How Long To Grill Burgers On Charcoal

When To Toast The Buns

How to Grill Burgers on a Charcoal Grill

Im a toasted brioche bun kind of girl. They are rich with butter and sturdy enough to hold all of my fixings and my burger, but also they squish down and are easy to bite through.

Whichever buns you prefer, butter the top and bottom of the bun, and then plop them on the back of the grill, out of direct heat, until they are golden. Start toasting the buns when you have a minute left on the patties.

How Long To Cook Burgers On Grill

Lets face it. Many factors can affect grilling time, from the temperature of your grill to the thickness of the burger. In general, a typical 4-ounce burger or quarter-pounder will take 3 to 4 minutes per side to reach medium doneness. Thats 6 to 8 minutes in total.

By inserting an instant-read thermometer into the center of the burger, you can confirm it has reached your desired doneness against the grill time chart below.

If you dont have a thermometer, you can also do the finger test. When you think the burger is done, press it in the middle with your index finger. It will start to provide some resistance when medium and be quite firm when well-done.

Billions Served Well Done

The world loves a hamburger. In the United States alone there are more than 50,000 restaurants where the burger is the focus of the menu. Americans eat around 50 BILLION hamburgers annually. And do you know what most of those burgers have in common? Theyre cooked all the way through.

In fact, in many jurisdictions in the U.S., and certainly in Canada, there is legislation banning the serving of undercooked hamburgers. Restaurants in Canada have been fined or shut down by food inspectors for this infraction. And the Government of Canada website has a special Hamburger Safety Tips page. Seriously, go look!

Several U.S. states have a ban on selling pink-centered beefburgers, including North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wyoming. Somewhat sensibly, South Carolinians over the age of 18 can choose a medium rare beefburger if they wish. However, Im trying to imagine how strange it must be to ask for I.D. Before ordering a hamburger!

The thing is, though, some people prefer the taste of a juicy, pink burger.

Of course, you can readily sear a beef burger on the outside, move it off the direct heat, and let it cook for a few minutes until its medium rare. The temperature range for medium-rare beef is 130-140F. This is where the government steps in.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Safety and Inspection Service, the minimum internal temperature for cooking ground meat of any kind is 160F.

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Learn How To Grill Hamburgers On A Charcoal Grill

So, how can you prepare big, juicy mouth-watering hamburgers on a charcoal grill? You can do it by referring to this guide it covers everything needed to grill the perfect hamburgers on a grill. This includes the ingredients and techniques needed for preparing and shaping the patties, the steps to prepare the grill, and finally the method to grill the hamburger on the charcoal grill.

Give Your Beef A Bath

How Long To Cook Frozen Burgers On Charcoal Grill

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 To Get The Park Grill Ready For The Burgers

You are now in the park and ready for that picnic. Here are some things you want to be sure to do before grilling burgers on the park grill.

1. As withany grill, charcoal or gas, be sure to clean the grill grates with a good,strong brush. Brush the top and bottom of the grates as best you can. You, ofcourse, wont get them sparkling clean, but brush as best you can. Most brushesare stainless steel and may leave some of the bristles, so be very carefulabout not getting any of those in your meat. There are some brushes availablethat are bristle-free so check out one of those.

You also want to be sure to clean out the grill of any ash or leftover briquettes. You want to be sure no flare-ups will happen and you just dont want old ash from someone elses cooking.

2. Evencleaning the grates and knowing that the fire will also clean off any germs onthe grates, we do recommend covering the grill with aluminum foil for yourcooking. This gives you a sense of cleanliness and will also keep any food youhave from falling through.

Another pro to using foil is if the grill you are using hasany rust on it. Consuming rust is never a good idea, so the foil will keep yousafe.

If you decide to forego the foil, preheat the grill and letthe flames go up onto the grill to get off any debris that might be left. Thendo a second cleaning with the grill brush to get any remaining residue off thegrates.

