Grilling hamburgers is a beloved American tradition, and everyone has their preferred way of enjoying them. Whether you like your burger medium-rare with a slice of cheese or cooked thoroughly to well-done, mastering the grilling times for each preference is crucial. With insights from a meat expert, you can become the hero of the grill and make perfect burgers every time.
According to Nathan Burk from ButcherBox, burgers should be cooked for a total of 8 to 11 minutes, depending on your desired doneness. For safety, the USDA recommends cooking burgers to an internal temperature of 160°F. Medium-rare burgers should aim for a temperature of 125 to 130°F, taking about 4 minutes per side.
For a medium burger, with a slightly pink center, you should flip it after 4 minutes and remove it from the grill after another 5 minutes, reaching an internal temperature of 140 to 145°F. Medium-well burgers, with little to no pink, require about 10 minutes on the grill, flipping once. Aim for an internal temperature between 150 and 155°F.
Well-done burgers need at least 10 minutes on the grill but should be pulled before reaching 160°F to prevent drying. For the best results, use an instant-read thermometer to check doneness and aim to remove your burger when it is 5 degrees below your target temperature.
Preheat your grill before placing the burgers on it to ensure even cooking throughout. Remember, your burger will continue to cook a bit after you take it off the grill due to carryover cooking.
To enhance your burger grilling skills, place a room-temperature slice of cheese on the burger about a minute before it’s done, close the lid to melt it perfectly, and enjoy a deliciously gooey topping.
The Perfect Guide to Grilling Burgers: From Medium-Rare to Well-Done
