Can You Really Upgrade a Microwave Burger?
Upgrading a microwave burger might sound unnecessary, but trust me—it makes all the difference! While these ready-made burgers are convenient, they often lack flavour, texture, and that satisfying bite you get from a fresh burger. So, I decided to put some simple hacks to the test and see if we can turn a basic microwave cheeseburger into something truly delicious.
Let’s get started!
Step 1: The Basic Microwave Burger (Before the Upgrade)
First, let’s be honest—microwave cheeseburgers aren’t exactly gourmet. They can be soggy, bland, and uninspiring, but they are quick and convenient. I started with a Rustlers microwave burger, following the package instructions. The result? A standard, soft, slightly chewy burger that could use some serious love.
Step 2: Small Tweaks for Big Improvements
The first step in upgrading a microwave burger is changing how you cook it:
Toast the Bun: Instead of microwaving the bun, toast it, like it has recently changed to advise on packaging.
Separate the Ingredients: Heat the burger patty separately from the bun to avoid excess moisture ruining the texture, cooking in butter too!
Wrap the Patty in a Damp Paper Towel: This helps retain moisture while keeping the patty from drying out & means still microwave territory!
Step 3: Key Ingredients for Upgrading a Microwave Burger
Now, let’s add some extras to bring out better flavour:
More Cheese: Microwave burgers usually come with a sad slice of cheese. Adding an extra slice (or using something stronger like smoked cheddar) makes a huge difference.
Seasoning the patty: The pattys are not too bad, but brushing them with butter or oil and adding garlic powder, paprika, salt & pepper and microwaving or cooking in the pan is fantastic!
Caramelised Onions: Fry onions with a little butter and sugar for a rich, sweet flavour boost that can be dolloped straight into the burger!
Better Sauce: Swap the basic sauce with it for other sauces – (mix in things like alioli with the relish etc).
Crispy Bacon: Cook up some crispy bacon for extra texture and smokiness or to save time, sprinkle in some bacon bits.
Lettuce: Well, there’s lettuce on the packaging or the microwave burger, so let’s stick that in too!
Toasting the bun in a pan: Warm up the frying pan whilst the onions cool, to make a lovely toasted edge on the face sides of the buns!
Step 4: The Final Result – A Next-Level Microwave Burger!
After these upgrades, the microwave burger was completely transformed. The crispy toasted bun, extra cheese, and better toppings made it feel like a fresh, fast-food-style burger instead of a sad convenience meal. Wrap it in damp kitchen towel into the microwave for 20 seconds too to help fuse it all together!
So, can you upgrade a microwave burger? Absolutely! And with just a few simple hacks, you’ll never eat a soggy burger again.
Want to Try This? Let Me Know!
Have you ever tried upgrading a microwave burger? What are your favourite burger hacks? Let me know in the comments! Also, what should I try next? Watch my attempt above or here.