Steamed cheeseburgers are a Connecticut speciality, but if you want to bring them home, your options have been limited. You can hire Ted’s Steam Machine food truck for a backyard picnic or save up for your own small home steamer from Burg’r Tend’r, which makes up to 10 burgers at a time. But, if you’re not up for that large a commitment to steamed deliciousness, here’s an easy substitute to try at home. You’ll need an industrial aluminum three-tiered steamer and a few small baking pans. Make sure you select high-quality, grass-fed beef and well-aged cheddar.
Season ground beef to taste, divide, and shape into 5-oz. round patties, placing them in the pans. We used 3.5” x 5” bread pans and steamed in batches. Prepare steamer and bring 2 cups of water to boil in the bottom tray. Grate cheese into a third pan and steam for ~10 minutes, or until significantly melted, before adding the meat tier.
Steam the burgers on the bottom layer with the cheese continuing to cook on top, ~10 more minutes. Check for doneness. Remove the burgers with a slotted spatula and give the cheese an extra stir. Plate on sturdy rolls and serve with toppings of your choice. Don’t forget the napkins.
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