How to Make Hamburgers Using Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire sauce burgers are not only delicious but are great when you want a simple recipe that comes together quickly. This versatile condiment has a combination of sweet and savory ingredients, like vinegar, anchovies and molasses, which makes it a perfect addition to burger recipes.

Although Worcestershire sauce is hard to pronounce and spell, it's a great way to add flavor to your basic burger recipe. Lea & Perrins is one of the oldest brands producing this sauce, as they started selling it in the 1800s. Its name was given by a nobleman from Worcestershire, England, who hired the chemists John Lea and William Perrins to recreate the sauce he tasted during his trips to India.

They attempted to recreate the sauce, but it didn't taste quite right, so they put it in jars in a cellar. Two years later, they came across the jars and loved how it tasted since it had aged and matured. They began selling it, and the rest is history.

You may be surprised to find out the ingredients of Worcestershire sauce. According to Lea & Perrins, their recipe calls for white vinegar, fermented anchovies, molasses, sugar, onion, garlic, cloves and tamarind seed.

There are many other brands of Worcestershire sauce available, but most of them contain these basic ingredients. The sauce has a very distinct savory and sweet flavor with a kick of vinegar, making it ideal for burger recipes.

According to the USDA, one tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce has 13 calories, 1.7 grams of sugar, zero fats and 167 milligrams of sodium. For reference, the American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium to less than 1,500 milligrams per day. Keep in mind that several tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce can quickly add to your total sodium amount for the day.

The first step to prepare a Worcestershire hamburger recipe is picking the right meat. Most burger recipes call for 80/20 ground beef for a juicy burger, which means that the beef is 80 percent lean and 20 percent fat. The Cleveland Clinic recommends buying lean beef, such as 90/20 ground beef, to cut back on the saturated fat.

You may see ground beef labeled as "lean" or "extra lean." According to the USDA, lean beef has less than 10 grams of fat and less than 4.5 grams of saturated fat per 3.5 ounces. Extra-lean ground beef, by comparison, has less than 5 grams of fat and less than 2 grams of saturated fat per 3.5 ounces.

Keep in mind that the less fat your burger has, the less juicy it will be. You may consider choosing lean ground beef over extra lean so you still save on the fat content but not on the taste.

Hamburger meat does have plenty of nutrients, states the Cleveland Clinic. It is a good source of protein, niacin, vitamin B12, selenium and zinc.

Read more: How Many Calories Does a Hamburger Have?

Hamburger seasoning with Worcestershire is easy and delicious. Once you've chosen the hamburger meat, it's time to make Worcestershire sauce burgers. In general, two pounds of ground beef are enough for about eight burgers.

You can either keep it simple and add just Worcestershire sauce in with the meat, or you can add the sauce in along with other ingredients. Lea & Perrins recommends 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce per pound of meat for hamburgers.

Bread crumbs are a great addition to your recipe as they help hamburgers keep their shape when you add liquid seasonings. Salt, pepper, onions and garlic salt can further enhance the flavor.

If you're adding other sauces in addition to the Worcestershire sauce, you will use less. For example, this Cajun Party Burger recipe also calls for soy sauce and hot sauce, so the Worcestershire sauce is reduced to 1 tablespoon.

The Mayo Clinic uses ground turkey in place of ground beef for a healthy twist. The meat is seasoned with 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce, along with the addition of hot sauce, bread crumbs and onions.

Add more Worcestershire sauce if you want it as the primary flavor. Use less if you want it as a background flavor when you combine it with other seasonings, such as soy sauce or hot sauce.

Grill, bake or pan-fry your burgers until they reach a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, recommends the USDA.

Read more: How to Grill the Perfect Burger, According to a Chef

Worcestershire sauce burgers aren't the only use for this condiment, though. You may also use it for flavoring meatloaf. LIVESTRONG.com's recipe for Hearty Mini Meatloaves combines ketchup and Worcestershire sauce to create a delicious meal. For those who prefer vegetarian burger options, check out our delicious veggie burger recipes you are sure to love.