Where to Celebrate National Cheeseburger Day

It’s National Cheeseburger Day and there’s only one thing to do – celebrate with a big, juicy burger. Here are some deals and freebies that you can find throughout Orlando today.

National Cheeseburger Day Specials

Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar
Enjoy a Bacon Cheeseburger with endless fries for just $6.99. Price and participation may vary by location. Offer valid for dine-in only.

BurgerFi
Buy one cheeseburger, get one for just $1 at participating locations. Guests must mention or show the offer to redeem, and it cannot be combined with any other offer or special. Valid for in-store orders only.

Red Robin
Get a $5 Red Robin Gourmet Cheeseburger with bottomless fries. Offer is valid with the purchase of a regular sized beverage.

Smashburger
Get a free Double Classic Smash with the purchase of a Double Classic Smash. Valid at participating locations only. No protein substitutions. Add-ons are an additional cost. Not valid with any other offers or discounts.

Tony Roma’s
Members of the restaurant’s email club will receive $2 off any burger on the menu, including the famous Half Pound Burger, a mix of short rib, brisket, chuck and pork.

Teak Neighborhood Grill
All month long, Teak is serving $5 burgers for its inaugural Burger World Tour where guests can savor a different specialty burger at this special price each day. On National Cheeseburger Day it’s the Waffle Burger with melted American cheese, an over medium egg and apple smoked bacon between two homemade waffles. Check out the website for the full burger schedule.

Wendy’s
Get a free Dave’s Single with any purchase using an offer on the mobile app (available on Apple and Android devices). This offer is valid through Sept. 30.

Celebration National Cheeseburger Day at Home Too

How to Make the Perfect Burger

By Executive Chef Ricky Demers, Teak Neighborhood Grill Orlando & Maitland

These cooking tips will ensure the perfect burger every time.

1. Use high-quality meats. Texture is important. Use ground chuck, preferably Certified Angus Beef, with a ratio of 80 percent lean to 20 percent fat. You can blend it with short ribs or brisket, which will result in a juicier, more flavorful meat, but there are many other varieties that will work as well. The recommended portion size of the burger patty is 8 ounces.

2. Only season the outside of the meat. Do this a minimum of two hours to a maximum of 12 hours before grilling. The reason for this is you want the seasoning to permeate the meat so you get consistent seasoning throughout.

3. Cook on high heat. Cooking on an open grill is the way to go, but if you have to cook indoors, I recommend using an iron skillet. Both techniques will result in searing your meat instead of steaming it. You really need to seal the juices into the meat to reach your desired temperature and to avoid overcooking and drying out the burger. Flip every 20 to 30 seconds for a more even temperature and never press down on the burger patties to retain all of the flavor and juices.

4. Get cheesy and let it rest. I prefer shredded cheese over sliced and soft cheese over hard, aged varieties. This is because they take less time to melt, which cuts the risk of overcooking the burger. Let the meat rest for at least five minutes after you melt the cheese for a perfect, juicy burger. Jumping right in for a bite will dry out the burger because, at that point, all of the juices are at the edges of the meat instead of the center.

Finish it off with the buttery flavor of a toasted brioche bun. Then top it with a crisp lettuce like iceburg and a meaty tomato like a beef steak variety, along with red onion, pickles and your choice of condiments.