How To Make Good Burgers On Grill

Grinding Your Own Burgers

The issues with bacteria and food safety driving the USDA to specify the safe doneness temperature of 160 degrees has to do with the grinding process itself.

Ground meat harbors more bacteria opportunity.

As well as when buying ground beef its not clear what cuts it is made from or how long it has been since it was ground.

If you grind your own burgers from a fresh piece of chuck you can bend the rules can consider grilling to a medium-rare temperature of 130-135 degrees or higher is you prefer it more well done.

As a rule of thumb, here are the cooking times for different doneness when cooking over high heat :

NOTE: these temperatures and times are shared for reference only. I do not recommend cooking burgers to a doneness temperature of less than 160 degrees F unless they have been freshly ground yourself.

• Rare : 4-5 minute total
• Medium-Rare : 6-7 minutes total
• Medium : 8-9 minutes total

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 .

Can You Bake Them In The Oven

When you bake hamburger patties, you must use high heat so an exterior crust forms. Set the oven to 450 degrees F and place a baking sheet in the oven so it gets hot like a griddle. Once hot, transfer the patties to the hot pan. If making thin patties, bake/roast for 2-3 minutes per side. If making thick patties, bake/roast for 5-6 minutes per side.

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Choose Your Bun Wisely

Buns come in all shapes, sizes, densities, and flavors. Make sure you’ve got the right one for the job at hand.

For smaller, thinner patties, like a good Shake Shackstyle griddled burger or small northern Jerseystyle sliders, soft, sturdy, and slightly sweet Martin’s potato rolls set the benchmark, although any soft, squishy, standard-issue supermarket bun will do.

A bigger, pub-style burger can overwhelm a soft bun with juices, soaking through and dissolving the base before the burger even hits your table. Toasting the bun can mitigate some of these effects, but for the most part, you’re better off selecting a sturdier roll, or, if you’ve got one nearby, a custom burger bun from an artisan bakery. Brioche has its adherents, but I prefer my buns to be a little more bland, so as not to compete with the flavor of the beef.

Do avoid anything with an overly chewy crumb or a tough crust, unless you want your burger to suffer from the dreaded backslide.

Grilling Burgers For Beginners

There are lots of little tidbits to keep in mind when you are making the best burgers. You will love how simple these grilled burgers come together!

• Resist The Temptation: Try not to press down on the burger while it cooks. This squeezes out all those lovely juices that are meant to be inside.
• Let it Rest: Let the hamburger rest for 5-10 minutes after grilling to redistribute the juices throughout the meat.
• Got Fire: If you get a flare up on your grill, cut off the oxygen to the flame by closing the lid. This should put it out. And have a glass of water on hand, just in case.
• Variations: There are many ways to vary your burger from the kind of meat you use, to the seasonings and the toppings. Once you feel you have the basics down good, experiment with flavors and textures. Keep in mind any time you change the meat, you will change the cook time, temperature, and seasonings. Besure to do your homework before working with different meats in your burgers so that you can still have the best, juiciest and most flavorful burger around.
• Toppings: Get creative with your tastebuds and try different toppings. Some ideas include grilled onions or mushrooms, pineapple and teriyaki sauce, pepper jack cheese and avocado spread. Melt blue cheese and top with bacon. The possibilities are endless. Let the grilling begin!

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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.

Amazing Grilled Beef Burgers

I love everything about summer. The pool parties, vacations, and of course the food! Fresh fruits and vegetables are everywhere and everyone is getting their grills out! Some of the best foods come from over the open flame. From shrimp, to corn and even fruit, grilling just makes heavenly food! These beef burgers are going to be a favorite addition to your grilling recipes.

Do not let grilling scare you, it is so easy and I have all the tips and tricks so you can make the BEST hamburgers Ever! These beef burgers will come out perfectly juicy, full of flavor and grilled to perfection. Everyone loves a good burger, but a grilled burger is epic, and it all starts here! So lets grill!

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Burger Time Chart: How To Tell That Burgers Are Done

One other way to check that a burger is medium-rare is to touch it gently to see if its slightly springy yet. But dont overdo this method, because again youll squeeze the juices out.

Definitely dont push down on the burger with a spatula or open it up to check. As mentioned above, this will make your grill or stovetop burgers dry.

If you have a meat thermometer, thats the most reliable way to test for doneness. Use these temperatures as a guide:

The USDA officially recommends at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit , but for juicy burgers I recommend medium. You make em how you like em!

What Ingredients You Need To Make Homemade Hamburgers

The secret to incredibly juicy burger patties is the addition of crushed crackers or breadcrumbs to hold in the natural fat and juices.

We definitely recommend using crackers if you have them. Adding crushed crackers is an old-school method to add more flavor than plain breadcrumbs. Plus, its super handy for using up that package of crackers youve had sitting in the pantry for weeks.

Here is everything you need to make the best homemade hamburger patties:

• Ground chuckWe prefer an 80 lean/20 fat ratio for the juiciest burgers.
• Crushed crackers or Panko bread crumbs The best binders for juicy hamburgers.
• Worcestershire sauce Adds a deep beefy, smoky flavor.
• Egg To bind all of the ingredients together without drying.
• MilkThe enzymes help to soften and tenderize the ground beef.
• Seasonings:Salt, Garlic Powder, Onion powder, Pepper, or other spices of choice.

Its helpful to save prep time and add lots of flavor to your patties by adding dried spices rather than fresh herbs to the hamburger mix. For instance, you can incorporate red pepper flakes for a spicier burger, a bit of cumin and chili powder for a Southwestern-inspired bite, or parsley and dill to create a Mediterranean taste.

Tell us your favorite hamburger seasonings in the comments below!

