How To Prepare Burgers For The Grill

How Long Do You Grill Burgers On Each Side

How to Grill Burgers – Weber Grill Knowledge

Start with 2-3 minutes on the first side, then flip. To get the desired doneness, use a meat thermometer and this handy chart:

Doneness
Well done 155 degrees F

Keep in mind that the USDA recommends cooking ground meat to 160° F. Unfortunately, that also means a very well-done burger!

Please use your best judgment when cooking.

How Long Should Burgers Be Grilled

That depends on how you like them done. The United States Department of Agriculture safe internal cooking temperature for ground beef is 160 degrees. That means its well done. And the cooking time will depend on the thickness of the burger but generally at least 5 minutes per side. If you like it at less done than that and depending on the thickness, figure about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare or 130-135 degrees and 150-155 degrees for medium-well.

Here are a few recipes to help you out:

Whats The Best Way To Grill

Burgers like high heat. This helps form that exterior crust. Cook them on the non-dimpled side first over direct heat. Once a crust develops, flip them over and cook on the other side. Do not press down on the burger. When you do this, youre beating up that poor burger and pressing all the juices out.

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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!

Grilling Basics: Building A Better Burger

How Long To Cook Burgers On Gas Grill For Medium

Armed with a spatula in one hand and a cold beer in the other, theres no better way to celebrate summer than by hosting a cookout with friends. Whether on a beach in sunny California or at a backyard BBQ in North Carolina, I love entertaining around a fully loaded grill. Theres just something primal and manly about watching raw meat roasting over an open flame.

Of course, a cookout is never truly a cookout without our beloved hamburger. Yet, for all of its simplicity, its one of those food items that can often fall flat. You know what Im talking about: From the burgers that resemble hockey pucks, to those that taste like lighter fluid, to the balls of meat that have you two bites into the bun thinking: Wheres the beef?

Since weve been spending the past few months covering kitchen fundamentals, and with the Fourth of July approaching, I figured it was a good time to provide my best tips and techniques for building a better burger. Of course, I realize this is a touchy subject. Giving an end-all-be-all recipe for a grilled hamburger is akin to telling a Southerner how to BBQ or a Midwesterner how to prepare Brats.

In other words, Im approaching this subject with humility.

Moving onwhat makes a great burger? Im glad you asked. Since we men love seeing things clearly, Ive outlined some of the key bullet points that will make you the king of your next summer cookout.

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Every Item On This Page Was Chosen By A Woman’s Day

Jake linzinmier, owner and executive chef of chair. The 80/20 ground beef you would buy in Basic how to grill the best burgers / easiest way to prepare delicious how to grill the best burgers. These are some of our best tips and tricks that we hope will make you a burger grill master! Apr 30, 2021 · prepare the patties. Jun 24, 2018 · ground beef with an 80/20 mix is the best for grilled burgersthis means a mix 80 percent lean beef and 20 percent fat. Ground beef with 20 to 25% fat is just about perfect, so look for an 80/20 blend.

There’s nothing like grilling out an amazing meal. Season the patties on both sides Ground beef with 20 to 25% fat is just about perfect, so look for an 80/20 blend. Jun 23, 2016 · when the grill and griddle are hot, place the burgers on the griddle and cook, covered, until the meat is no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes, turning once halfway through grilling time. Every item on this page was chosen by a woman’s day. Apr 30, 2021 · prepare the patties. Form patties 4 to 5 inches across and 1 inch thick. Nov 16, 2016 · preheat a grill to medium high.

How To Grill The Best Burgers – How to Cook How To Grill The Best Burgers. This summer, think outside the bun. There’s nothing like grilling out an amazing meal. The 80/20 ground beef you would buy in Nov 16, 2016 · preheat a grill to medium high. Apr 30, 2021 · prepare the patties.

What Are Cowboy Burgers

Cowboy Burgers are beef hamburgers made with:

  • Barbecue Sauce
  • Fried Onions, or onion rings
  • Bacon
  • Cheese, usually Cheddar, Colby, or Monterey Jack.
  • A Spicy Component. This could be spicy cheese, jalapenos or green chilies in or on the meat patties, or even a spicy sauce.

These ingredients are almost always present in Cowboy Burgers, but often prepared in different ways.

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Free: 5 Secrets To Fast Healthy Dinners

Happy grilling season! I cant believe Independence Day is in just a couple of weeks. Summer is flying by. One of my favorite ways to enjoy it is with a good barbecue. Especially when juicy burgers are involved! And even though I love these juicy hamburgers on the grill right now, you can make them as stovetop burgers all year round, too.

