How Long To Cook Burgers On Charcoal Grill

Charcoal Vs Gas Grill

How to Grill Burgers on a Charcoal Grill

For Raichlan, the best choice for grilling burgers is always wood or charcoal because of the additional flavor and charring that happens with those grills.

Its more versatile. You get a hotter, drier heat which give you a better sear, Raichlan said. If you use charcoal, you can add different kinds of wood to contribute to the smokiness and enhance the overall flavor of the burger.

However, millions of Americans prefer gas grills because they are easy to use, and you dont have as much of a mess. Dont worryyou can still cook a great burger on a gas grill!

  • To grill with charcoal or wood, Raichlan recommends investing in a chimney starter. Its a tall box or cylinder with holes in it. Paper is crumpled up in the bottom and the coals reset on top. Position the chimney starter on the bottom of grate of your grill, and light the paper. You will have hot coals in 15 to 20 minutes.
  • If you’re using a gas grill, open the lid, turn on the gas, and light the grill. You want to get your grill up to 450 to 500 degrees before adding your patties.

So You Want A Juicy Well

I understand if you aren’t on the “medium-rare” train yet. I get it! So I rounded up a fun little trick to keep your burgers juicy.

Master Chef judge Graham Elliot explained the trick to Fox News and it’s super simple. “Make your patties, then put your little ice cube in there, and then when you grill it, it keeps it moist and keeps it from getting dried out.”

As the hamburger patty cooks, the ice melts slowly, keeping the burger moist. Watch the high heat if you have a high-fat burger. Fat dripping onto the fire can cause flare-ups, which although it gives you a nice crust on the burger, can cook the outside while the inside is still cold.

A great burger is a juicy burger, so in addition to the ice cube trick, don’t press, flatten, or cut into the burger while it’s cooking. Leave it alone except to flip it to check doneness, use a meat thermometer.

Once you’ve cooked the beef, don’t forget the rest of what makes a better burger. You want a hamburger bun with the right texture, something that can stand up to a juicy hamburger patty but doesn’t overwhelm the taste of the meat. And don’t forget good condiments. Whether you’re going with the classic American cheese, Heinz 57, lettuce, and tomato combo, or something more adventurous like smoked cheddar, barbecue sauce, and red onions, put the good stuff on your burger.

Internal Temperatures For Burgers

Because cook time will vary depending on the thickness of the burger patty, we recommend cooking by internal temperature* using an instant-read thermometer to ensure you don’t over or undercook your burger.

Safety first, and so it’s worth pointing out the USDA recommends burgers be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. But that’s well done, and we recommend going for a nice wholesome medium to reach that optimal level of meaty goodness.

  • For rare burgers, grill for 2 minutes on each side until you reach 125°F internally.
  • For medium-rare burgers, grill for 3 minutes on each side until you reach 135°F internally.
  • For medium burgers, grill for 4 minutes on each side until you reach 145°F internally.
  • For well-done burgers, grill for 5 minutes on each side until you reach 160°F internally.

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Avoid This Most Common Burger Grilling Mistake

Okay, your grill is cleaned and fired up, you have your burger patties made, now its time to throw those babies on the grill! Burgers dont need a ton of attention while on the grill, however, there is a common mistake that almost everyone is guilty of

This is a BIG one. As hard as it is to resist, do not flatten out your burgers while they are grilling with the spatula. As much as we all love that refreshing sound of burger moisture being boiled over, flattening out the patties while they cook squeezes out the flavorful juices building up inside. So instead of pressing down on the burgers, make sure to flip them only once and let each side cook evenly before taking them off the grill.

What Are The Internal Temperature While Grilling Burgers

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Grill temperatures will directly affect the internal temperatures of your burger. The minimum recommended internal temperatures for burgers should be 160 degrees F. However, it depends on your personal preference on the level of meat doneness you want to attain.

You should attain 125 degrees F for rare cooking, medium-rare cooking should be 135 degrees F, medium cooking should be 145 degrees F, and well-done cooking should hit 160 degrees F.

Use an instant-read meat thermometer to read the internal temperature of your meat.

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How Long Will It Take To Grill Burgers In 300f

We cook on a gas grill at 300 degrees . Cook time is around 10 minutes. We flip the burgers two or three times. Remove any grease that is left through pressing the hamburgers on the side after every flip.

Assuming that you are grilling your burgers for the first time, it is best to use a meat thermometer to check whether the burgers are cooked through. The ideal temperature for a burger is 160°F. To check, insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the burger and wait for about 15 seconds. If it reads 160°F, then your burger is perfectly cooked!

