ahead and schedule a time for your workouts and any other mid-week meal prep you anticipate needing to do.
If the week looks really jam-packed, can you schedule time for an after dinner walk or a home workout?
Does your gym require an appointment? Then go ahead and actually BOOK the appointment now.
Take action! Hit the grocery store, start your laundry, clean the house… Do the actions that you can do TODAY to set yourself up for a successful week.
Make some food or whole meals in bulk. This doesn’t have to be fancy. And, if you’ve never done this before, be patient. The first go-round, you may not get it perfectly.
Here are some of my go-to’s - they all keep well for at least a few days:
Burgers (turkey or beef)
Chicken (any type)
Fish
Beef stew
Hearty soup
Rice
There are unlimited options here
No cookies for me, this is more what my personal prep tends to resemble!
Having the discipline to get all your meals ready and gym bag packed ahead of time is important. The more you can create a grab ‘n go situation for yourself (and even your family), the better! So, pack your meals the night before and get your clothes ready ahead of time, too.
On the occasions when I arrogantly ignore my weekly prep, foolishly thinking I’m ready, when I’m not, or that I’ll “make it through.” I always end up regretting it! Food I thought I had on hand, quickly diminishes within a day or two and low-and-behold, I have virtually no clothes to wear. Seriously, it gets bad.
Take some time today or on whatever day you like and set yourself up for success with the Sunday Routine.
Since you’re here: We have a small favor to ask! At SAPT, we are committed to sharing quality information that is both entertaining and compelling to help build better athletes. Please take a moment to share the articles on social media, engage us authors with questions and comments below, and link to articles when appropriate if you have a blog or participate on forums of related topics.
Thank you! SAPT
