With summer approaching, cooking burgers on the grill is a summer staple. Here are some tips to help cook the perfect burger.
- Preparing Your Grill
Just like you would use a clean pot/pan to cook on the stovetop, you want to start with a clean grill. Once the grill is clean, oil the grates. The easiest way to oil the grates is to dip a folded paper towel in oil (cooking oil) and rub it on the grates. - How Hot Should the Grill Be?
The grill should be at around 450° – 500° before you add your burger patty. - How Long do you Grill a Burger?
Here are average grilling times:- Rare burgers: Cook for about 4 minutes (125°F internal temp.)
- Medium-rare burgers: Cook for about 5 minutes (135°F internal temp.)
- Medium burgers: Cook for about 6 – 7 minutes (145°F internal temp.)
- Well-done burgers, cook for about 8 – 9 minutes (160 °F internal temp.)
The times above are averages and depend on the grill’s temperature and how thick your patty is.
- Pressing & Flipping the Burger
Once you put a burger patty on the grill, don’t press it down. The pressing forces the fat and flavor out, resulting in a dry and bland patty if you do. Flipping, however, is highly recommended. There has been research that shows flipping your burger frequently cooks it more evenly. - When do you add Cheese?
Most say to add the cheese about a minute before the burger finishes cooking. - When do you Toast the Buns?
To toast a bun, add butter to the top and bottom of the bun, then put them on the back of the grill. Make sure the buns are out of direct heat and toast until the color is golden. Place the buns on the grill about a minute before the burger finishes cooking. - Rest the Burger
After you take a burger off the grill, let it rest for about a minute, allowing time for the juices to move through the burger. Resting will give you a more flavorful burger.