Burger Bun Mystery

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Hi all, I’m struggling to find guidance on achieving a particular bun result. I have a really nice brioche style bun recipe, but there’s one key recipe I can’t seem to figure out - a soft, not particularly structured, CHEWY burger bun like the one in the photo above (from a restaurant in Chicago). The key to this style is that it’s almost wrinkled/rippled, squishy (?) and dare I say a little leathery or taffy-like. There is no way this bun would ever fall apart or crumble. Think, as far away from a delicate, cake crumb as possible, and just about the opposite of my brioche bun. How do I do this? Please help! 

I realize that butter, oil, any fat will reduce gluten development, which seems to be essential to achieving the chewiness I’m talking about so I’m avoiding almost all fat (I do use 2 eggs per 500 grams flour). I know that enzymes in milk can also breakdown gluten, but I do want some richness (hence the eggs), so I’m using baker’s non-fat dry milk. I’m using high protein bread flour. I’m kneading the heck out of the dough in a mixer until the gluten is well developed. In the end though, I’m ending up with buns that look and act like, regular, nice, round, dome shaped buns.

Thanks in advance,

Alex

Why make your own Hamburger Buns when you can just go to the store and buy them?

The recipe for my Homemade Hamburger Buns came out necessity. I wanted to recreate “Big Macs” at home but couldn’t find store-bought buns that would work. Either too small or too big. All of which had loads of ingredients that I don’t have in my pantry or want to feed to my family or friends.

I wanted a bun that could hold up to my vision of a “Big Mac Sesame Seed Bun.” Tall enough to split into 3 even layers (the crown, the club, and the heel), sturdy enough to hold up to all fillings, and tender enough to not get in the way of the texture of the 2 beef hamburger patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, onions, and pickles. Allowing the marriage of all the parts to come together for a delightful dining experience. Check out my blog post “Homemade “Big Mac” – Including the Special Sauce! to make your own.

The ingredient and their proportion are key to creating a Hamburger Bun that has the right flavor, texture, and body. I recommend with all baking recipes to use a scale to weigh out the ingredients. That ensures your success when baking. Also note: “THIS IS A STICKY DOUGH!” So don’t panic and add any extra flour. The dough will develop strength as you knead, stretch, and fold it.

I looked for baking forms for the Big Mac “Club” Bun online. All were too small and cost way too much for this endeavor. Luckily there is “YouTube.” After some research, I found “ChefSteps” YouTube channel which showed how to make your own Aluminum Foil Forms. Click here to check out their video “Foil Rings.” Making my Foil Rings taller and larger in diameter to hold the 125 grams of dough. I also lined the Aluminum Forms with Parchment Paper Collars. Making it easy for the buns to release from the pan and forms.

UPDATE: I have found the perfect size baking pans for baking the Big Mac “Club” Buns in. Here is the link to purchase them on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JJBxwj

As with all baking recipes I recommend you weigh the ingredients for the Homemade Hamburger and Big Mac “Club” Buns. Weighing ensures you have a consistent dough each and every time. As bakers, we are always striving to remove any variables from the process of baking.

Equipment: (Shop my Amazon Page for Ingredients & Equipment)

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• 8 Quart Mixing Bowl
• Rubber Spatula
• Plastic Scraper/Metal Bench Scraper
• Measuring Cups and Spoons or an Electronic Scale
• Plastic Wrap
• Non-stick Spray/Oil
• 2 – Half Sheet trays lined with Parchment Paper
• 6 Aluminum Baking Rings 1-½” tall x 4-½ diameter (4cm x 11.5cm) (Click to learn how here!)
• 6 Parchment Paper Collars 1-¾” tall x 16″ long (4.5cm x 40cm)
• Pastry Brush

Hamburger Buns  (yields 12)

• Measured        Weight          Grams         Ingredients
• ¾ cup                  0.38 lb.            180 g.         Water (room temp.)
• 2 tsp.                   0.02 lb.                 8 g.         Instant Yeast
• ¾ cup                  0.38 lb.            180 g.         Whole Milk (room temp.)
• ¼ cup                  0.15 lb.              70 g.         Canola Oil (or vegetable)
• 4 each                  4 each            227 g.         Eggs (large, room temp.)
• ¼ cup                  0.12 lb.              55 g.         Granulated Sugar
• 5-¾ cups             1.73 lb.            800 g.         Bread Flour (King Arthur)
• 2-½ tsp.               0.04 lb.              18 g.         Sea Salt (fine)
• ¼ cup Natural Sesame Seeds for Topping the Buns

