Juicy burgers are the best.
There are many ways to cook a hamburger — you can grill it, pan fry it, bake it, broil it and more. No matter which way you choose, there are steps to follow in order to ensure your burger is nice and juicy. For example, a little bit of fat boosts its flavor therefore use meat that is 80 to 90 percent lean. When shaping ground meat into hamburger patties, don’t overmix ingredients and don’t squeeze the meat as the burgers will dry out once its cooked.
Grill
Shape all the burger patties so that they are all the same. This will come in handy later when it’s time to see if they’re done. Make sure the grill is nice and hot before you start cooking the burgers to prevent the burgers from sticking to it. If you decide to use very lean meat, coat the grill with non-stick cooking spray or brush vegetable oil to prevent sticking. While the burgers cook, don’t squeeze or flatten them or else you will lose the juicy flavor. Also, flip only once. To see if they are done, stick an instant-read thermometer into the side of one burger. If that one reads the temperature you desire, chances are the rest of them will too.
Bake
If you don’t have a grill, or the weather outside is frightful, your next option is to throw burgers in the oven. Preheat your oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit. Place the burger patties onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet into the oven and let it cook for 20 minutes. To check for doneness, use a instant-read thermometer. In order to get rid of harmful bacteria, such as E.coli, the United States Department of Agriculture recommends that the burgers have an internal temperature of 160-degrees Fahrenheit.
Pan Fry
When using the pan fry method, it helps to shape patties that are only about 1/4-inch thick. A thinner patty will help prevent the outer part of the burger from getting burnt before the inner part is thoroughly cooked. Place a large sauté pan on your stove top over high heat. Lightly cover the surface of the pan with a thin layer of salt then, once the pan is very hot, lay the patties onto the pan. Brown the meat for 20 seconds on each side then let it cook for one minute.
Broil
For a quicker method of cooking, use the broiler found at the bottom of your oven. Set the tray so that it is about three to four inches away from the flame or heat. Place a sheet of foil onto the broiling pan and place the patties onto the foil. Place the broiling pan into the broil and let the burgers cook for three minutes. Turn the burger around 90-degrees and let it cook for another 3 minutes. Flip the burgers and repeat the same steps for the other side. Use a instant-read thermometer to ensure the burger is thoroughly cooked.
Steam
Ted Duberek, owner of the World Famous Ted’s Restaurant in Meridian, Connecticut, explains that for a more thoroughly cooked hamburger, consider steam. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and warm up 1 tbs. of vegetable oil. Once the skillet is hot, place the hamburger patties onto the pan and cover with a lid. The skillet will start to get steamy. Let it cook for four to five minutes then flip the burgers over. Let it cook for another four to five minutes. Use a instant-read thermometer to ensure the burgers are cooked through.
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