How To Cook Burgers On The Grill

Should You Press Down On Your Burger While Grilling

How to Grill Burgers on a Charcoal Grill

No! Please, dont make this common burger mistake. Pressing down on the patty with a spatula squeezes out all those tasty juices. We worked so hard to not overmix the beef and to keep the fat as cold as possible before we grilled the patties. Dont let it go to waste by sacrificing the juices to speed up the cooking time.

Can You Use A Cast Iron Skillet On The Grill

Cast iron is a great heat-holder on the stove, but can you use a cast-iron skillet on the grill? In a word, yes. Putting a cast iron skillet on the grill grates is no different than using it on the stove. This can be a good alternative if you arent cooking a lot of burgers and you want that nice grilled flavor.

If you do have a lot of burgers, consider using a cast irongriddle so you have a bigger cooking surface. Cast iron has a high heattolerance and that is why it is used so much for searing meats. Because you maystruggle with varying temperatures on your grill, using cast iron is a goodalternative.

Cast iron absorbs and distributes heat evenly throughout the pan so it can help with a more even cook. If you want that grilled flavor on your gas grill, but dont want to lose the fat that is giving the burgers the juiciness, use a cast-iron skillet on the grill.

There is nothing special you have to do when using theskillet or griddle. Just heat up the grill as you would normally. Once heated,put the skillet on the grill for about 10 minutes, just as you would on thestove, to preheat it.

Do be careful when handling as cast iron gets very hot andretains the heat for a long time. Before handling once your cooking isfinished, just let it cool down to be safe.

Should You Let Burgers Rest After Grilling

For the juiciest burger, let the patties rest for at least five minutes before serving. The meat experiences carryover cooking during this time, where the internal temperature can rise as much as five degrees. If youre worried about the burgers cooling off, feel free to tent a piece of aluminum foil over the top to keep the heat in.

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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:

  • Turn the propane on, then ignite the burners to high heat. Brush the grates with a grill brush if necessary.
  • Close the lid and heat the grill until it reaches about 400 degrees F.
  • Reduce the heat to medium high, or about 375 degrees, and place the burgers on the grill.
  • Close the lid and cook until the burgers reach the desired doneness.
  • 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.

    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

    The Secret To Grilling Perfect Burgers That No One Tells ...

    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 .

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    Temperature For Grilling Hamburgers

    Making sure the grill is hot, and allowing your grill to preheat is CRUCIAL.

    For grilling burgers, you should set the grill to the highest setting. Depending on the grill model, there may be a “High” setting or your grill may have the ability to set exactly to 500 degrees.

    One of the benefits of grilling on a wood pellet grill is that you can get wood-fired flavor on your grilled burgers. For smoked burgers, set the temperature to 225 degrees Fahrenheit or to Smoke or Super Smoke depending on the grill you have for 25-30 minutes. Once youve smoked your patties, take the burgers off the grill and preheat your Traeger to the highest setting before grilling. This will help you get the perfect sear on the outside, create a caramelized, flavorful exterior, and prevent the burger from sticking to the grill.

    Is It Better To Cook Burgers In The Oven Or On The Stove

    Its up to your personal preference! Baked burgers are a great, nearly hands-off cooking method that wont fill your kitchen with the smell of frying beef.

    Pan-fried burgers, on the other hand, have the benefit of a tasty sear from the cast-iron skillet. And, if its hot out, cooking burgers on the stove-top wont heat your house as baking burgers will.

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    How Long Do You Cook Burgers On A Gas Grill

    The length of time in how to cook burgers on a gas grill will vary according to your grill. But a rule of thumb is 3 to 5 minutes on each side depending on the thickness of the patty. Of course, if you have a thinner patty or even if you are using a frozen patty you will have to adjust your cooking time.

    Place the burgers on the high heat part of the grill so youcan get that sear going. Leave the burgers until you are ready to turn. Onceseared on both sides, then move the burgers to the lower heat to complete thecooking process.

    Charcoal Grilling Vs Gas Grilling

    How To Grill Burgers | Weber Grills

    One big difference is that charcoal produces more smoke from the combustion of organic molecules which yields a more diverse range of flavor molecules. Gas creates carbon dioxide and water which has no flavor. Youll notice a lot of smoke generated as the fat drippings from the meat hit the hot coals below. This adds that characteristic barbecue taste and this gets even more concentrated when cooking foods like ribs for a longer period of time.