How Much Charcoal Do You Put In A Grill

HOW MUCH CHARCOAL SHOULD I USE? When working with charcoal, the basic rule is the more coal you use, the hotter your fire. A good rule of thumb is about 30 briquettes for smaller or portable grills and 50 to 75 briquettes for larger barrel and Kettleman grills.

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Burger Construction: Building A Better Burger

Once you have your burger game in place, think about the condiments and toppings you want to serve with them. Ketchup, mustard, and mayo are all traditional, with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles for classic burger fixings.

Soft, pillowy burger buns make such a huge difference in your burger game, so don’t waste your time on boring, stale buns from the store. Brioche buns are the best for burgers, in my opinion, but potato rolls are good too. We love our buns toasted on the grill during the last minute or two of cooking our burgers!

I’m probably the last person to realize this, but I recently learned that if you place your lettuce under the burger it will help keep the bottom bun from getting soggy.

How To Grill Hamburgers

How To Grill Burgers | Weber Grills
  • Optional toppings, like lettuce, tomato, onion, bacon, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and pickles

Yield: 4 burgers

Step 1: Season the beef

taste of home

If you went all-in with high-quality beef, you dont really need any of the optional seasonings listed above. Mixing the seasonings increases the risk of overworking the meat, but we understand if you want to infuse the burgers with some extra flavor. If you choose to use them, place the seasonings and beef in a large bowl. Use your hands to lightly but thoroughly mix the seasonings into the beef, working as quickly as possible.

Editors Tip: Dont salt the ground beef in advance. Salt pulls moisture out of the patty, making it denser and dryer than it should be. Instead, save the salt for later.

Step 2: Divide the beef

taste of hometaste of home

Divide the beef evenly into four balls. Wet your hands with cold water and shape the beef into a 1-inch patty thats roughly 3-1/2 inches wide. Dont worry about packing the beef in too tightly. The patty needs just enough pressure to hold together. Using your thumb, create a tiny indentation in the center of the patty.

Once your patties are divided and formed, store them in the refrigerator until the grill is preheated. You want the beef to stay as cold as possible until it hits the grill.

Step 3: Season and grill the burgers

taste of home

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Preparing The Hamburger Meat

There are several recipes for making a hamburger. However, the classic recipe has the following ingredients:

  • 1 lightly beaten egg
  • Two pounds ground beef
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1/4 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

These are all the ingredients you need for preparing a big, juicy mouth-watering hamburger patty. However, you will have to season the patty and you can do it in two ways. If youre looking for convenience, Webers Burger seasoning would be the best choice.

However, if you want things to stay all natural, then you can prepare your own seasoning by mixing paprika, onion powder, salt, seasoned salt, garlic, and pepper. Once you have prepared the seasoning, mix all the ingredients listed above, including the seasoning, in a large bowl.

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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How To Put Out A Charcoal Grill At A Park

You have now found that grilling burgers on a charcoal grill at a park is not only safe but very fun and good! When you are done grilling and all are fed, be sure to run the grill brush over the grates to clean them off while they are still hot. This gets them in better shape for the next person coming in to do their fun park picnic grilling.

You also want to check your park regulations to see if youhave to wait for the grill to cool prior to leaving the site. Even if thatwouldnt be a requirement, it is nice and safe to make sure the grill is cooledoff prior to leaving.

Pellet Grill Tips And Tricks

How Long To Grill Burgers

If you’re planning to use a pellet grill, you may be wondering how to prepare the meat. There are a few tips you should keep in mind, but the first step is to understand what you’re smoking. The most important tip is to understand the composition of your meat. For instance, do you plan on smoky or dry meat? You also need to consider whether you’ll be smoking white or dark meat?

If you’ve never used a pellet grill before, you should learn the basics and avoid sloppy cooking. Proper care is the key to making your grill last for many years. When it’s time to replace the pellets, make sure you clean the grill thoroughly. Do not put the pellets on cement or 2X4s they’ll turn to cement. When they’re smoky, they’ll stick to the sides of the pellet rack and stick to the bottom.

