Monday, September 22, 2008

Hamburger America Test Kitchen - Big City Slider Station


When Billy Mays is screaming at me to buy something I usually mute the TV as fast as possible. That is, until last month when he was a shill for the new Big City Slider Station. The wacky contraption caught my eye not just because it was hamburger related but because the 'station' employs the scoop-and-smash method, one of my favorite for making burgers. You need to click the link above to see the actual TV commercial that sold me. While you are watching, notice that the meat is never touched, it's scooped then pressed into tiny sliders. Regardless of the goofiness of Mays, I had to have this thing.

It took 3 weeks to receive my Slider Station. When it arrived it was much smaller than I had imagined and smelled of noxious chemicals (which I'm assuming was the non-stick surface that was clearly brush painted on). I washed the station thoroughly and left it to heat up for 15 mins to burn off any crap residue that may have made its way from China.

While the Slider Station heated up, daughter Ruby and I ground fresh chuck (twice) in my grinder. We scooped balls of the fresh ground, placed them in the 5 slider receptacles, sprinkled with salt, and pressed (gently) with the cover. In about 2 minutes, we had sliders! I was amazed. The damn thing actually worked. The method of extraction for the finished sliders is to lift the cover off, flip the station upside down and smash on a flat surface (like a cutting board). This is where things went wrong. Only one slider came out, the rest were stuck and had to be pried out in pieces with a knife. I chalked it up to new equipment and vowed to butter this non-stick contraption next time.

Ruby and I enjoyed the sliders the only way you should - on tiny potato rolls with melted American (under the broiler) and grilled onions. Didn't Mays sell Oxi-Clean too? He was right about that for sure. Maybe he's right about this as well.

14 comments:

Wauna-burger said...

I also thought about getting it. I do want to get a grinder first though. I want to try to make a Jucy Lucy at home like you did. The pancake puff maker also looks good!!!

Anonymous said...

I have often wondered if Billy Mays talks like that when he is having a normal conversation? Can you imagine trying to have a quiet dinner with him?

Hamburger America said...

Yeah, He does sound like he is SPEAKING TO DEAF PEOPLE.

chareford said...

I always thought Billy Mays sounds like he is trying to sell used cars... You know like those car dealers in the comedy movies?

Lisa said...

does this really work? I have the pancake puff maker and it works great.

queen bee said...

I recently purchased the Big City Slider Machine. Once I received it, I followed the directions to prepare the macine for cooking. After the third batch of sliders, the "nonstick" coating came off of the top lid of it(the part you use to smash the burgers) onto my burgers. I am very dissapointed with this product!!! Has anyone else had this problem with this product?

Hamburger America said...

Return it. That's not right...

Unknown said...

I had the same problem as above; third batch and all. Was eating them like crazy and loved it then looked at my wife and said "Stop eating them now!" Very dissapointed and would like to warn everyone about this problem.

Hamburger America said...

That's it - mine's going into the trash!

Lizzy's A Broad? said...

I think this thing is actually the LEAST non-stick surface I have EVER found. the VERY first time cooking mine, it stuck like crazy. even WITH butter, my turkey sliders had to be scrapped off! I do NOT recommend this thing.. its a COMPLETE waste of money.

Unknown said...

Same here...

I got mine at Target last week and loved it, except that it wasn't easy to clean as advertised.

Then I did the egg sliders and even with PAM sprayed all over it and with hours of post-egg soaking, I still cannot get it completely clean.

Now, after, let's say the four use, parts of the non-stick coating are looking discolored (missing?).

Also, my scoop broke after the third try. This thing is going quietly back to Target this week.

I'd suggest passing on this. They still have some kinks to work out, thought it is a great concept.

Pieman said...

We bought our Slider Station at Bed Bath & Beyond. Love it. We used it for our Super Bowl Party. Made about 70 sliders in an hour or so. I cook for 4 min each batch. Made the scoops in advance (meatballs) and went into production mode. I use kitchen tongs to remove. Haven't had one stick yet. Just pour the fat into a scrap bowl and reload. It does take a little scrub brush to clean up after extended use. I tried it with an egg but that didn't work as well as the burgers. Little potato rolls are the best buns! Try it. It works.

Reggie said...

I have used it a couple of times...the burgers were ok but i probably over cooked them. getting them out was not too much of an issue. But my favorite is to pop an egg in there and let it cook! Egg mcmuffins all day.

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