Mixing the dough:

1. In the mixing bowl combine the water, instant yeast, whole milk, canola oil, eggs, granulated sugar, and half of the bread flour.  Using a rubber spatula, stir the ingredients together until it forms a thick batter.
2. Add the remaining bread flour and sea salt mixture to the mixing bowl and fold the ingredients together until the dough become a shaggy mass.
3. Scrape down the spatula and the sides of the bowl with a plastic scraper. Scrap the dough out of the bowl and on the work surface. The dough will be sticky. Do not add any flour to the work surface while kneading.
4. Knead the dough with one hand while using your plastic scrape to gather the dough from the work surface and your hand. Kneading for 4 minutes to incorporate the ingredients and develop the gluten.
5. After 4 minutes of kneading the dough will be strong enough to start stretching and folding using the plastic scrape.
6. Stretch and fold the dough for 6 – 8 minutes or until the dough become smooth and elastic.  The dough should be strong enough to pull away from the table in one piece. The dough will be slightly sticky at the end of the kneading process.
7. Lightly spray or coat the mixing bowl with vegetable oil.
8. Form the dough into a ball and place it into the oiled mixing bowl.  Turn the dough over in the oil to lightly coat the dough.
9. Cover with plastic wrap and let ferment for 1 hour at room temperature 70°F-76°F (21°C – 23°C).  The dough will grow 1 time the original size.
10. Uncover the bowl and turn the dough onto a lightly oiled work surface.
11. Fold the dough in 3rds from top to bottom and left to right.
12. Place the folded dough back into the bowl that has been lightly sprayed or oiled. Lightly spray or oil the top of the dough.
13. Cover with plastic wrap and let ferment for 1 hour at room temperature 70°F-76°F (21°C – 23°C). The dough will grow 1-½ times the original size.

Pre-shaping, Final Shaping, and Proofing the buns:

1. After 1 hour. Uncover the bowl and turn the dough onto a lightly oiled work surface. Deflate the dough lightly with your hands.
2. Using a bench scraper divide the dough into 12 pieces each weighing 125 grams.
3. Shaping each piece into a tight round ball, place on a lightly oiled surface and lightly coat the tops with oil, and loosely cover the dough with plastic wrap. You can use a half sheet tray for this step if you don’t have the counter space.
4. Rest and ferment the pieces of dough at room temperature for 15 minutes. (The resting period is import to allow the final shaping of the buns into a tight round without tearing the surface)
5. After 15 minutes, uncover the rounded dough and lightly sprinkle the tops with flour.
6. Reshape each bun into a tight round and place 6 buns on to a half sheet tray that has been lined with parchment paper. Leaving at least 4 inches of space between the buns.
7. For Big Mac “Club” Buns Aluminum Forms click this link to the video. Making each ring 1-½” tall by 4-½” diameter (4cm x 11.5cm).
8. Evenly space the Aluminum Forms on the parchment paper and line each form with a parchment paper collar. Place the remaining 6 buns into each form.
9. Lightly spray with oil and loosely cover with plastic wrap.
10. Proof the Hamburger Buns for 1-½ hours or until tripled in size.

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes before baking

Topping with Sesame Seeds and Baking:

• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup Natural Sesame Seeds

1. Using a pastry brush. Lightly brush each Hamburger Bun with water.
2. Sprinkle the tops evenly with Sesame Seeds.
3. Bake the Classic Hamburger Buns first. Leave the Big Mac “Club” Bun on the counter uncovered.
4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 14 to 16 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Turning the pan if necessary to get even browning.
5. Remove the Classic Hamburger Buns from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool.
6. Bake the Big Mac “Club” Buns next.
7. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 14 to 16 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Turning the pan if necessary to get even browning.
8. Cool the Hamburger Buns completely before using it.

Hamburger Bun Storage and Shelf Life:

1. The Hamburger Buns can be eaten fresh or store cooled Hamburger Buns in an airtight plastic bag at room temperature for up to 2 days.
2. The Hamburger Buns can be frozen in an airtight plastic bag for 2 months. Thaw the Hamburger Buns in the airtight plastic bag at room temperature.
3. Split and griddle each Hamburger Bun before using it. Big Mac “Club” Bun is split twice before griddling. This creates the crown, the club, and the heel.

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