If you want to learn how to grill burgers like a pro, then read on! Here are some tips:

  • Use fresh ground beef that is at least 80% lean.
  • Form your patties by hand and make them about ½-inch thick.
  • Season your burgers with salt and pepper before

Do You Grill Burgers With The Lid Open Or Closed

I always close the lid when grilling my burgers, but truthfully, when cooking things like burgers over high heat, the lid doesn’t make much of a difference. Mostly I find it helpful to make sure the cheese is completely melted. And it also helps to put the lid back on when dealing with windy conditions, which we often have where we live.

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How Long Should You Grill Burgers For

The surest way to know when your burgers are finished cooking is to use a thermometer. That said, if you dont have one or you dont want to use one, you can time the burgers for a general idea of when theyll finish cooking.

Heres a guide for the cook time and temperature of one-inch-thick burger patties:

  • Medium-rare : 6 minutes, or 130 to 135°
  • Medium : 7 to 8 minutes, or 140 to 145°
  • Medium-well : 9 minutes, or 150 to 155°
  • Well done : 10 minutes, or 160 to 165°

Give Your Beef A Bath

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If youre not convinced your own ground beef is safe to cook to medium or less and I would say you can never be sure but you really, really want a burger thats got a touch of the pink inside, there are three methods you can consider.

A leading food scientist says the trick to contaminant-free is to blanch the primal cut before grinding. Evidently, a quick rolling boil, no more than 60 seconds, is enough to kill the bacteria, but not enough to cook more than just the top millimeter or two.

When you grind the cut, the skin of the cooked meat will just mix in, and youll never notice it. The meat is now free of bacteria and safe to cook to a lower temperature.

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How Do You Cook Burgers On A Charcoal Grill

A: You need to cook the burgers on a grill that has a lid. The lid will help keep the heat in and prevent the food from drying out. Then, you need to use charcoal briquettes or wood chips to start your fire. Once you have your coals going, place the burgers on top of them and cover with the lid. Cook for about 8-10 minutes per side.

How Long To Grill Burgers

In general, follow these total grilling times:

  • For rare burgers, cook for 4 minutes total
  • For medium-rare burgers, cook for 5 minutes total
  • For medium burgers, cook for 6 to 7 minutes total
  • For well-done burgers, cook for 8 to 9 minutes total

Please note that the USDA recommends cooking ground meats to an internal temperature of at least 160°F, which is well done without any pink in the center. Cooking burgers to other degrees of doneness should be done at the cook’s discretion.

All this said, ultimately, the time it takes for a hamburger to reach a certain temperature depends on how hot your grill is and how thick your patty is. In my tests, my 1-inch thick, 4-inch diameter patties were medium done at 5 minutes total , and well done at 6 minutes total .

Raichlen suggests checking the temperature of the burger by inserting the meat thermometer through the side, not through the top this gives you a more accurate reading. You can also use Elises handy dandy finger-test guide.

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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.

Should You Make Burgers In The In The Oven Or Over The Fire

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So, should you choose to cook burgers in a fryer or bake them? Both ways for cooking burgers are excellent however, if youre looking to cook them quick and crispy cook, then you must use an oven or an oven that is heated. If youre looking for a quick and easy cook and a delicious marinade cooking your burgers by baking will produce an excellent result.

Burgers are one of those classic American comfort foods. Theyre easy to make, filling, and satisfying. But when it comes to cooking burgers, theres always the debate: should you cook them in the oven or over the fire?

Well, both ways for cooking burgers are excellent. If youre looking to cook them quick and crispy, then you must use an oven or an oven that is heated. This will help to sear the outside of the burger while still keeping the inside juicy and delicious. However, if youre looking for a quick and easy cook time with a delicious marinade, baking your burgers will produce an excellent result. Plus, its less messy than cooking them on the stovetop!

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How Long To Cook Burgers On The Grill

The key to testing the doneness of a burger is measuring the internal temperature with an Instant Read thermometer.

The USDA guidelines state ground meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees. This temperature ensures killing of any dangerous food safety related bacteria.

Meat does continue to cook while it rests off the grill so usually they can be taken off the grill slightly under 160 degrees.

This guide focuses on beef burgers but if cooking ground turkey burgers the internal temperature needs to reach 165 degrees. Grilled salmon burgers need to reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees.

Grilled Bacon Burgers With Caramelized Onions And Blue Cheese

Serves: 4 / Prep time: 15 minutes / Total time: 40 minutes

8 slices bacon

1 large onion, halved and sliced thin

¼ teaspoon table salt

1½ pounds 85 percent lean ground beef

¼ teaspoon pepper

4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled and chilled

4 hamburger buns, toasted if desired

Process bacon in food processor to smooth paste, about 1 minute, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Cook bacon in 12 inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, breaking up pieces with a wooden spoon, until lightly browned in spots but still pink , about 5 minutes. Drain bacon in fine-mesh strainer set over bowl. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate and let cool completely. Reserve bacon fat.

