Hamburger America

It took hamburger expert George Motz more than two and a half years to narrow down and establish his list of the 100 best burgers for his book Hamburger America. George talks to Gayle about what he thinks makes the best burger and his favorite way to eat one.

In order for the burger establishments chosen in George's book to even be considered as one of the 100, they had to meet two criteria—they had to have had the hamburger on their menu for at least 20 years, and the burger on their menu had to be made with fresh ground beef, which he says is the key factor that can make or break a great-tasting hamburger.

Whether you're making the burgers at home on the grill or ordering them off a menu, George says choosing the right condiments is important. "Simplicity is the most important thing to a great hamburger," he says. "I do consider grease to be a condiment, so if you have enough grease on the plate, that's all you need!"

How does George prefer to eat his burger? He likes to keep it simple. "I like strictly just beef, mustard and grilled or sautéed onions," he says. "I only eat cheese on a burger if that's the way everyone in the restaurant eats it—part of the hamburger experience is who you are eating it with and where."