Ill show you how to make burgers on the stove and on the grill, so you can decide how you want to do it. The stovetop burger method means you can do this anytime of year!

But for right now in the middle of summer, fire up the grill, get a round of drinks going, and engage in some deep conversation as the breeze blows through your hair. Or chase your little girl running around in circles in the grass. Thats my kind of summer afternoon. This year well be up north for a wedding for the fourth, but we still plan to grill many times before that and after.

Want Sultry Smokier Burgers

How to Cook Burgers on the Lodge Sportsman’s Grill

McKee-Clark adds, Gas and propane grills take all the guesswork out for you since you can precisely control temperature. Charcoal grills are much harder to maintain a specific temperature, but oh boy, is it worth it to get that sweet, sweet smokey flavor!

For charcoal grilling, definitely use that meat thermometer.

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What Meat To Use For Your Patties

Any grill master will tell you that no matter how much you season a burger, it will never taste the same if youve skipped the most important part the meat. Many people overlook the ground beef needed for a delicious burger thinking most meat types will taste the same. Unfortunately, that isnt true at all. To have your burger juicy and full of flavors, you need to skip the ground beef patty blends that are extra-lean and clean of any fats. Instead, look for the ones with higher fat content. These will cook easier, will form a patty better, and will ultimately taste miles better.

To achieve a higher fat content, you will need to mix your ground beef with fat. The ideal proportion is typically around 80/20 for the ground beef. At the supermarket, the 80/20 ground beef is ground chuck which is more than good enough for burgers. Avoid buying sirloin as it has a 90/10 ratio and tends to dry out when cooked over higher heat settings. Remember, fat will help the patty stick together, so the higher the better, but dont overdo it.

Now, these were the fundamentals to buying beef. However, there is another aspect to all that the price. My best advice is to try to avoid all the cheap options and go for as good of ground beef you can afford. Grass-fed beef will have a more meaty flavor while grain-fed beef will be sweeter and richer in its taste.

On Grill Smoking Grilled Burgers

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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Flip Don’t Press Your Burgers

Once you put those patties on the grill, dont press them down. Pressing forces the fat and flavor out the burgers, which results in dry, bland patties.

However, feel free to frequently flip your burgers. Raichlen once believed it was best to let the burger be and only flip once during cooking, but he has since changed his tune and sites research that says it frequent flipping cooks a burger more evenly.

Choose Your Ground Meat

10 mistakes to avoid while grilling burger patties ...

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!

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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.

How To Grill Hamburgers On A Charcoal Grill

Smoky, juicy, and flavorful these are some of the things that make the perfect burger. Unfortunately, not every burger ends up being that way. That said, if you want to learn how to grill hamburgers on a charcoal grill, keep on reading and learn from the insights well share.

From using the best charcoal grill to executing the proper grilling techniques, pay attention to the tips well talk about in this article.

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Tools To Make Perfect Burgers

Tap the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.

How To Grill Burgers

How to Make Perfect Charcoal Grilled Burgers

It’s so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for the details. Here are the basic steps:

Season the beef. Mix a pound of lean ground beef with salt, pepper, and spices.

Shape into patties. Divide into four parts and form them into patties.

Cook the burgers. At this point, you can either grill them right away, or refrigerate them for a few hours until ready to grill.

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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 .

How To Cook Burgers In The Oven

  • Thaw ground beef, pre-made beef patties or Steakburgers.
  • Bring the meat to room temperature. Remove ground beef or Steakburgers from the refrigerator 30-40 minutes before cooking.
  • Form beef into patties if needed and season burgers as desired we recommend Kansas City Steak Original Steak Seasoning.
  • Set oven for broil and preheat 10 minutes.
  • Place burgers on the rack of a broiler pan. Position broiler pan in oven so that the surface of the beef is 3 to 4 inches from the heat. For well done burgers, broil for approximately 6-8 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
  • Rest your burgers for 5 minutes before serving, covering lightly with foil. The temperature of the meat will continue to rise about 5°F during this time . For well-done burgers, the final temperature will read 165°F.
  • Resting burgers is also important because the heat of cooking pulls the juices in the meat toward the surface if you slice into it immediately after cooking, those flavorful juices will end up on your plate, not in your burger. Allowing your burger to rest will give the juices time to sink back in and throughout the meat, keeping it moist and flavorful.

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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.

Elevate Your Sauce Game

The best way to cook burgers is not on a grill

A good sauce brings the entire meal together, but instead of using a typical bottle of ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise, make a creamy and tangy combination. A mix of ketchup, mayonnaise, honey, relish, salt, and apple cider vinegar. This is our familys secret sauce and it dramatically elevates these juicy beef burgers to gourmet levels.

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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 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.

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