Ah, the perfect hamburger.
Juicy, delicious, the smell wafts in the air… A perfectly grilled hamburger is a different kind of pleasure. And as the weather gets warmer, there is nothing that beats a medium rare burger on a warm summer night.
But while anybody can make a burger, not everybody can make the best grilled burgers. In the post below, we share our top tips to prepare the yummiest burgers you’ve ever made. Let’s get into it!
Pick Your Favorite Cut of Beef
The key to good burgers is picking the right kind of ground beef. You want a good ratio of lean meat to fat. Expert chefs typically suggest going with the 80/20 rule, 80% lean beef, and 20% fat.
However, if you’re looking for a more heart-healthy option, you could also do 85/15.
You also want to properly press the ground beef into a patty. Try to find the best burger press you can, as that will ensure your cake doesn’t fall apart during grilling. It will also preserve the fat integrity of the patty.
Chill for a While
Many people skip this step when they’re short of time, but you should be chilling your patties when possible.
Keep the patties in the fridge for at least a couple of hours or longer. Placing cold cakes on the grill helps keep them juicy. It also ensures the patty stays together rather than falling apart.
Seasoning Is Everything
Don’t miss out on seasoning your grilled hamburger! That is where the majority of your taste comes from.
Even simple seasoning like good quality kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper packs a punch. You want to put some extra seasoning because some of the taste dissipates as the burger cooks.
Add some garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, or smoked paprika if you want to feel fancy. A little bit of brown sugar can really intensify the smokey taste too.
Grilling
An absolute no-no: adding burgers to a cold grill. Wait for the grill to get hot before adding anything to it. The ideal starting temperature to grill your patties is between 350-375.
In addition, be sure to grease your burgers a little before grilling them. Of course, the patties are already fat-heavy, so don’t add too much extra oil.
However, a little bit goes a long way in preventing sticking to your grill.
Flip the burgers for 3-4 minutes on each side. You should have a nice crust forming on your burger before plating them.
The Best Grilled Burgers Are Waiting for You
Once you understand the critical steps to getting juicy and delicious burgers, you will be able to nail the perfect grilled hamburger each time. You can then play around with different seasonings, sauces, and more.
Tasty burgers await you!
If you found this article helpful, check out the Culinary section of our site for more recipes and tips.
