Grilling A Burger Faqs
Gently Press The Burgers Into Patties
Divide your ground beef into the number of burgers you want to make so they will all be a uniform size. Our preference is to make burgers that are around -pound each.
Use your hands to gently press the burgers into flat patties of an even thickness about ½-inch larger than the buns you plan to use. Try not to overwork the meat, but it’s okay to squeeze it together a bit around the edges so the burger doesn’t crumble when transferring it to the grill.
Make a small indentation in the center of each burger with your thumb. This will help the burgers cook more evenly and not puff up on the grill.
How Long Does It Take To Grill The Perfect Hamburger
Grilled hamburgers are perfect for small backyard barbecues and giant neighborhood block parties alike. So, how long it takes to grill the perfect burger? Knowing how long to grill hamburgers is a must for any griller. But, grill times can vary based on the thickness of the patty, the kind of meat you use to make them, and just how you exactly you want your burger to be cooked. Follow these tips to ensure your patties come out just the way you like them.
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Best Hamburger Patty Recipe
Best Hamburger Patty Recipe Thick or thin, made on the grill or stovetop, this is the best and easiest all-purpose recipe for perfect hamburger patties every time! These juicy, delicious homemade hamburgers are ready in less than 30 minutes and are a must-make for your next cookout.
Close your eyes, and picture the perfect hamburger.
Is it a thin diner-style hamburger patty, or a thick steakhouse-sized burger? Seared to the peak of juiciness on a grill or in a flat griddle?
With or without cheese?!
Make burgers your way and have them come out flawless every time with what I consider to be the Best Hamburger Patty Recipe, in my humble opinion.
Its a classic all-American recipe for mouthwatering burgers that can be cooked on the grill, on the stovetop, as thick 1/3 pound patties, or as ultra-thin griddle patties.
Get ready, because you are about to make the burger of your dreams, people!
Can You Make Burgers Ahead Of Time
You can shape and season your burger patties up to 6 hours in advance and keep them in the fridge covered in plastic wrap until you are ready to grill. I recommend letting them sit out at room temperature for 10-15 minutes first though to take off the chill before they hit the hot grill for more even cooking.
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Essential Tools We Recommend
- All you really need to grill a fantastic burger is a grill and a set of grilling tools. We recommend looking for a set that includes a long-handled spatula so you dont have to expose your arms to the high heat of the grill as you flip the furthest burgers.
- Its also helpful to check the internal temperature of the burger using an instant-read meat thermometer.
- If youre really serious about your burger game, invest in a meat grinder. Theyre not as expensive as youd think, and there are even models that attach to your stand mixer. Grinding your meat at home allows you to control the size of the grind, as well as the cuts that go into your ground beef.
The 3 Secret To The Best Burgers
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Keep The Seasonings Simple
To season the exterior of the patties all you really need is kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. But I also like to add a little more aromatic savory notes with garlic and onion powder. Its important to sprinkle them on both sides right before grilling. If you add it too soon, the high concentration of salt will dissolve the meat proteins, which will bind it more closely together like sausage.
Monitor The Internal Temperature
You can follow a few rough guidelines to track the meats internal temperature. The safest technique for beginners is to use a meat thermometer. It should read a temperature of 160 degrees. This will ensure well-done patties. Also, keep in mind that the meat will continue to cook for a while once it is removed from heat.
Burgers should be cooked on gas grills at high temperature or medium-high temperature . Gas grills usually have built-in thermometers for monitoring temperature.
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Best Pellets To Use For Hamburgers
At the time of this writing, we only have the Apple and Competition hardwood pellets available to use.
Weve already used the grill to cook a Boston butt, ribeyes, hamburgers, steaks, and chicken drumettes and have cooked everything with the competition blend.
When we cooked the Boston butt, we experimented with the Apple wood chips, but really couldnt tell a difference in the flavor.
Now, we prefer to use the Competition blend because it works great for all types of meat and vegetables.
Is It Better To Grill Or Fry Burgers
Burgers Dry Out on a Grill: A well-made burger patty is ribboned with fat, which will render out while cooking. On a grill, not only do you lose this precious grease as it falls in between the grates, but it causes flare-ups. You Wont Get a Good Sear: Yes, crosshatched grill marks are aesthetically pleasing.
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What Can You Add To This Perfect Hamburger Patty Recipe
This simple, terrifically basic recipe for Easy Homemade Hamburger Patties is great for customizing with your favorite spices.
Try incorporating some punches of flavor by adding any of the following ingredients to the raw hamburger mix, or putting them right on top of your cooked burgers:
- Crushed red pepper
- Shaved serrano or jalapeno peppers
- Chopped fresh scallions or cilantro
- Barbecue sauce
- Diced red or white onion
- Shredded or crumbled cheeses like cheddar, gouda, mozzarella, or blue cheese
Best Wood Pellets For Smoking Burgers
The wood pellets for you are going to depend a lot on the seasoning youve used. Mesquite pellets offer a smokier and robust taste you can pair with spicy BBQ flavors, while natural Hickory gives off a big punch that goes well if youve added garlic or a bit of spice to your seasoning.
In fact, pretty much any pellet apart from Apple works well with beef. Unless youre after a fruity burger, leave Apple pellets to veggies, pork, and chicken.
Lets face it, not all burgers are created equal. When it comes to a wood-fired burger versus a charcoal or gas burner burger, theres just no comparison. The taste, versatility, ease, and consistency of cooking on a wood pellet grill make hamburgers taste smokin without all the fuss. No matter how you grill it, hamburgers come off tasting better because cooking over 100 percent all-natural hardwood just tastes better and makes more sense.