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How To Tell When A Burger Is Done

In the photo below, youre looking at somewhere between medium-well and well. We really like to shoot for medium. A great way to do this is to use a meat thermometer. Ive shared the temperature of burgers when they are rare, medium-rare, medium, medium-well, and well-done below.

• Rare: Red in the center, 120 degrees F and below
• Medium-Rare: Very Pink in the center, 130 degrees F
• Medium: Pink in the center, 140 degrees F
• Medium-Well: Grayish Pink in the center, 150 degrees F
• Well Done: Gray, No Pink in the center, 160 degrees F and above

Note: The USDA suggests cooking ground beef to 160 degrees F, this is well-done. Thats just too done for us, which gives even more reason to buy the highest quality meat you can.

Chill It Or Freeze It

Chill your burgers for at least an hour before you cook them, says senior food editor Barney. This will help them keep their shape when theyre cooking and stop them falling apart. You can also freeze them before cooking. Lay them on a tray in the freezer and once theyre frozen, pop them into freezer bags to save space. To defrost them, lay them back on the tray. Defrost throughly before cooking.

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How To Grill Hamburgers

• 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

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.

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Ideal Grilling Temperature For Burgers

Target around 400 to 450ºF inside the barbecue when covered, although the actual temperature of the grill grates will be much higher. Charcoal can easily get up to this range, so adjust the vents on your grill accordingly, open to increase the heat, and close to reduce the heat. Exposure to oxygen makes the coals burn faster and hotter.

If the coals are losing firepower, add more briquettes on top of the hot coals, this will take 15 minutes to turn grey and heat up so dont wait too long. Otherwise, you can start another chimney with new coals. For the gas grill, turn the burners to high, cover and let heat up for about 15 minutes.

How Do I Grind My Own Meat If I Don’t Have A Meat Grinder

You can come close using a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Choose the cut of meat you want chuck, round, brisket, short rib, sirloin and make sure it’s super cold. Cut it into 1-inch pieces. Add to the bowl of the food processor and pulse a few times to get chop into smaller pieces. Don’t process it too much or the meat will get mushy.

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Do Not Salt Beef Until Patties Are Formed

I repeat: Do not salt your beef until the patties are formed. Salt will dissolve muscle proteins, which subsequently cross-link, turning your burgers from moist and tender to sausage-like and springy. The effect is dramatic. Need proof? See it here.

The best time to season your burgers is within minutes of the time they’re gonna hit the grill or griddle. Salt starts affecting meatdissolving proteins, drawing out moisturethe moment it comes in contact with it, adversely affecting the exterior texture of your patties. And that’s not a good thing.

What Is A Smash Burger

Technically the smash burger is when the ground beef is pressed thinly onto a griddle on a high heat. The pressing flattens and speeds up the cooking process. After flipping once, cheese is placed on the burger, the burger is then covered to steam the smash burger and melt the cheese. It is then served on a bun with your favorite toppings.

The origin of the smash burger seems to tie back to Kentucky. But you can see this style of burger all over the US. Regardless of the restaurant chain, the method is very similar.

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Best Temp To Grill Burgers

The best way to tell when your burgers are done is by using an insta-read thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the burger from the side, making sure that the tip remains inside the burger.

• Rare temperature is 125 to 130 degrees F.
• Medium rare temperature is 130-140 degrees F.
• Medium well temperature is 140-150 degrees F.

Perfectly Grilled Beef Burgers

For years my husband made THE most perfectly grilled beef burgers he was the grillmaster and best burger maker and I never questioned it. If it meant I didnt have to cook, he can have at it.

Except that Ive become somewhat of a grillmaster myself this summer and Jason finally shared the recipe with me. And nowIm sharing it with you!

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Ideal Grilling Temperature For Beef Burgers

You want the grill at a medium-high heat, approx 400 to 450F for direct heat. Similar burger recipes suggest grilling burgers using a two-zone method. I personally feel that grilling these patties quickly over direct heat will get the job done and they will be delicious!

These burgers wont take too long to grill approx 5-7 minutes per side. Grilling times vary depending on the thickness of your burgers and your preferred doneness. Having a solid meat thermometer will help you know when your burgers are done.

How To Make The Best No Fuss Hamburger Less Is More

We love a good burger. So, we spent a few days and did a little research to figure out our favorite way to make the best hamburgers. There are no rules to making burgers. There are many approaches out there for how to make the best burger most of what we mention below can be used across them all.

It may sound crazy, but quality meat, salt, and pepper is all we add to our simple burger recipe.

Weve tried adding extras olive oil, cream, mustard, and grated onion to name a few. While we liked some, none were as good as simply seasoned burger patties cooked in a little butter. Just in case youre wondering what the extras did, heres a quick summary:

Olive oil didnt really add much and the texture went a little funny, they became a little grainy. Cream made the meat tender. We both really liked it, but not enough to specifically buy a whole carton of cream for a tablespoon . We loved the flavor of the mustard we used Dijon and the onion was too strong for us.

So, even though we did like a few of the additions, in the end we came full circle and simple won. Think about a great steak its most likely only been seasoned with salt and pepper. For us, hamburgers are the same.

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Using A Charcoal Vs Gas Grill

The charcoal vs gas grill debate is long and storied, and they both have their pros and cons. Gas grills heat up more quickly, and its easier to control the heat by turning a knob. On the downside, they tend to have hot spots, so youll need to move the burgers around the grill to make sure they all cook evenly. A charcoal grill can infuse more smoky flavor into your burgers, but it takes longer to heat up and learning how to adjust the vents to increase or decrease the heat is a process.

In the end, any type of grill will make a delicious burger, so use the one youre most comfortable with.