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What is the best mustard for burgers?

Mustard is a condiment that is commonly served with burgers to add flavor and moisture. With so many mustard varieties available, it can be difficult to determine which type pairs best with juicy beef patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and other classic burger toppings. This article will explore the top mustards for burgers and help you decide which option is right for your next cookout or diner-style meal.

Yellow Mustard

Yellow mustard is the most popular and iconic burger mustard. It has a mild flavor that does not overpower the other ingredients on your burger. Yellow mustard allows the flavors of the beef, cheese, onion, etc. to shine through while adding a tangy, slightly spicy kick.

Yellow mustard is made from mustard seeds, vinegar, and turmeric which gives it its bright yellow color. The seeds provide a subtle mustard flavor while the vinegar adds acidity and tanginess. When paired with a burger, yellow mustard also helps cut through the richness of the meat and cheese.

French’s and Heinz are two of the most popular brands of yellow mustard found at most grocery stores and burger joints. Their flavors are quite similar with Heinz being slightly tangier. Yellow mustard is so ubiquitous with burgers that it is often the default option served on hamburgers across the country.

Key Benefits of Yellow Mustard on Burgers:

  • Mild flavor does not overpower other ingredients
  • Tangy, slightly spicy taste
  • Helps cut through the richness of the patty and cheese
  • Bright yellow color is iconic burger look
  • Inexpensive and readily available

Spicy Brown Mustard

For those who want a bit more zip, spicy brown mustard is a top choice for burgers. Spicy brown mustard has a stronger, more pungent flavor compared to yellow mustard due to the inclusion of brown mustard seeds. These seeds provide a more robust, spicy mustard taste.

Spicy brown mustard also gets its heat from the addition of spices like garlic, horseradish, chili pepper flakes, and paprika. The blend of brown mustard seeds and spices gives it a kick that can enhance the overall burger experience.

Popular brands like Gulden’s or French’s Spicy Brown are widely available and easy burger toppers. The bold mustard flavor pairs well with cheeseburgers and burgers topped with saut??ed onions, mushrooms, and other strong flavors. It can hold its own against the hearty patty and toppings.

Benefits of Spicy Brown Mustard:

  • Robust, spicy mustard flavor
  • Brown mustard seeds provide more pungency
  • Spices like garlic and chili peppers add heat
  • Stands up to bold patty and topping flavors
  • Adds a kick to cheeseburgers

Dijon Mustard

Dijon mustard hails from the town of Dijon in France where it has been produced since the 1800s. Modern Dijon mustard contains white wine, vinegar, mustard seeds, and spices.

On burgers, Dijon mustard adds a tangy punch of flavor. It has a strong, nose-tingling heat that comes from the blend of mustard seeds and spices. The acidic white wine and vinegar also cut through the juicy burger and melted cheese.

Dijon works well on simple burgers focused on the meat rather than lots of toppings. Let the Dijon shine by pairing it with just lettuce, tomato, and onion. Popular brands like Grey Poupon and Maille Dijon are easy to find at grocery stores.

Perks of Dijon Mustard on Burgers:

  • Strong, spicy mustard flavor
  • White wine and vinegar provide acidity and tang
  • Pairs well with simple lettuce, tomato, onion burger toppings
  • Leading brands like Grey Poupon are readily available

Honey Mustard

For a touch of sweetness, honey mustard is a tasty choice for burgers. Honey mustard combines yellow mustard and mayonnaise or oil with honey. It has a smooth, creamy texture and a flavor profile that balances honey’s sweetness with mustard’s bite.

On a burger, honey mustard plays well with smoky flavors like bacon or char-grilled beef patties. The honey cuts through some of a thick bacon burger’s saltiness. It also complements cheeseburgers with its subtle sweetness to counter the sharp cheese.

Honey mustard’s creaminess helps it adhere well to the burger without running off. Popular brands like Ken’s Honey Mustard or Kraft Honey Dijon are widely available as convenient burger toppers.

