Classic Sloppy Joes

Name: Classic Sloppy Joes
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons, water, divided; 1/2 teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon, baking soda, divided; 1 pound, 85 percent lean ground beef; 1/2 teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon, table salt, divided; 2 teaspoons, vegetable oil; 1/2 , onion, chopped fine; 2 , garlic cloves, minced; 2 teaspoons, packed brown sugar, plus extra for seasoning; 2 teaspoons, paprika; 1/4 teaspoon, red pepper flakes; 1/4 cup, tomato paste; 1/3 cup, ketchup; 1 tablespoon, red wine vinegar, plus extra for seasoning; 1 tablespoon, Worcestershire sauce; 1/2 teaspoon, cornstarch; 4 , hamburger buns

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Appears in Cook's Illustrated May/June 2019, America's Test Kitchen TV

Main Courses

Sandwiches

How do you improve upon a classic? By making the beef taste beefier.

SERVES4

TIME45 minutes

has video

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

We found that treating the ground beef with baking soda (so that it retained more moisture when cooked) and then breaking it down to a fine, uniform texture in the skillet delivered a tender, flavorful, and cohesive mixture that stayed put ...

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