Craving a juicy, delicious burger but unsure how to achieve grilling perfection? Worry no more! This guide combines insights from two renowned culinary sources, Bon Appétit and The Cookie Rookie, to provide you with the ultimate roadmap for mastering the art of burger cookery.
Choosing the Right Meat:
- Ground chuck: An excellent all-purpose choice available at most supermarkets. Opt for 80% lean and 20% fat for optimal juiciness.
- Custom blends: Ask your butcher to grind chuck with short ribs or brisket for a bespoke experience.
- Alternative options: Consider chicken, turkey, salmon, or even black bean and quinoa patties for vegetarian alternatives. Ensure poultry and seafood are cooked thoroughly.
Shaping the Patties:
- Aim for a thickness of ¾” to 1″ and a diameter of 3″ to 4″.
- Create a small dimple in the center to prevent puffing and ensure an even cook.
- Work gently and avoid overcompressing the meat.
Seasoning:
- Keep it simple with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Season the patties right before grilling, not beforehand, to prevent toughening.
Grilling Techniques:
- Preheat your gas grill to high or prepare a charcoal grill for direct heat.
- Clean the grill grates and lightly oil them to prevent sticking.
- Use the timing suggestions below as a guideline, adjusting based on your grill temperature and patty size.
Cooking Times:
- Medium-rare: 6–7 minutes total
- Medium: 7–8 minutes total
- Medium-well: 9 minutes total
- Well-done: 10 minutes total
Internal Temperature:
- Medium-rare: 130°–135°F
- Medium: 140°–145°F
- Medium-well: 150°–155°F
- Well-done: 160°F
Tips for Success:
- Flip the patties only once, halfway through the cook time.
- Avoid pressing down on the patties, as this can cause flare-ups and dry burgers.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure accurate internal temperature.
Building the Perfect Burger:
- Add cheese once you flip the burgers and cover the grill for the last minute of cooking.
- Toast the buns on the grill for added flavor and texture.
- Create a special burger sauce with your favorite condiments.
Stovetop Cooking:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook the patties for 3-4 minutes per side for medium-rare, 4-5 minutes for medium, and 5 minutes for well-done.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure proper internal temperature.
Additional Tips:
- Let the burgers rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute.
- Experiment with different toppings and sauces to create your own signature burger.
- Enjoy your perfectly cooked burger!
By following these guidelines and incorporating the valuable insights from Bon Appétit and The Cookie Rookie, you’ll be well on your way to grilling or cooking the most delicious and satisfying burgers imaginable. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to experiment and find your own burger-making rhythm. Bon appétit!
How to season burgers
Large burgers should have big flavors, but you don’t have to overdo the seasoning. Sautéed onions are simply unnecessary when using premium meat for the patties; the same is true for raw onions. Additional ingredients to discard include the egg, bread crumbs, taco seasoning, cumin, and garlic powder. Its not a meatloaf, people!.
Two seasonings you should incorporate: salt and pepper. However, avoid combining these seasonings with the burger meat because adding salt to ground beef too soon can cause it to become tough. Instead, just before you want to put the patties on the grill, season them generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper after they’ve been shaped.
Choose the best burger meat
For burger recipes, ground chuck is a great all-purpose, readily available ingredient. Whatever you do, try to find a beef with a fat percentage of 2020. The secret to the ideal burger—one that is juicy without being greasy—is that 80/20 ratio. Want to try a custom blend? Go for it. To live your most customized life, ask your butcher to grind part chuck with short ribs or brisket.
If you’re not in the mood for grilling beef patties, there are tons of other options you could try, like turkey, chicken, or even salmon burgers! You could also try dark meat poultry, fatty fish, ground pork, or lamb shoulder (or black beans and quinoa if you’re craving a veggie burger). Keep in mind that the chicken or seafood patties need to be cooked all the way through. It’s not a good look to have a chicken or fish burger medium-rare. If not, these should follow the guidelines below just like any other beef burger.
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FAQ
What is the best method for cooking burgers?
Is it better to cook burgers in the oven or pan?
Is it better to cook burgers on stove or grill?
How do you cook a burger in a skillet?
Cooking hamburgers in a skillet may be the simplest method around, and it’s a delicious one, too; the burgers will cook in their own rendered fat, yielding juicy, flavorful meat. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, carefully lay the seasoned patties in the skillet, leaving space between each one.
How to make a healthy burger?
There are different ways to make a healthy burger. Traditional bread can be replaced by wholemeal bread or skillet bread rich in fiber or other similar preparations. The sauce used can be a homemade avocado sauce or beet hummus for example. Meat can be prepared at home with ground beef and natural seasonings or you can use shredded chicken breast or canned tuna. Lettuce, tomato and onion are also welcome and a healthy burger.
How do you cook a burger on the other side?
Quickly slide a spatula under the burgers and flip to the other side. You should see a dark brown sear on the underside — if not, increase your heat next time. Season the other side generously with salt and pepper, and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes to your preferred doneness.
How long do you cook burgers in a pan?
Add a pat of butter to the pan and swirl until it’s well coated; this will keep the patties from sticking and give them a nice sear. Place the patties in the pan, leaving a little space to breathe in between each burger. You might need to do it in batches. Cook the burgers for three to four minutes, until they’re well seared on the bottom side.