The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science

really hot, your burger will form a deep brown crust in well
under 45 seconds or so, preventing that leathery skin from
forming. Pan-searing also produces better flavors in the
crust, due to the higher heat and charring.
Of course, searing is a slightly messier affair, so which
method wins in the end? It’s all about personal preference.
Deep-frying produces a superior crusty texture without
creating a mess in the kitchen, but pan-searing offers better
flavor development and better internal texture. As I don’t
mind cleaning the kitchen, my vote goes to pan-searing.