If you’re like us and think that there’s nothing better than a juicy, messy burger on the grill, you’ve come to the right place. There’s nothing quite like biting into a perfectly grilled hamburger that’s overflowing with tasty toppings and juices. Even better? It only takes a few simple tricks to make sure your next batch of burgers is equally as delicious as the last time you grilled up some burgers. You see, it’s not as easy as throwing some beef patties on the grill and calling it good. Depending on variables like thickness, moisture content, and type of meat (ground chuck vs ground sirloin), one burger will cook much faster than another. Also, different cuts of beef will have different smoke points, which can affect how long you need to leave the burgers on the grill before flipping them over.
Here are some hot tips to up your burger game this summer!
Don’t over-handle your beef patties.
The less you handle the raw beef patties, the better. When you’re forming your patties, it’s best to use clean hands, but if they’re not completely clean, you can use a little bit of paper towel to wipe off any grime. If you have to wash your hands, make sure you dry them properly so the moisture doesn’t cause the patties to stick to each other. What this does is it helps your patties stay together on the grill. If your patties are packed too tightly, their juices won’t be able to freely flow and evaporate, which makes them more likely to dry out. Not to mention, if your patties are packed too tight, the burgers will be more difficult to slice into once they’re done cooking.
Use a meat thermometer to check doneness.
When you’re flipping your patties and checking for doneness, it’s easy to accidentally break the patty open. For burgers with a higher fat content, this isn’t the end of the world. But for those made with a leaner meat, this can cause the patties to dry out. If you’re grilling burgers made with leaner meat, use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. This way, you’re less likely to accidentally break the patty open and lose the juices.
Flipping is equally as important as grilling time.
We know we just talked about how important it is to not break your patties open while checking for doneness, but what if your patties are completely done on one side and still raw on the other? That’s when it’s important to flip the burgers. Even if your burgers are cooking faster than you’d like, it’s better to flip them too early than to wait too long. This way, you can get your burgers off the grill sooner, which will help them retain more juices.
Go with ground beef with a higher fat content.
Once you put your patties on the grill, their juices start to evaporate. The more juices your patties have, the juicier your burgers will be. If you’re grilling burgers made with a leaner meat (like ground sirloin), you’ll want to make sure you have a somewhat fatty ground beef on hand to help keep your burgers juicier. If you’re using a leaner meat, you can add oil to your grates while you’re grilling to help keep your burgers juicier.
Keep your grill well-oiled and clean.
Clean grates and an oiled grill are the two things that will help your patties stay as juicy as possible. It’s super simple to take a rag (or paper towels if you prefer) and wipe off your grates before you start cooking. Whether you’re grilling burgers, steaks, or chicken, a well-oiled grill will help your patties brown evenly. To oil your grill, dip a folded-up paper towel in oil and rub it along your grates. Alternatively, you can use a grill brush to get a more thorough clean.
Conclusion
There are a lot of factors that go into making the perfect burger. The more you practice your grilling game, the more you’ll learn about what works best for your grill, your patties, and even the weather! If you follow these tips for how to grill burgers perfectly every time, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of the perfect burger. And who knows, maybe you’ll become so obsessed with grilling burgers that you’ll start hosting a grill night with friends!
Here at the Rib Company, we’ve saved you the hassle of preparing your meat. Our burger patties are pre-seasoned with love, ready to pop on the grill. Head on over to our store and get your perfect burger hamper delivered directly to your door!