Heat Up Your Grill Quickly
You need to allow a little more time when working with a charcoal grill. Thats where learning how to work your vents comes in.
The more air there is, the hotter the fire, explains Jeanette Kimszal, RDN, of The Radiant Root. Be sure to open the vents on the grill to keep the air flowing into the fire.
Most charcoal grills contain a bottom vent and a top vent, Haas adds.
He explains that the bottom one is the vent that controls most of the airflow, so he keeps his bottom vent fully open and the top vent half open when I want my grill to heat up quickly.
Best Beef For Hamburgers
Lets talk about the best kind of beef for burgers. My favorite kind of ground beef is organic grass fed beef, because its sustainable and it has the most flavor.
Theres nothing like grass fed beef burgers. Theyre juicy, flavorful, and worth the extra money. Costco happens to sell grass fed beef in a 3 pack, which is the most cost effective way to purchase it.
I personally love the grass fed beef from Butcher Box. This is an affiliate link as Im part of their affiliate program, because I love their sustainable, organic meat!
Every great burger needs some fat content, as the fat is what makes them tender and juicy. I normally use the 80/20 ratio of 80% lean ground beef and 20% fat, and the burgers are perfect every time.
How To Form Burgers
There is definitely a method to shaping the perfect burger. In my opinion, simple is better. Let the flavor of the meat speak for itself. Here is what I recommend.
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Mistake #: Testing For Doneness On A Timer
You should invest in a good instant-read thermometer. Not only will you feel like a pro as you wield it, but itll give you more confidence as you cook. Heres our rule: Use a timer for guidance, and a thermometer for a final check.
Grill the burgers for 5 to 6 minutes on each side. Then take the temperature. Use tongs to hold the burger while inserting the metal spear of the thermometer horizontally through the patty. Make sure the thermometer is positioned in the center. Beef, pork and lamb burgers should reach 160°F, while chicken or turkey burgers should be cooked to 165°.
Next time you set out to make the best grilled burger, avoid these blundersand these grilling safety mistakesand youll be the hero of your next holiday cookout or backyard barbecue. Just remember to take a break from the heat and sneak in a round or two of cornhole!
Finally How Long To Grill Turkey Burgers
Place your turkey burgers on a cooler part of the grill and have your trusty meat thermometer close at hand, recommends McKee-Clark.
165° F is the safe temperature for eating turkey, and this is no place for medium-rare. You want to pull those bad boys off at 164.99° F, as right on the money to 165° F as you can get theyll continue to cook and rise in temperature by about 5° F as they rest, she adds.
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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. You ll need more charcoal on cold, windy or rainy days.
Mistake #: Relying On Pre
Picking up a bag of pre-made burger patties at the grocery store is definitely tempting, especially if youre pressed for time. But the best results start with the freshest possible meat. Youll also have more control over the type and fat content of your meat .
Its ridiculously simple to make burger patties from scratchheres our guide to easy homemade burgers.
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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°
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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How Long Does It Take To Cook And How Do You Know Its Ready
Hopefully, your charcoal has a built-in thermostat. For cooking turkey burgers, the charcoal grill should have a reading between 400-450. When cooking burgers, your Kingsford Charcoal should be in a horseshoe shape or all on one side so you can cook the burgers using indirect heat. This means you cook the burgers using the conductive heat stored inside the grate instead of placing the burgers directly over the flame or heat.
Pro-tip: Before placing the burgers on the grill, make sure the grill is well-oiled with a high smoke point oil like canola or vegetable oil brush the area where you will be placing the burgers. Place your turkey burgers away from the coals and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, then flip the burgers over and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes. Use an instant-read thermometer the internal temperature of the turkey burgers should read 160 degrees.
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 1/3-pound each.
Use your hands to gently press the burgers into flat patties of an even thickness about 1/2-inch larger than the buns you plan to use. Try not to overwork the meat, but its okay to squeeze it together a bit around the edges so the burger doesnt 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.
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How Long To Grill Frozen Burgers
Depending on the size of your patties you may need to be cooking them for 20-45 minutes from frozen. The most important thing is to flip them every 3-5 minutes to help them cook evenly, and only take them off once theyve reached at least 160°F. You can absolutely repeat this process for any ground meat pattie, whether its a chicken, beef, lamb, or turkey burger.
What To Do If The Weather Really Wont Cooperate
We personally prefer burgers that are grilled outside, but sometimes thats just not possible when the weather is bad. In that case, you can always make your burgers indoors in a cast iron skillet on the stovetop.
Just drizzle a little olive oil into a heavy duty pan set over high heat, then sear like the burgers by placing them in the pan and leaving them alone! Treat them like you would any good steak and dont move them around for at least 3-5 minutes so they can develop a nice crust on one side before flipping and cooking on the other side, just like on the grill.
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Its Summer Time To Fire Up That Grill
You dont have to be a burger connoisseur to truly appreciate a properly cooked, tantalizingly juicy burger. But most people seem to agree that homemade burgers are so different from fast food burgers that they are practically a different thing entirely.
