How to Cook a Perfect Burger
Cooking burgers is an art form. Many home cooks step up to the grill every summer to give it a go. They don their aprons, roll their patties and fire up the coals. While it seems simple, cooking a perfect burger is actually quite tricky. Especially since everyone has their own way of doing it.
If you’re planning a cookout this summer, check out these tips to make sure you’re prepared. After all, everyone counts on the grill master. Don’t let them down by serving undercooked, dry or burnt meat. If you want to be the picnic hero, here’s what you have to do.
Gather Your Supplies
There are many different ways to make burgers. We recommend doing it the classic way: with a grill. You can’t get the same results from a stovetop or griddle. Charcoal and gas grills both work fine.
Next, you’ll need a spatula and some ground beef. You can use pre-formed patties from the store. But, if you can, always roll your own. Fresh beef is always better. Tip: Make your patties slightly bigger than your buns because they’re going to shrink on the grill. In addition, you’ll need some cooking oil, a little salt and pepper, and all the toppings and accouterments on standby.
Cook the Meat Perfectly
Before you start grilling, make sure the grate is clean. Turn it on medium-high heat and give it a chance to warm up. While you wait, coat both sides of your patties in a bit of oil. Then, season both sides with salt and pepper, too. After that, it’s time to put down your patties.
Now, here’s where the tricky part comes. This is where a lot of people make mistakes. The most important piece to remember is to leave the patties alone. Do you tend to push down on the burgers with your spatula? Even though so many do this, it’s a big no-no. It squeezes out all the juice and flavor.
And remember, don’t move them. You should flip each burger once and only once. Too much flipping can make them dry. It takes about 3 to 5 minutes to cook each side. Or, you can flip it when it turns golden brown. However, the cooking time really depends on how you like your meat cooked. Also, turkey burgers tend to take an extra minute or two to cook.
Make it Your Own with Toppings
Want to turn your burgers into cheeseburgers? Wait until the last minute of cooking to add your cheese slice. American is always a favorite. But, we also love Cheddar, Swiss, Provolone, Monterey Jack, and Mozzarella.
Once the meat is fully cooked and the cheese is melted, take the burgers off the grill. Now it’s time for the fun part: the toppings. The bun, toppings and even the sides are just as important as the meat. Everyone has their own version of the perfect burger. So, have a healthy variety of items to choose from, such as:
- Lettuce, tomato, and onion (including onion rings!)
- Grilled mushrooms
- Fried egg
- Bacon strips
- Jalapenos
- Ketchup, mustard, mayo, BBQ sauce and A1 sauce
Find Your Perfect Burger at Garry’s Grill
You can keep these tips in mind the next time you get hungry for burgers, but if you don’t feel like cooking, leave it to Garry’s Grill. We’ve served up all kinds of delicious burgers since 1991. Try one made from juicy Angus beef. We also have turkey burgers, veggie burgers and Portobello burgers on the menu. Stop in for lunch or dinner to order up a burger just the way you like it.
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