Ever had a poached burger? Pete’s Hamburger Stand in Prairie du Chien has one of the most unusual burger cooking methods in America. And its burgers are so beloved–they’re the only thing on the menu!
The story of Pete’s started in 1909, when Pete Gokey cooked hamburgers at local events. To keep them moist, he poured water on his flat top grill – and flavored that water with a pile of onions.
Today, Pete’s uses the same method to cook 60-70 burgers at a time, constantly smashing the patties and letting the burgers cook in the flavorful stew-like water. After 12-15 minutes, the 4 oz. patties are ready to serve!
There are only two ways to order a burger at Pete’s: “With” or “Without”, referring to onions (all burgers have a bit of an onion flavor because of how they’re cooked, but you can choose if you want more on top.) Pete’s doesn’t offer cheese, a rarity for Wisconsin, but we promise you won’t miss it.!
You can learn more about Pete’s (and see for yourself what the hype is about) in this Burger Land: Wisconsin segment on the Travel Channel (click here).
And here’s a roundup of where to find Wisconsin’s very best:
🍔 Wisconsin’s 25 Best Burgers, according to food editors