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    Tips To Grill Burgers Like A Pro

    Warmer weather is becoming more consistent, and the days are lasting longer and longer, which can only mean one thing: Summer is coming. There are countless nostalgic themes we fondly reminisce on when we think of summertime, but one thats near the top of the list is seeing rows of steaming hot burger patties, roasting side-by-side on the grill in the middle of a warm afternoon. And when a burger’s done right, you know it the smoky, char-grilled outside and the juicy inside, all barely contained within a chewy, toasty bun.

    We know its Memorial Day weekend and were sure youre chomping at the bit to fire up the grill, but we also dont want you to forget about National Hamburger Day on Friday, May 28! And what better way to get the holiday weekend started and spark up the good vibes, than with delicious burgers for everyone to enjoy?

    However, we know theres more to grilling burgers than just slapping them on the grill, so we compiled our top 7 tips to help turn you into a burger grilling pro just in time for the holiday weekend!

    How To Grill Burgers

    Learn how to grill burgers perfectly every single time with my handy tips! Tips include hamburger grill time, the best beef for burgers, and burger temperature.

    Grilling season is the very best season. Truthfully, I grill year round, so its always grilling season for me.

    Im the most comfortable in front of my grill. Its always relaxing, and I love being outside, unless the temps are freezing.

    In my opinion, food is always better when its grilled. The grill marks are appetizing, you cant beat the smoky flavor, and the biggest bonus is that there are less dishes to wash!

    My life changed when I learned how to grill, and now I grill everything from chicken, steak, vegetables of all kinds, and of course, hamburgers.

    Theres nothing better to me than a classic, all-American burger. This grilled hamburger could be considered an In-n-Out Burger copycat as its slathered with homemade Thousand Island sauce and topped with classic toppings.

    As much as I love In-n-Out burgers, homemade is always best.

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    The Conclusion To How To Cook Burgers On A Gas Grill

    You should have some great burger cookouts if you follow the steps we have outlined on how to cook burgers on a gas grill. For the burger buns you can toast these on the grill when cooking the burgers be sure to lightly oil or butter first, and if you love grilled onions, add some slices to the grill too. These dont take long at all and make great toppings for your burgers.

    You might even want to try grilling tomato slices or anyother topping you want to have that great grill flavor. And absolutely dontforget the cheese!!!

    Let us know if you have your own methods of grilling burgerson a gas grill. We love to hear your ideas.

    Season The Burgers Well

    The Best Way to Cook Burgers

    This might be divisive, but I recommend only seasoning the OUTSIDE of the meat, rather than mixing the seasoning into the meat. It helps the meat develop a flavorful crust and you still get the flavor in every bite. This approach also helps avoid overworking the meat.

    A generous sprinkle of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper on both sides of the burger makes a world of difference. Those larger kosher salt crystals do a much better job of drawing the moisture out of a burger, resulting in a juicier burger with better flavor than one seasoned with regular table salt. Even if this is all you do to your burgers, you will be amazed at what a difference you see in the final result.

    You can also use your favorite burger seasonings or rubs from other recipes. Cajun seasoning, BBQ rubs, Montreal steak seasoning, and other blends can all make for excellent burgers. I tend to like spice blends with a little garlic in them, but be sure to watch out for rubs or spice blends with a lot of salt in them. You may need to adjust your base seasoning of salt and pepper for this by using a little bit less.

    Season the meat before putting it on the grill and try to sprinkle the salt and pepper from at least 10 inches above the burger patties for more even coverage.

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    When To Toast The Buns

    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 Do I Need To Grill

    Please remember this is a guide, all grills are different and all burgers vary in size and thickness. The key to testing the doneness of a burger is measuring the internal temperature with an Instant Read thermometer. Place patties on the grill over direct heat. Cook to your desired doneness:

    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

    Flip burgers only once during cooking process. Do NOT press down on the patties at any time.

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    Choose Your Ground Meat

    For juicy grilled burgers that are not too dry, choose ground beef with a higher fat content of around 10% 20%.

    At the grocery store, youll see these numbers like 80/20 or 90/10, which means the meat is 80% lean to 20% fat or 90% lean to 10% fat, respectively.

    Of course, we know that might be more fat than youre willing to eat.