Add 2 tablespoons reserved fat to now-empty skillet and heat over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and salt and cook until well browned, about 20 minutes. Transfer to bowl and set aside.

Break ground beef into small pieces and spread into even layer on rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with bacon and gently toss to combine using 2 forks. Divide beef mixture into 4 equal portions, then gently shape each portion into ¾-inch-thick patty. Using your fingertips, press center of each patty down until about ½-inch thick, creating slight divot.

From “The Ultimate Burger” by America’s Test Kitchen .

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How Can You Tell If A Burger Is Done

There are three main ways to tell if your hamburger is done. By far the safest, easiest, and simplest method is to simply purchase a instant read meat thermometer. Digital meat thermometers are inexpensive, very easy to use, and are handy for a whole variety of foods, from roast chicken to steak. To see if your burger is ready, just plunge the thermometer into the center of the burger. We suggest putting the thermometer into the side of the burgerthat way it’s less likely to go all the way through the meat, and give you a false reading. At 120°F, the burger is rare. At 130°F, it’s medium-rare. 140°F is medium, 150°F is medium-well, and over 160°F is well done. The FDA recommends cooking all ground beef to 160°F, though we don’t suggest cooking it much above that, or it will become dry and not very tasty.

If you don’t have a thermometer, the second-best method is to take the burger off the heat, put it on a plate, and cut into it. The pinker the middle is, the rarer the burger is. This is better than guessing, but the downside is that it can lead to having at least one semi-mutilated “test” burger that has lots of slices in it. It will still taste good, but it may not look great.

The third method is the so-called “finger test.” This method is a little bit macho, and it may take you some practice to get it right. But if you can learn how to do it, it’s a neat trick for showing off at barbecues and means you don’t have to carry around a thermometer.

On Grill Smoking Grilled Burgers

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A great compromise to add smoked flavor without buying a smoker is adding some wood to smoke on the grill. You can use an smoker box but I use an even easier method. Placing a piece ofheavy foil on the grill with wood chips on it naturally allows them to begin to smoke and infuse flavor.

These Grill-Smoked Green Chile Burgers in a Bacon Weave are delicious and always impress . The burgers are grilled with mesquite wood chips for a nice smoky flavor. Dont let the bacon weave scare you either. The step-by-step photos will help you whip them up like a pro .

The wood chip smoking technique is so easy youll want to use it on recipes outside of burgers too. I even made a Grilled Pumpkin Pie with Hickory-Smoked Ginger Snap Crust for Thanksgiving!

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How To Cook Burgers On The Grill

While grilling can seem intimidating at first, its actually easier than you might think. Whether youre using a gas or charcoal grill, youll want to first preheat it to 400°F. While thats happening, you can prepare the burger patties.

When the grill is hot enough, wipes the grates with oiled paper towels or nonstick cooking spray. This is to prevent sticking. Then you can place the burgers onto direct heat and close the lid.

Cook according to the burger grill time chart. I only recommend flipping once and inserting an instant-read thermometer to check doneness. Avoid cutting into the burgers, as juices will escape and cause the burger to dry out.

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How Do You Cook Every Side Of Your Hamburger

For medium-sized burgers, cook the patty one side for 3 minutes, and on the other part for about five minutes. If you like your burger cooked medium-well cook the patty one side for 3 minutes and on the other for six minutes. If you want a well-done burger, cook the patty one side for four minutes and on the other side for seven minutes.

Another way to ensure your burgers are cooked evenly is to use a meat thermometer. For medium-sized burgers, cook the patty until it reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. For medium-well burgers, cook the patty until it reaches 170 degrees Fahrenheit. And for well-done burgers, cook the patty until it reaches 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

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The Best Ground Beef To Buy

taste of hometaste of home

You cant make a great grilled burger without tasty beef. Sure, you can dress-up ground beef with Worcestershire and garlic powder, but the seasonings arent the star of the burger: The beef is. So skip the bargain-bin and buy the best quality beef you can afford. That might be grass-fed beef if you prefer meatier, pastoral flavors, or grain-finished options if you like a sweeter, richer taste.

When it comes to fat content, youll also want to take a pass on lean offerings. The best-grilled burgers weve had are juicy and rich, and that comes from fat. Ground beef with 20 to 25% fat is just about perfect, so look for an 80/20 blend. More fat and the burger can fall apart. Less fat and the burger will turn out dry. If your butcher will grind beef to order, ask for a coarsely ground chuck roast, or a mixture of brisket and sirloin.

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