Benefits of Honey Mustard:

  • Honey addstouch of sweetness
  • Thicker texture than plain mustard
  • Sticks well to burger without running off
  • Pairs nicely with bacon and char-grilled patties
  • Readily available at stores

Beer Mustard

For burger lovers of legal drinking age, beer mustard offers an addicting blend of flavors. Beer mustard incorporates pale ale, IPA, or other styles of beer into its recipe along with mustard seeds, vinegar, and spices.

The beer’s flavor comes through and enhances the overall taste profile. Hoppy IPA mustard packs plenty of aroma and bitter bite. Malty beer mustard provides deeper caramel flavors. The carbonation also lifts the texture of the mustard away from globs of yellow mustard.

The blend of beer and mustard is perfect for grilled burgers or pub-style cheeseburgers. Brands like Inglehoffer and Bertman’s Beer Mustard offer tasty artisanal options for beer mustard fans.

Appeal of Beer Mustard:

  • Incorporates pale ale, IPA, or other styles of beer
  • IPA mustard has intense hoppy aroma and flavor
  • Malty beer mustard provides caramelized flavors
  • Carbonation lightens texture
  • Great on grilled burgers and pub burgers

Garlic Mustard

Garlic lovers will adore the intense flavor of garlic mustard on their burgers. As its name suggests, garlic mustard contains fresh garlic or garlic powder blended with mustard seeds, vinegar, oil, and spices.

The garlic packs a strong aromatic punch and adds a roasted, savory flavor. When spread atop a juicy burger patty, the garlic mustard also provides a creamy texture contrast to the beef.

Look for garlic mustard varieties from stoneground mustard companies like Inglehoffer or brogards. The garlic is the star ingredient, so it pairs well with beef patties and simple toppings to let its flavor shine through.

Highlights of Garlic Mustard:

  • Intense garlic aroma and flavor
  • Provides creamy texture contrast to beef patty
  • Allows garlic to take center stage
  • Works well with simple burger toppings
  • Found from stoneground mustard companies

Peppercorn Mustard

Peppercorn mustard offers a bold, peppery spice kick from whole cracked peppercorns blended into the mustard. In addition to pepper, it contains mustard seeds, vinegar, oil or water, and often spices like coriander, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and paprika.

On a burger, the peppercorn’s heat comes through prominently to give the meat a spicy contrast. The mustard’s acidity also cuts through the juicy patty and cheese. Use peppercorn mustard to add excitement to basic cheeseburgers or bacon burgers.

stoneground mustard companies like Inglehoffer and brogards make excellent peppercorn mustard varieties to try. The visible cracked peppercorns add textural interest as well.

Perks of Peppercorn Mustard:

  • Cracked peppercorns provide spicy heat
  • Often includes spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and paprika
  • Acidity cuts through rich patties and cheese
  • Adds excitement to simple burgers
  • Visible cracked peppercorns add texture

Wasabi Mustard

Wasabi mustard delivers a fiery horseradish kick from the popular Japanese condiment. Fresh wasabi root or more commonly wasabi powder gets blended with hot mustard for a sinus-clearing, spicy burst.

The wasabi’s pungency pairs well with thick, juicy beef patties by cutting through the meat’s richness. It also complements cheeseburgers with its heat. Add some pickled ginger or teriyaki glaze to lean into the Japanese-inspired flavors.

Be prepared for serious heat and to clear your sinuses with wasabi mustard! Stoneground mustard companies offer good wasabi mustard options to try.

What Wasabi Mustard Brings to Burgers:

  • Intense wasabi heat and spiciness
  • Cuts through juicy, rich burger patties
  • Accents cheeseburgers with pungency
  • Pairs well with Japanese flavors
  • Provides fiery sinus-clearing properties

Chipotle Mustard

Smokey, spicy chipotle chile peppers are the star of chipotle mustard. Chipotle mustard has a southwestern flair with the chipotles lending a deep, earthy heat and smokiness.

In addition to ground chiles, chipotle mustard contains adobo sauce from canned chipotles, vinegar, mustard seeds, garlic, and spices. Spread it on your burger for a punch of smoky spice and slow-burning heat.