You should also learn how to cook different types of food. While most pellet grills come with a digital display, you should read the owner’s manual before using them. The temperature range for each type of food varies, so make sure you know your food well before you begin cooking. You should know that filet mignon beef requires 360 degrees Fahrenheit for three to 10 minutes, while pork belly needs 225-300°F for four hours. Before starting your cooking, it’s important to research the ingredients. By doing so, you’ll know how to use the right pellets for your specific recipe. Aside from ensuring that the temperature is appropriate, you’ll also know how much wood pellets you need to use.

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We Tested All Sorts Of Methods For Mixing Shaping And Grilling Backyard Burgers And Even Talked With Grilling Expert Steven Raichlen Here Is Our Take On The Perfect Grilled Burger

Eating Well,SaveurBon AppétitGritNew Prairie KitchenEpicurious

Grilling season is upon us, and this year Ive decided to master the art of Americas summertime grilling favoritethe hamburger.

My aim: a burger that is easy to throw together on a weeknight, flavorful enough to stand up to the person who adds every condiment known to mankind to his or her burger, and yet balanced enough to satisfy the minimalist burger eater .

Choosing The Right Ground Beef

When it comes to grilling burgers, you want to make sure you are using the right type of ground beef. The best type of ground beef for burgers is 80/20 ground chuck. This means that the beef is 80% lean and 20% fat. The fat is important, as it helps to keep the burger juicy.

If you are looking for a leaner burger, you can use 90/10 ground beef. However, these burgers will be less juicy and more likely to dry out. For the juiciest burgers, stick with 80/20 ground chuck.

However, the leaner burger is healthier. So, if you are looking for a healthier burger, go for the 90/10 ground beef. If you are a hunter or know one, you can also opt for deer or elk meat. These meats are very lean and are a great option for those looking for a healthy burger.

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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.

How Do I Get More Smoke From My Traeger

How to Make Burgers on Charcoal Grill | Weber Grills

If you’re wondering how to get more smoke from your Traeger, there are several options available to you. One of the easiest ways to increase the amount of smoke coming out of your smoker is to lower the temperature. If you cook at too high a temperature, you’ll be cooking at too low a temperature. As a result, your meat will cook unevenly and you won’t get the deep flavor and aroma of smoked meat you’ve been looking for.

The first option is to use low smoking temperatures during the first hour of cooking. This will ensure that your meat gets most of the nitrogen it needs, which is essential for a great smoke ring. You can also reduce the amount of fat on your meat and the temperature of the smoker itself. By doing so, you’ll have more control over the amount of smoke your meat produces, which is important for achieving the perfect smoke ring.

You can also cook longer at a lower temperature to enhance the smoke in your food. In doing so, you will give your meat more time to absorb the flavors of the smoke. You should also cover the drip tray with aluminum foil to make cleaning easier. Another option is to add wood chips to the smoker. Finally, try adding more hardwood pellets. But remember that the longer you cook, the more smoke you’ll get.

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Adding The Burgers To The Grill

Once the grill is preheated, it’s time to add the burgers. First, make sure that you oil the grates before adding the burgers. This will help to prevent sticking and ensure easy flipping.

To oil the grates, simply take a paper towel and dip it in your oil of choice. We recommend using olive oil or vegetable oil. Once the paper towel is saturated, hold it with tongs and rub it over the grates.

Now that the grates are oiled, it’s time to add the burgers. Gently place the burgers on the grill and close the lid.

Avoid smashing the burgers when you add them to the grill, as this will release all of the juices. Plus, it will make it difficult to flip the burgers.

Before You Go Items To Take Along

Before even thinking about going to the park remember youwont have the convenience of being able to run into the house to get somethingyou may have forgotten. You want to be ready for grilling burgers on a charcoalgrill at a park or anywhere else you may be going. So first here is a list ofitems you want to be sure to take with you.

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