When I was a kid learning how to grill, I LOVED to press our burgers with the flat back of the spatula. But the sizzle you hear as you see juices running down the sides of the burger into the flames below isnt worth it! Leave the juices inside the burger and enjoy them with your tastebuds. Its much more satisfying.
In this post Im sharing all my tips, tricks, and knowledge for making the best burgers ever on your backyard grill, whether you use charcoal or gas! If you are one of those people who dont want to read a whole post full of tips and tricks, here are the three biggest takeaways, then you can just jump to the recipe and get to work.
- Dont overhandle the meat
- Flip the burgers just once
- Never press on the burgers with a spatula while they are grilling
For more detail and info on the WHY behind each of these tips, keep reading!
Brie Burger With Caramelized Onions And Spicy Mayo
Brace yourself: this burger is a tasty keeper. The creamy and rich tasting brie meets a spicy mayo.
Serves: 4 / Prep time: 15 minutes / Total time: 35 minutes
1 to 1¼ pounds 90% lean ground sirloin or ground beef of choice
1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons white wine, optional
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 jumbo onion, peeled, sliced into ¼-inch slices
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
cup reduced-fat or regular mayonnaise
3 ounces brie cut into 8 slices
4 thin sandwich buns or bun of choice
4 pieces green leaf lettuce
4 slices tomato
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, bread crumbs, wine, salt and pepper. Shape into four equal-size patties about ½-inch thick, making an indentation in the center of the patty set aside.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion slices, sprinkle with salt and pepper and sauté about 15 minutes or until just beginning to brown. Sprinkle with brown sugar and continue to cook until the onions become deep brown in color, about 15 minutes more. Set aside.
In a small bowl, mix together the sweet chili sauce and mayonnaise set aside.
Cook’s note: Look for sweet chili sauce near the Asian ingredients in most grocery stores. You can also use it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls or egg rolls.
From and tested by Susan Selasky for the Free Press Test Kitchen.
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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!
What To Add To The Ground Beef To Make It Stick Together
Ive seen the question what should be added to the ground beef to make the burger stick together?
The answer is NOTHING! Unlike something like meatloaf or meatballs that require a binder like bread crumbs to stick together, good quality ground beef with the fat content mentioned handled well is all that is need for a perfect grilled burger!
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Wondering How To Grill Burgers So They Turn Out Full
Grilled burgers are the perfect food for a quick-and-easy weeknight dinner with the familyand the perfect addition to any backyard barbecue. You might find yourself tempted to pick up a frozen package of burgers at the store to pull it off. It turns out its just as easy to learn how to make hamburgers from scratch. Making your own patties is a good way to ensure your burgers will turn out juicy.
Season And Mix Burgers
For grilled burgers made with higher fat ground beef, simply add seasoning and work it in with your hands.
Be very careful not to overdo the mixing since it can result in a burger that crumbles and falls apart when eaten. Less is more here.
Common seasonings for grilled burgers include:
- Salt
- Garlic or onion powder
- Dried herbs
If you chose to go the leaner route with 93/7 ground beef or turkey, McKee Clark recommends a few additional add-ins:
Add an egg for binding and moisture. Then, add ¼ cup reduced-fat shredded mozzarella along with 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce and other spices of your choice.
Consider adding a few tablespoons of breadcrumbs to keep the burger from falling apart. This will make the burger of your dreams. One that you wont feel bad while eating, she adds.
For more tips, check out How to Make a Healthier Burger.
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How To Prepare The Grill For Grilling Turkey Burgers
I like using a chimney stack.
Ive been a Kingsford Charcoal guy for a long time, my dad and uncles used Kingsford, and it worked just fine for them. And guess what? It works fine for me too.
Grilled Turkey Burger with olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, and onion
Cooking Burgers On Charcoal Grills
Cooking Burgers on a charcoal grill uses a very hot and dry heat to cook the meat quickly. This is why a charcoal grill produces Burgers that have a thicker charred crust compared to the thin charred crust found on Burgers that come from a flat top grill. The process of using charcoal as a source of heat adds flavor to the Burger, but the cooking process is not precise.
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How To Grill Burgers On A Charcoal Grill
Posted by Bob | Jun 6, 2020 | How To Videos | 0 |
Its all about the zone! Whether you prefer charcoal or propane, always place cold burgers on a hot grill. Be sure to have a hot zone and a cooler zone so all burgers reach the perfect temperature.Try new burger flavor combinations! Get the best burger recipes here: https://www.certifiedangusbeef.com/recipes/pageview.aspx?tab=1& sid=3& ob=2& catid=17& find=
#grilling #beef #CertifiedAngusBeef
Best Meat For Burgers
The long and winding road to burger glory begins way before its time to fire up the grill. The most important part of crafting the perfect hamburger is actually making sure youve got the right meat to get the job done.
When youre using a recipe to make a burger, youll normally be asked to use ground beef but if you see anything in the store thats simply labelled ground beef, its normally just code for some random collection of cuts that have all been mushed together.
We recommend you go with one of three more identifiable and consistent specific types of ground beef.
Your burger will only be as good as the meat that you choose, so choose wisely. Lean beef makes for dry burgers.
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