What makes wood pellets so great? They burn hotter and slower than wood chips, giving grillers more control over burger temperature. They also deliver a more consistent smoke with little ash or build-up.
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How Long To Cook Pork Burgers On George Foreman
If youre working with fresh meat, a pork burger will be cooked on a George Foreman grill in the blink of an eye!
Your prep time should take five minutes while the George Foreman grill heats up. The best way to heat it quickly is to select the option high heat.
Place the seasoned pork burgers on the preheated grill. Be careful, the grill plates are hot, and we really want to avoid burns!
Set your timer to 4 minutes and close the grill lid. When you hear the beeping sound, dont worry, its not a fire, just one perfectly grilled medium-rare pork burger!
A quick tip for all you lovers of well-done burgers if your burger is still undercooked for your taste, put it back on the Foreman grill and keep the lid closed. Check back after a minute, and your well-done pork burger has arrived!
How Long Does A Burger Take To Cook
You may read elsewhere that you should cook your burgers for 3 minutes, or 4 minutes, or even just 2 minutes per side, but the fact is thatespecially when it comes to handmade burger pattiesthese are just estimations.
In truth, a burger can take anywhere from just a couple minutes to 10 or even 15 minutes to fully cook through. It depends on three main variables: how hot the grill or pan is, how thick the burger is, and whether you want it rare, medium rare, medium, medium well, or well done.
The thicker the burger, the longer it takes to cook. It will also take more time if your grill or pan isn’t as hot. Lower temperatures also mean that the burger will take longer to get that crispy crust on the outside and will be more likely to dry out, because it takes so long to cook. For this reason, we recommend cooking at as high a temperature as you safely can. Not only does this reduce cooking times, but it is more likely to result in a juicier burger, with lots of flavor. And all you have to do is flip it when it’s ready, and take it off the heat when it’s done.
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Ask An Expert: Steven Raichlen
Steven Raichlen, author of more than 30 books, founder of BBQ University, and television host to multiple shows on the subject of grilling and smoking, including the recently released Project Fire, generously took time out of his day to teach me a few things about how to grill the perfect burger. We discussed charcoal verses gas grills, the best fat to meat ratio, and one mistake newbies make when tackling the all-beef patty.
Armed with information from Raichlen, a mountain of research, my own experiences, and emails from friends and family members, I set out to make my version of a Classic Backyard Burger.
How To Grill Burgers On A Propane Grill
I always grill burgers on a gas grill as I prefer the ease of use. See this guide if youd like instructions on how to use a charcoal grill.
Below is a quick overview of the method Ive found to be the best way to grill hamburgers:
Burger grilling tip: Never, ever smash the burgers down while cooking! All of the juices will escape and the result will be a dry burger.
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Ways To Flavor Your Burgers
Once youve mastered the basic burger in the recipe below, feel free to get funky with your flavors.
You can blend different cuts of meat, add mushrooms, anchovies, herbs, or cubes of cheese. Im a big fan of lemon zest in my burgers, because it helps cut the fatty flavor of the beef. Ultimately, the choice is yours. As long as the patty is meaty and juicy, you cant go wrong.
How To Grill Hamburgers On Pellet Grill
Who doesnt love eating hamburgers? You can add cheese, bacon, jalapeños, and etc. Everyone loves them and the best part is they dont take very long and they taste amazing when you grill them on a pellet grill.
Today, Im going to share how to grill hamburgers on a pellet grill that will have a great smoky flavor!
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What Oil To Use On Burgers To Keep Them From Sticking
We talked previously about oiling the burgers and not the grill grates to avoid those big flare-ups. But what oil is the best to use on burgers to keep them from sticking to the grill grates? You want an oil with what is called a high smoke point. The smoke point of any oil is the temperature in which the oil stops shimmering and starts smoking. This is also known as the burning point and according to The Globe and Mail, cooking with oil does matter.
Why is this important? If the oil you are using has a lowsmoke point and you are using a high cooking heat, the oil will start to giveoff chemicals when it reaches its smoke point and this will give your burgers aburned or bitter flavor. It can also release free radicals into your body,which can be very harmful. And we definitely dont want that.
So when cooking burgers on high heat on the gas grill youwant to use an oil with a high smoke point because it will have a neutralflavor and a longer shelf life.
Choices of oils are:
- Avocado Oil this has a very high smoke point of about 520 degrees
- Sunflower Seed Oil smoke point of about 450 degrees
- Vegetable Oil up to 400-450 degrees
- Grapeseed Oil smoke point of 420 degrees
- Canola Oil smoke point of 400 degrees
How Long Should Burgers Be Grilled
That depends on how you like them done. The United States Department of Agriculture safe internal cooking temperature for ground beef is 160 degrees. That means its well done. And the cooking time will depend on the thickness of the burger but generally at least 5 minutes per side. If you like it at less done than that and depending on the thickness, figure about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare or 130-135 degrees and 150-155 degrees for medium-well.
Here are a few recipes to help you out:
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How Long To Cook Frozen Burgers On George Foreman
The best part about George Foreman grills is that you can cook frozen burgers on them just as easily!
However, there is one thing to remember! Make sure your burger patties are no more than 0.5 thick. If theyre thicker, they may overcook on the outside before cooking through on the inside.
Once you have a perfect size frozen burger, just follow these steps:
After your burgers are fully cooked, put some thin slices of cheese and tomato in a burger bun and just have a great lunch!