    Says Holly McKee-Clark, culinary specialist for Beachbody, A 93% lean fat ground beef ratio will result in tasty burgers, but not so fatty that you cant enjoy one every once in a while. The key to juicy but lean burgers is really in the mix-ins.

    Dont worry. Well get to that in the next step!

    Check The Internal Temperature Of The Burgers

    How To Grill The Perfect Burger. Grilling Tricks That Will Change How You Cook Forever!

    Foreman grills include a spatula with which to transfer the burgers to a plate lined with paper towels instead of the plate where you placed the raw meat. Check each burger using a thermometer. Re-grill the patties if necessary until the internal temperature is 160°F.

    You may want to cook your burgers to 145 degrees if you prefer them medium rare and are using fresh beef from a reliable source. To be safe, always cook ground beef until it reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit, which is considered medium doneness. Turn off your grill when you are done cooking the patties.

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    Which One Is Best For Cooking Hamburgers

    While there is a fair amount of debate, it can be argued that griddles really are best for hamburgers. And, if you arent sure about this answer, just think about why restaurant burgers taste so much better than your homemade ones it isnt because of the recipe.

    Instead, it is because most restaurants cook their hamburgers on large, flat griddles. When griddles are heated, they maintain a consistent temperature throughout the flat surface. Thus, each side of the hamburger forms a nice crust, which adds both flavor and crunch.

    This isnt possible with grills. Only the portions that touch the grill will have the sear marks. As you will have experienced, this doesnt really have the same impact. With grills, you also have to be aware of the possibility of flare-ups if using an outdoor grill.

    When grease drips onto the fire below, flames shoot up, searing the exterior of the meat. As such, you can end up with burnt bits, even though the middle portion of the hamburger isnt cooked all the way through.

    Another advantage is that griddles allow the fats and liquids from the patty to settle in the pan. Thus, you dont run the risk of the meat drying out while it is cooking. This results in a juicy hamburger each and every time. At the same time, these juices hold some incredible flavor. Thus, your hamburger will be a great deal tastier too.

    How To Grill Burgers 8 Keys To Pro Success

    You may be surprised that many grilling tactics, like pressing the burger down, are the WRONG way to get the perfect grilled burger. Following these simple steps will have you grilling burgers like a pro!

  • Not the time to cut the fat: Fat is actually a major component in adding flavor to burgers. With our current day fat consciousness, Im here to advise when grilling burgers dont cut the fat. I typically use 85% lean grass-fed ground beef. I also use double ground beef, which ensures a better mix of the fat uniformly into the meat.
  • Prepare burger patties and chill them. Making the burger patties early and refrigerating them allows them to better stay intact while grilling. Dont overhandle them which can compress the meat and start to melt the fat. You can even run your hands under cold water before making the patties on a hot day.
  • Stick Your Thumb in It. Pressing your thumb into the center of the prepared burger to make a divot will keep it from bulging as it grills. It keeps the burgers nice and flat.
  • Brush burgers with olive oil before grilling. This might sound excessive but it ensures the burgers wont stick on the grill and will take on a nice sear, sealing the juices inside.
  • NEVER push on a burger when grilling! For some reason it is commonplace as a burger grills to push down on it with a grilling spatula. DONT! This only squeezes out flavorful juices that keep the burger moist.
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    How Do You Make A Burger Patty

    You dont have to invest in buying an already made patty in making your home-cooked burger. Making your burger patty is relatively easy all you need is the right meat and other assortments. To make a burger patty, do the following:

    • Gently take out a small handful of ground meat and hold on your hands.
    • Divide the ground into exact proportions and pack them in a loose ball of meat .
    • Drop this loose ball of ground meat 10-12 inches on a clean surface, flip it, and drop on the other side.
    • Use your hands to gently flatten the balls to 4-inch wide and 3/4 inch thick patties.
    • Make an indentation on the patty .
    • Once you are done, sprinkle the sides with salt and pepper, heat the patty on a grill to your desired temperature.

    Choose The Right Meat

    ground beef burger patties on grill uncooked

    When it comes to beef burgers, you want a meat that isn’t too lean so the burgers will have the best flavor and stay juicy. While I prefer lean ground beef for other recipes, when making burgers my preference is 80/20, or 85/15 at the most. Freshly ground beef is best. You can even ask the butcher at the store to grind the meat fresh for you, or do it at home using a meat grinder and using sirloin, chuck, and/or brisket, which all have good flavor and a good fat to meat ratio.

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