It's not just you, smash burgers do really taste better than regular burgers.
The reason why smash burgers taste better than regular burgers is because the smash burgers are intensely crispy, and have a caramelized crust and concentrated beef flavor, which is achieved by smashing the balls of ground beef onto a searing hot griddle, which maximizes the Maillard reaction to get a savory crust while also retaining the juiciness in a fast cooking, thin hamburger patty, with craggy edges that are irresistible.
Regular burgers focus on a thick and tender texture and smash burgers deliver a textural contrast that has a crunch and juicy interior, which makes them a flavor packed experience.
A smash burger is a hamburger patty that is made by pressing a loosely packed ball of ground beef onto a scorching hot griddle or a skillet, which creates a very thin patty that has maximum, caramelized crusty edges.
The smash burger is smashed thin so that it ensures rapid cooking.
Smash burgers are often also served on toasted buns with cheese and also use minimal toppings and rely on the Maillard reaction for a savory and crispy texture, while also keeping the smash burger juicy.
The key elements and technique to create a small burger involves.
A 2 to 3 ounce ball of often, 75/25 or 80/20 ground beef is placed on a hot skillet 400 F or above and then the burger is smashed down immediately to a thickness of around 1/4 to 1/2 inch by using a heavy spatula or press.
The high pressure, high heat cooking method for the smash burger creates a deeply browned, crispy crust that is known as the Maillard reaction.
And unlike the patty style burgers, smash burgers are instead thin, which prevents the burgers from overcooking, even though they have a crispy surface.
The thin patty for smash burgers also cooks quickly and cooks in just a few minutes, which also results in a fast, flavorful and even at times, a nice caramelized burger.
Smash burgers are often topped using simple ingredients such as American cheese, pickles, onions and a special sauce, that is held together by a soft, toasted bun, such as a potato roll.
Smash burgers were popularized by chains like Smashburger and Shake Shack.
Although the smash burger technique also dates back to the mid 20th century.
And there's also a popular variation of the Smash burger which is the Oklahoma variant, that involves smashing thinly sliced onions into the beef patty.