Introduction
If there’s one thing that everyone has an opinion about, it’s the way to make a burger. Whether it’s a juicy, medium-rare burger with caramelized edges or a well-done patty with no pink visible at all, your preference is likely influenced by your tastes and experiences. But have you ever wondered how long you should cook burgers in general? In other words: What is the perfect temperature for cooking a burger? We asked our experts and found out that there are two main factors to consider when cooking burgers: the type of meat (beef) and don’t overcook them!
Medium rare burger.
Medium rare is the most popular way to cook a burger, and for good reason. It’s the best way to get maximum flavor out of your meat while still retaining moisture. The lower temperature will give you a more tender bite, as well as allow fat and juices to stay inside rather than leaking out onto your plate or bun.
Medium rare burgers also contain fewer calories than their medium-well counterparts–a fact that should not be overlooked if you’re watching your waistline!
Medium-well burger.
Medium-well is a little bit beyond the optimum temperature for burger meat, but it still tastes great. If you don’t have a thermometer, cook your burger until it’s done enough that it doesn’t give when you press down on it with a spatula and juices start to ooze out (about 8 minutes).
If you’re looking to achieve medium-well without cooking your meat too long, try adding an extra minute or two of cooking time–it should be just right by then!
Well done burger.
Well-done burgers are the bane of many cooks’ existence. They’re dry, tough, flavorless and just plain bad. The problem is that they don’t cook long enough–and if you cook them too long they’ll be even worse!
To make sure your well-done burger is juicy and delicious:
- Heat a skillet over medium heat until very hot (you can test this by sprinkling water on it; if it sizzles sharply around the edges of your pan then it’s ready). Add 1 tablespoon oil or butter per side of each patty (this helps keep them from sticking). Cook each side for about five minutes until browned on both sides and cooked through to 160 degrees Fahrenheit/71 degrees Celsius internally (no matter what kind of meat or poultry product you’re cooking).
Burgers are best medium or medium well (160 degrees F, or 71 degrees C).
You want to cook your burger to 160 degrees F, which is 71 degrees C. You can use a thermometer to measure this temperature if you have one, or just cut into the burger with a knife and check inside. If there’s no pinkness in the center of the patty, it’s done!
How to cook a burger properly
How long to cook a burger depends on the thickness of the burger and how you want it cooked. For example, if you’re cooking a frozen burger that’s 1/2-inch thick, then cook it for 5 minutes on each side. If you are thawing out your meat and plan to use an electric skillet or grill Panini maker instead of an open flame grill or panini press (which can be messy), then make sure not to overcook them!
If you want medium rare burgers with some pink left inside them after they’re done cooking; this means that they need 7 minutes on each side at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 degrees Celsius).
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you understand the best way to cook a burger. If you’re looking for more information on cooking meat and other types of food, check out our website!
