Ketchup On Burgers...
...is a cardinal sin here in Texas. Anyone know why this is? It's mustard and/or mayo here -- along with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, cheese and bacon, of course -- but never ketchup. It never occurred to me until a conversation I had last week with a coworker from Colorado, but I realized that you will never catch a Texan intentionally putting ketchup on their burger.
What would you never put on your burger?
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40 Comments:
I'd never put mustard on a burger. I've been served burgers with mayo and ketchup and ate and enjoyed them, but I don't put mayo on a burger - ever. I like chili sauce and/or ketchup as condiments. You didn't mention mushrooms - one of my favorite toppings.
Curious - what do they put on hot dogs? That's where I like mustard and never ketchup. I like raw onions on dogs and burgers, but cooked onions are for burgers only. Now, how weird is that?
PerkyMac at 6:49PM on 02/18/08
Hmm. I don't know of any requisite hot dog toppings... Personally, I'll eat anything on a hot dog. My favorite is lots of relish and some mayo. Chili and cheese are also a big winner in my book.
sheeats at 6:52PM on 02/18/08
ketchup on burgers
mustard on hot dogs
never the other way around
mrsmoosie at 7:17PM on 02/18/08
I've also heard this elsewhere and it puzzles me, because I've lived in Texas for the vast majority of my life and everyone I know puts ketchup on their burgers. I think it's a myth perpetuated by people who want to sell "Texas" burgers.
I'm just realizing that I, after all, I may not be crazy about the cheese. Not willing to commit to that just yet, though.
A few weeks ago I was surprised by a hamburger that actually had a slice of ham in it (in addition to the beef). Wouldn't go for that again. I would also never again put fried jalapenos in my burger, after trying the DQ Jalitos. But I suppose that should have been apparent. Jalapenos, yes, but not battered and fried.
My preferred hot dog accessories are a thin coating of cornmeal batter, a stick, and some mustard.
renzata at 7:50PM on 02/18/08
renzata, I'm with you. Admittedly, I grew up in Austin, which is a little different from the rest of Texas, but still, ketchup is fine on burgers. End of story.
Christina at 8:21PM on 02/18/08
I'd never, ever put mayonnaise on a burger. Usually, it's ketchup, and I can live with mustard, i guess...but mayo???
brooke29 at 8:35PM on 02/18/08
Also a Texan, and ketchup is not only on every burger I eat, but on the side in abundance for easy dipping. But I also add mayo (to fries and hot dogs too). Maybe "Texas burgers" are supposed to have barbecue sauce? I sometimes add green chilis (more New Mexico than Texas).
I hate lettuce on burgers. I just don't understand the point. What is it adding to my experience besides some leafy greens inevitably hanging out of my mouth after I take a bite?
xaire at 9:52PM on 02/18/08
If you get a burger at McDonalds in TX - does it come with ketchup?
jasonbrink at 10:28PM on 02/18/08
jasonbrink-- heaven forfend that McDonald's is the representative of choice for a burger in ANY state.
Christina at 10:30PM on 02/18/08
Never YELLOW mustard - ick, ick, ick!!!
frederika at 11:02PM on 02/18/08
Not generally, jasonbrink,, but a "Texas" burger does:
http://www.foodfacts.info/blog/2005/04/texas-burgers.html
And some Texas-based chains have mustard as the default:
http://www.whataburger.com/browse_the_menu.php
Sonic asks if you want either mustard or mayo.
renzata at 11:59PM on 02/18/08
I'd put pretty much anything on a burger, as long as I would eat it otherwise as well. I love ketchup but am also happy with mustard, relish, mayo (though usually do not have this b/c of added fat), barbecue sauce, chili sauce, teriyaki sauce, any number of cheeses, vegetables, etc. And pretty much any combination thereof, although mixing teriyaki sauce with other things is tricky.
wellred at 12:00AM on 02/19/08
NYC restaurants often have a "California" style burger which comes with lettuce (okay), tomato (okay), avocado (no, no, no) and bean sprouts (NO, NO, NO). All the veggies would be great on a regular sandwich, but with the hot burger? Gross.
chisai at 1:34AM on 02/19/08
When I ate hamburgers, I was just the opposite--I could never understand the attractions of the mayo on Big Macs.
On McDonald's burgers (the last time I ate them, more than 10 years ago) there was always mustard and ketchup. My mom tried (and failed) to convince me her burgers tasted the same if I put both on the burgers at home.
Most people I know put ketchup on their burgers--unless, of course, they're eating some gourmet burger with blue cheese and bacon...