The deep chipotle flavors work well with equally hearty toppings like bacon, sliced barbecue brisket, caramelized onions, and cheddar cheese. Kick up your barbecue burger with chipotle mustard’s smoky zip.

Highlights of Chipotle Mustard

  • Chipotle chiles provide earthy heat and smokiness
  • Often contains smoky adobo sauce from canned chipotles
  • Pairs well with hearty toppings like bacon and barbecue
  • Accents cheeseburgers with slow-burning spice
  • Brings Southwestern flair to burgers

Horseradish Mustard

Horseradish lovers will relish the bright, nasal heat of horseradish mustard on burgers. Fresh horseradish root or prepared horseradish gets mixed with spicy mustard for a sinus-clearing, fiery condiment.

Horseradish’s pungency stands up to a thick, juicy burger patty and melty cheese. Its flavor punch can also balance out rich, fatty toppings like bacon or avocado.

Many stoneground mustard companies produce excellent horseradish mustard varieties. Add some tomato, onion, and lettuce for a classic burger topping combo with the horseradish kick.

What Horseradish Mustard Offers:

  • Fresh horseradish provides nasal heat
  • Bright, fiery flavor punches up burgers
  • Holds its own against rich meat and toppings
  • Typically made by stoneground mustard companies
  • Works well with tomato, onion, and lettuce

Cranberry Mustard

Cranberry mustard provides a festive, fruity twist on burgers. It combines whole or dried cranberries with spicy mustard for a sweet-tart pop of flavor.

The cranberries lend a vibrant acidity to balance out juicy beef patties and richness from cheese or bacon. Cranberry mustard’s texture also has a nice chutney-like quality from the fruit.

Break out cranberry mustard to add flair to Thanksgiving and Christmas burgers. Or enjoy it year-round when you want a fruity counterpoint to your meaty burger.

Benefits of Cranberry Mustard:

  • Cranberries offer sweet-tart acidity
  • Fruity flavor balances rich ingredients
  • Has chutney-like texture from cranberries
  • Great for seasonal holiday burgers
  • Provides year-round fruity flavor

Maple Mustard

For those with a sweet tooth, maple mustard brings a touch of breakfast to your burger. It unites sweet, golden maple syrup with the spice of mustard seeds.

The maple flavors tame the mustard’s bite while lending warm, butterscotch-like notes. Maple mustard is the ideal sweet contrast to char-grilled burgers or bacon cheeseburgers. It also makes turkey burgers pop with flavor.

Look for maple mustard from New England-based companies like Raye’s Mustard or Dragon’s Blood Elixir. Or whip up your own blend at home with some Dijon and pure maple syrup.

Highlights of Maple Mustard:

  • Maple syrup provides sweet, butterscotch flavors
  • Tames the mustard’s spice
  • Lovely contrast to char-grilled and bacon burgers
  • Makes turkey burgers pop
  • Find New England-made options or make your own

Pickled Mustard

Pickled mustard has a briny, vinegar-forward flavor that works well with burgers. Stoneground mustard companies pickle mustard seeds in vinegar before grinding them into a zesty condiment.

The pickling process amplifies the mustard’s acidity and sulfur notes. Paired with a juicy burger, pickled mustard’s bright acidity helps cut through the richness. It also mingles nicely with classic burger toppings like melty American cheese, ketchup, onion, and pickles.

Companies like Inglehoffer and brogards make excellent pickled mustards to spice up your basic burgers.

Attributes of Pickled Mustard:

  • Mustard seeds are pickled in vinegar before grinding
  • Pickling amplifies acidity and sulfur notes
  • Cuts through rich patties with tangy flavor
  • Complements classic cheeseburger toppings
  • Offered by stoneground mustard companies

Conclusion

With so many varieties available, the best mustard for burgers comes down to personal taste. Choose yellow for classic flavor, spicy brown for a kick, or fun unique options like beer, cranberry, or maple mustard. The mustard you choose can complement different patty flavors and toppings.

Mustard is a versatile burger condiment that adds moisture, flavor, and visual appeal. Follow your tastes to find the right mustard match for cooking up your ideal burger.