September 15th is National Double Cheeseburger Day, which is one of our favorite national holidays. Appliances Connection is here to help you celebrate with some of our favorite gourmet cheeseburger recipes, information on the history of the cheeseburger, and tips on how to make a great double cheeseburger. We’ve even included some expert-picked, indoor and outdoor grilling appliances so you can enjoy a fresh, juicy burger any time of year!
The Inception of the Double Cheeseburger
Hamburgers have been an integral part of American culture since 1904, but the addition of cheese didn't happen until the 1920s. While the cheeseburger has a few different origin stories, the most popular one is that a man named Lionel Sternberger in Pasadena, California was working at his parents' burger shop when he got the idea to add a slice of cheese. Bob's Big Boy Burgers is the first restaurant to have the idea of doubling up the patties and the cheese. That didn't happen until 1927.
With that out of the way, here's some cheesy facts about cheeseburgers that have spanned the past century:
- The oldest burger chain in the United States is White Castle, which was founded in 1921
- The world's largest hamburger weighed almost 3,600 lbs., but the world's largest cheeseburger only weighed 1,800 lbs.
- The most popular cheese to put on burgers is American cheese, with more than 70% of Americans preferring it.
- Nearly 35 percent of the fast food hamburgers in the United States are sold by McDonald's.
Expert Picks for Burger Prep Any Time of the Year
Depending on the time of year, it may not be convenient for you to fire up the grill for that classic char-grilled flavor. Luckily, there’s a whole host of indoor and outdoor appliances that can help you get the job done in comfort and style.
Best Range with Griddle for Burgers - Frigidaire FGGH3047VF
This 30-in. front-control gas range with griddle from the Gallery Series offers 5.6 cu. ft. of oven capacity and five sealed burners. Enjoy ultra-fast results thanks to Frigidaire's True Convection baking technology, and keep your meals healthy with the Air Fry feature.
This cooktop's range features an 18,000-BTU power burner, ideal for boiling water in no time, along with a 5,000-BTU burner that makes simmering your delicate sauces a breeze. There's also a 10,000-BTU oval burner that's perfect for your griddle pan, which is included with the unit. Continuous corner-to-corner grates make it easy to move pots and pans around the burners as needed.
Best Cooktop with Griddle for Burgers - KitchenAid KCGD506GSS
This 36-in. downdraft natural gas cooktop with griddle is an ideal choice for anyone who enjoys preparing tasty burgers. It comes with five sealed burners, including a 17,000-BTU professional burner that makes searing and stir-frying a breeze and a 5,000-BTU Even-Heat™simmer burner.
Thanks to this unit's 300 CFM exhaust rating, you can count on its ventilation to handle typical odors from your meal preparations, and its three-speed fan control also helps you adjust ventilation as needed. Full-width cast-iron grates make your cooking process simpler by allowing you to easily slide your pots and pans around the cooktop, and the unit's electronic ignition and reignition system makes it a snap to get your cooking started.
Best Smokeless Countertop Grill for Burgers - Courant CGL6000
Anyone looking to prepare their burgers on a countertop grill will find this unit to be a great option. This smokeless grill offers a 10x13-in. cooking surface, allowing you to prepare multiple burgers at once. Its non-stick copper coating makes it a snap to remove your burgers from the grill when you're done, and the removable grill plate is easy to clean when your meal has concluded.
Other handy features on this unit include the adjustable temperature control that allows you to cook your burgers to perfection every time and a power light indicator that lets you know that the grill is still powered on.
Best Electric Grill for Burgers - Coyote C1EL120SM
This 18-in. electric grill comes with a 156-in. cooking area and a 5,000-hour heating element to allow you to prepare your burgers to perfection every time. Capable of reaching temps of up to 550° F, this unit makes it a snap to cook your meat thoroughly. In addition, this grill's Teflon-coated cooking surface assures that your burgers will be easy to move to your serving platter when done. It also features a ceramic flavorizer for even heating.
The unit's 304 stainless-steel finish is easy to clean, and it comes with a cover to help you keep it in tip-top shape when not in use.
Best Charcoal Grill for Burgers - Kamado Joe KJ15041123
This 18-in. smart charcoal grill is a great choice for anyone who enjoys outdoor cookouts. It offers 250 sq. in. of grilling space and makes getting started with your grilling a snap thanks to its Automatic Firestarter button.
This grill's Digital Kontrol allows you to keep track of your cooking process thanks to temperature graphing, alerts, and multiple cook modes. You can also interact with the unit remotely through the Kamado Joe App. It's simple to control the grill's temperature, which can range from 225° F to 700° F, by making use of the unit's Kontrol Fan. You can also take advantage of Automatic Cook Mode for effortless grilling.
Lifting handles make it safe and easy to load and unload the grill, and the Air Lift™ Hinge also assists by reducing dome weight.
Double Up These Delicious Cheeseburger Recipes
To celebrate National Double Cheeseburger Day, we've found some recipes from Weber Grills and professional chef Jamie Purviance that you can try at home. Just double the amount of meat and other ingredients that go into the patties, but you may not want to double the other ingredients (such as onions and tomatoes).
Chorizo Burgers with Grilled Tomato and Cheddar
These chorizo burgers with grilled tomato and cheddar bring a new twist to a classic recipe. The use of chorizo in the cheeseburgers adds both spice and novelty to your grilling, while the recipe itself takes only about half an hour to prepare and cook. Grilling the tomato slices is a particular stroke of genius. In addition, the two types of chili powder blend with the chorizo to add even more flavor to your food.
Gas grilling is ideal for making burgers out of chorizo, and this freestanding gas grill from the Genesis Series is a powerful, user-friendly option. Its 994 sq. in. grilling surface makes it easy to make double cheeseburgers if you want, while the extra-large prep and serve table and warming rack give you plenty of room to maneuver as you grill.
Fontina Cheeseburgers with Lemon-Herb Mayonnaise
If you're looking for something with a bit of a kick, try doubling these fontina cheeseburgers with lemon-herb mayonnaise. The mayo is made with chives, parsley, thyme, lemon, and plenty of garlic, bringing tangy flavor to the burgers. Meanwhile, the chuck roast burger patties themselves are simple to make, using only the meat, salt, and pepper.
This charcoal grill from Weber's Original Kettle Series is perfect for making these (or any) cheeseburgers. Its stainless steel cooking grates will give you 508 sq. in. of cooking surface, while the aluminum ash catcher and one-touch cleaning system make cleanup a breeze as well. It even has a built-in lid thermometer, meaning that you will never have to guess at your grill's temperature.
Related Questions
How many burgers does an average American eat?
According to the USDA, Americans eat about 50 billion burgers every year. That's an average of three burgers per person per week.
How do you melt cheese on a burger?
To melt a cheese slice onto a hamburger, add it just before your cheeseburger is done on the grill. For best results, you want to also cover the grill as the cheese begins to melt.