HeartofGlass at 5:28AM on 02/19/08
It's funny how people talk in absolutes, as if their way is not only the one correct way, but can't possibly be wrong. People eat what they like.
I personally love ketchup on burgers (but I really only like the taste of Heinz), but sometimes I enjoy a ketchup and mustard combo, or a ketchup and mayo combo, or all three. I'll even go for something approximating the special sauce on a big mac (I gave up fast food for the better years ago, but still crave some of those old tastes). I'm not into burger relish, but I love yellow mustard and relish on a dog. That's just me.
Check me out:
The Teacher Learns to Cook
darronvigs24 at 6:59AM on 02/19/08
Seems I ignored the initial question of the post - what would I never put on my burger? Well again, I don't like to speak in absolutes, but I'm not a big fan of overloading a burger. Some cheese, a slice of good fresh tomato, maybe some crisp lettuce, and then ketchup is usually what I want.
I've never been a big fan of bacon on a burger, because I feel it's too strong a flavor and dominates the beefy taste too much. I feel the same way about strongly flavored cheeses (like blue cheese) and sauces.
Check me out:
The Teacher Learns to Cook
darronvigs24 at 7:03AM on 02/19/08
sorry all but I'm not a big fan of ketchup. Put some horsradish sauce on a burger or even some horseradish mustard as long as it's good quality, and I'm a happy woman. I've had mayo on one but I just dont care for the oily feel the mayo leaves in my mouth.
huney_bumper at 7:39AM on 02/19/08
Mayo on a burger is blasphemy. Ketchup is fine, as are Dijon mustard or chili sauce. Lettuce, tomato, onions grilled, bacon, cheese; all mighty tasty.
ride&cook at 8:14AM on 02/19/08
Never EVER mayo. There's something about pairing mayonnaise with hot beef that really turns me off.
Ketchup, mustard, cheese, pickles. That does it for me
Lilla at 8:29AM on 02/19/08
A lot of people will justify the rule of never putting ketchup on a burger because they use tomato, and why put one on when you have the other. Some compare relish and pickles the same way.
Lilartist at 8:57AM on 02/19/08
renzata, that link was really interesting! I never knew that so many fast food places had specifically-Texas-themed burgers. Heh. :)
Although, I do remember being in a McDonald's once as a kid (maybe 11 years old) and asking for a Texas Homestyle Burger. The McDonald's employee just stared at me like I was an alien until I remembered that I was in Kentucky, and therefore the employee had no idea what I was talking about...
Oh, and darronvigs24, I really didn't mean that ketchup was evil or that ALL Texans hate ketchup; it's just a strong preference that I've noticed. That said...you'll notice that most of us do have extremely strong food-related preferences around here, sometimes bordering on the absolute. :)
sheeats at 10:12AM on 02/19/08
I had a burger last night. It was topped with cheddar, fresh jalapenos (not canned) and a hearty squeeze of ketchup.
bitchincamero at 10:16AM on 02/19/08
i'm not sure whats worse - ketchup or mustard.
mayo is the only way to go.
ceforrester at 10:16AM on 02/19/08
About the only thing I wouldn't put on a hamburger is chocolate.
All condiments are fair game, as far as I'm concerned. It just depends on my mood.
Amandarama at 11:22AM on 02/19/08
As a Texan, I've never heard of the "no ketchup" rule. I'm with the others that this is a marketing thing for "Texas burgers." (or could it be some region of Texas - east, maybe?) For Whataburger (pronounced water-burger here) - I get cartons of their ketchup, which I salt, to dip my hamburger, but when you say "everything," they do put on ketchup - at least in the Dallas area.
Most Texans also put ketchup on hotdogs, which seems like sacrilege to me.
pookywookyster at 12:02PM on 02/19/08
I'm not a fan of mustard in general.
I put ketchup on my hambugers AND hot dogs. I am evil and must be stopped.
A perfect burger (for me) is assembled thusly:
Good ground beef. I shape it into a patty with some barbecue sauce on my hands (my homemade sauce...made with ketchup!). Grill.
Add cheese, whichever sort I'm in the mood for. Bacon. Sliced red onion. Mayonnaise. Ketchup. Then eat.
I despise all manner of relish. But I do like pickles on miniburgers, for some strange reason.
lo82070 at 12:37PM on 02/19/08
Mustard and dill chips are great additions to sliders with grilled onions and cheese. On the other hand when having a larger burger I prefer raw red onion and ketchup with pickled peppers. Oh! and I'd never put mayo on a burger. Just does'nt seem right to me.
