Sean Brock Uses This Hardware Store Staple to Get His Smash Burgers Just Right

Smash burgers have been a part of our lives for a while now, and we have no plans of turning back. These exquisitely thin burgers are crispy, melty, and crunchy — the epitome of comfort food. A great smash burger is made by pressing the burger ingredients as flat as possible onto a griddle and allowing the fatty juices in the meat to pop and sizzle as it cooks in its own divine grease. The result? A thin and crisp but oh-so-succulent burger that is nothing short of divine. And no one knows how to make a better smash burger than iconic chef Sean Brock.

The famed restauranteur owns and operates several restaurants, including the Nashville-based Joyland, where the famous “Crustburger” is served. At the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston last month, chef Brock let us in on his surprising secret to achieving the perfect smash burger: a humble putty knife.

Beyotool Putty Knife Set

Amazon

While better known for spreading spackle or plaster, a putty knife is shockingly helpful in the kitchen. Brock’s clever burger hack involves using a sharp putty knife to scrape both the burger and the buns from the griddle when cooking. Because smash burgers are so thin, using a thicker spatula could break the ingredients apart when flipping or trying to remove them from the cooktop. The surface of a putty knife, however, is thin enough to slide under the burger with ease and wide enough to hold the entire patty.

In this Facebook video, you can learn all the tips and tricks to making a famous Sean Brock Crustburger. His tips include how to make a mouthwatering burger sauce, how to achieve perfectly flat, toasty buns, how to shape the burger meat before pressing it onto the griddle, and how to layer your burger toppings.

Brock says that while any putty knife will work, it’s important to sharpen it like you would sharpen your knives. Keeping the blade thin and sharp is the key to cooking these burgers with ease. We love this set from Beyotool, which includes four different sizes for just $7 total, each with a sharp, stainless steel blade; sturdy design; and comfortable grip. Shop this chef-approved tool at Amazon now to start, flipping and serving some seriously delicious smash burgers.

At the time of publishing, the price was $7.