Colorado Jim at 1:32PM on 02/19/08
Sheeats I may be venturing out of the scope of this thread but, although I never remember ordering any Texas burger, I always wondered :
a) Were "Texas" burgers sold in any other states?
b) Did other states have their own burgers (authentically or from a marketing team)? Is there a Delaware-style burger?
I know of the California burgers, and I actually like the avocado. Beansprouts I wouldn't affirmatively choose. I think it's a better treatment for a chicken sandwich, but that's definitely a different topic.
renzata at 3:36PM on 02/19/08
I grew up in Austin. Mustard is the standard condiment in Texas, as far as I know. I prefer mayo however, which isn't out of the norm either. If you want ketchup, you generally have to that yourself.
Regardless, I despise ketchup on burgers.
cmballa at 4:21PM on 02/19/08
My favorite kind of burger...
- avocado (only fresh picked)
- fresh mushrooms (but cooked is ok, as long as it's not in butter or super greasy)
- lettuce
- tomato
- hearty portion of mayonnaise
- ketchup
- drop of yellow mustard
I hate onions - so no onions stacked or on the bun. Don't like cheese, so it's a "hamburger."
It's so filling that half way through the burger I always toss the buns and just eat the filling. :P
I find it so odd that when I order a "hamburger" at work, I get asked what kind of cheese I want with that. I always think, "If I wanted a cheeseburger, wouldn't I have asked for one?" Is this a regional thing? Or a "just making sure" thing?
Cassaendra at 7:26PM on 02/19/08
There are two stupendous burger joints in El Paso -- Roscoe's and Frisco's. Friscos (so rumor has it) started after a Roscoe's employee "stole" the burger recipe and started Frisco's. Both are fine and both are served with no ketchup. Ketchup is available at the table.
TikiPundit at 10:30PM on 02/19/08
The only time I remember my dad putting his foot down on a food issue was over the ketchup/mustard hot dog/hamburger issue. I can still hear it: "What's wrong with you woman?" She just couldn't get the hang of it that ketchup was evil on hot dogs, but required on burgers. As a daddy's girl, I quickly adopted the "no mustard on hot dogs" rule, even though it had seemed fine to be before. Ketchup belonged on hamburgers and hot meat loaf, and that's about it. Oh, and on breakfast sausages, too.
All other sausages got mustard or some kind, or maybe horseradish.
Oddly enough, we put mustard on cold meat loaf sandwiches. I guess at that point, it became lunchmeat, which always got either mustard or mayo (never both) and certainly never ketchup.
dbcurrie at 10:34PM on 02/19/08
I am assuming here that ketchup is a typical British condiment and mustard is a typical German condiment. With the high concentration of people with German ancestry in Texas- maybe it's possible there is a cultural link to this pro-mustard thing in Texas?
bisbee at 11:13AM on 02/20/08
I don't especially want any cheese on my hamburger. Otherwise, smallish amounts of any combination of ktchup/mustard/mayo would be nice. I don't really want any veggies on there, either.
Kerosena at 11:36AM on 02/20/08
Oh, except for some dill pickle. That's a veggie, right?
Kerosena at 11:37AM on 02/20/08
All this talk of burgers made me fire up the grill for a late lunch. Since I dont have lettuce and tomato in the fridge, I will have mushroom and swiss, maybe a touch of dijon. Big Claussen hearty garlic pickle on the side. If I overcook the burger, I will have to dip each bite into ketchup...oh, wait, I don't have any ketchup in the fridge either. Oh, well, I better not overcook it.
To answer the question: ketchup only if after the first bite, you realize it is overcooked. Otherwise, the standard is lettuce,tomato,onion, pickle, mayo. Unless you get a blue cheese or mushroom/swiss, fancy schmancy burger.
wookie at 3:22PM on 02/20/08
I'd never put mayo on a burger! A good juicy burger shouldn't need extra fat; a dry well-done burger might, but, well, it shouldn't be well-done in the first place! I like my burgers with dijon mustard on the bottom and ketchup on top, along with any multitude of toppings: cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, red onion, sauteed mushrooms, avocado, even pineapple!
Otabenga at 11:39AM on 02/22/08
One of my favorite sandwiches is a veggie burger with ketchup, mayo, sprouts, lettuce, and avocado. Sacrilege in so many ways, but so tasty that I could care less!
Christina at 12:10PM on 02/22/08
as far as i'm concerned the burger and the fries are a ketchup delivery system.
cybercita at 12:39PM on 02/22/08
This is too funny! I was just having a conversation over lunch today about how in Chicago, you can NOT put plain ketchup on a hot dog. I'm guilty of this however, as well as putting ketchup on a burger. Ketchup was made for both of them I swear!
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 4:16PM on 02/22/08