10 Tips for Better Burgers

The hamburger. Such a simple concept. More often than not, I see people overthinking what makes a good burger. They add loads of spices and treatment of the meat, add-ins, burger toppings and more.

Not that I am opposed to any of these, but all in moderation. 

Read these 10 tips for better burgers to make every single hamburger recipe better by miles: juicy, flavorful and delicious! You won't beleive #4! #hamburgerrecipes #burgerrecipes www.savoryexperiments.com


 

Read these 10 tips for better burgers to make every single hamburger recipe better by miles: juicy, flavorful and delicious!

While some of these steps might enhance your burger eating experience, others might actually be dampening it. Here is a short list of ways to ensure you make the BEST burger each and every time with any recipe!

Make sure to PIN How Can I Make Better Burgers!

Ground beef, aka called hamburger, is made from ground or finely minced beef. Leftover pieces from larger cuts are often used to ensure that no pieces go to waste, although these pieces are usually fattier and tougher, which is why they are being discarded in the first place. 

10 Tips for Making a Better Burger

The process of grinding the meat tenderizers (much like using a meat mallet) and makes it easier to eat because it shortens the fibers making them simpler to chew (same concept as why you cut steak or a roast against the grain). There four main types of ground beef:

Regular “ground beef”: Contains the highest fat content, about 25 to 30%, cut from trimmings of cuts including brisket and shank. It is also the most flavorful and juicy since it has the highest fat content.

This is often my beef of choice for making hamburgers, but beware, the patties will shrink a little while cooking since it has a high fat content.

Ground chuck: Contains 15 to 20% fat, cut from trimmings around the shoulder. This cut can also be used for hamburgers and has less fat, often labeled as “lean ground beef.”

But beware that you may also find that it doesn’t hold together as well on the grill (unless you add binders like breadcrumbs or egg) and may not be as juicy.

Ground round: Contains about about 12% fat and is ground from the lower end of the animal, near the tail area. This type of ground beef doesn’t have much flavor and is sometimes labeled as “extra lean”.

It is best for chili or homemade hamburger helper due to the low fat content, eliminating the need to drain the fat. Since it doesn’t have much flavor, it really needs to simmer in spices and aromatics to give it taste and to tenderize the meat.

Ground sirloin: This is one of the leanest, but also most expensive, since it is made from a cut of beef that is actually more desirable as a whole.

It contains 10% to 14% fat. You might see this one advertised on the menus of restaurants as the “speciality burger”, but since it is so lean, it actually needs a lot of help to make it taste good.

Read these 10 tips for better burgers to make every single hamburger recipe better by miles: juicy, flavorful and delicious! You won't beleive #4! #hamburgerrecipes #burgerrecipes www.savoryexperiments.com

Here are our 10 Tips for the BEST Burger! 

ONE. Use good old ground beef with a 80/20 fat content. It will have flavor, be juicy and is fairly inexpensive. If you are grilling, some of the fat will drain off during the cooking process anyhow.

TWO. A good burger doesn’t need spices and herbs blend into the meat. If I’m adding lots of flavorful toppings, like my Red Wine Shiitake Burger, I don’t add anything! If I’m making burgers for a party and they need a little kick, I’ll add my Homemade Onion Soup Mix.

THREE. Toss, don’t blend the meat. Processing too much will create a tough burger. I break the ground beef into little pieces as I add it to the mixing bowl and then gently toss with pre-mixed spices (if I’m using them) before forming into a patty.

FOUR. Toss and pack your patty instead of kneading. Again, working the meat too much will create a tough burger. I can’t stress this enough.

FIVE. Make uniform patties using a burger press. After removing, score meat and put a small well in the center. This prevents your hamburgers from shrinking up, become bloated in the center and looking like a UFO.

SIX. Save the salt for last. Salt will enhance flavor, but it will also dry out your meat. If you are merely seasoning plain meat, wait and season right before you put it on the grill.

You can also add salt after the cooking process. I like using a pink Himalayan or Black Salt for a crunchy and impactful finish.

SEVEN. Freeze patties for 30 minutes before putting on the grill. This will help the meat congeal and hold together through the cooking process.

EIGHT. Initially place burgers over direct heat to sear the outside and create the flame grilled look, but then move them to indirect heat to continue cooking. Fire dries things out and you don’t want it to take all the moisture out of your burger.

NINE. Never, ever, press down on your burger patty with a spatula. This will do nothing but squeeze out those blessed juices (and flavor).

TEN. Let them rest before eating. This is an essential step for any piece of meat, but often overlooked for hamburgers. It allows the juices to redistribute and absorb back into the meat fibers. Cutting in too soon will let them to escape to nothing but your plate or cutting board.

Best Sides to make with burgers:

These are the best gourmet burger recipes! If you've ever wondered how to make gourmet burgers at home, you are going to be surprised at how easy they are! #gourmetburgerrecipes #gourmetburgerideas #gourmetbeefburgerrecipe www.savoryexperiments.com

More questions you might have about how to make a burger: 

Are hamburgers healthy?

I loathe this question. Everyone’s definition of healthy is different. I am also not a registered dietitian, nor a physician.

I subscribe to the “everything in moderation rule”. You also really need to look at the nutritional value for the burger you are eating, not make a generalized statement across the board.

Can burgers be pink in the middle?

Sure! You can make a burger rare and you know I am a huge advocate for eating beef no less than medium-rare, however burgers might be the only exception to the rule for several reasons. Read on…

What temperature should my burger be?


Burger Temperature Chart

You actually have a higher probability of getting some sort of bacteria from a burgers than you do other cuts of meat purely because it has more surface space that has passed through a meat grinder giving it more opportunity to pick something up and breed it.

Because all those fibers have already been shortened, even if you do cook it to medium-well, it won’t be chewy or taste like leather. 

Cooking it longer and to a higher temperature all the way through will give it more time to burn off anything it has become exposed to. The best way to check is, of course, by meat thermometer. Here is a burger temperature chart (which varies from other beef temperature charts):

Rare: 125°
Medium-Rare: 135-145°
Medium: 145-150°
Medium-Well:105-155°
Well Done: 155-160°

Can hamburgers be baked in the oven?

You can cook your hamburger patty any way you’d like, including in the oven. Simply bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, depending on desired doneness. 

Can you cook hamburgers on the stove?

I don’t why people ask this questions considering that most of the burgers you’ve had in your lifetime were probably cooked indoors. There isn’t a giant grill going outside Red Robin.

Restaurants burgers are generally cooked on a griddle, which is just easier than a frying pan, but essentially the same thing. Or flame broiled, but that is actually pretty rare. Just heat up a skillet and cook on either side for 3-4 minutes or until your desired level of doneness. 

Can hamburgers be frozen?

Yes, burgers can be frozen either raw or cooked. Sometimes people even freeze raw hamburgers so they have time to congeal and are less likely to fall apart on the grill or to attempt killing some of the bacteria that could be on the meat after grinding. 

You can also freeze a cooked burger. I suggest airtight plastic bags so you can get as much air out as possible. If you freeze a stack, separate them with parchment or wax paper. Freezing them individually makes for a simple meal for one in a jiffy! 

Can I make burgers ahead of time?

You can make both the patties or cooked burgers in advance. If you are having a large party, try parcooking the burgers the day before or before your guests arrive, then you can spend less time manning the grill and more time having fun.

Simply put the cooked patty back onto the grill for 1 minutes on each side to heat it back up again. 

Do burger patties need eggs?

Burger patties do not require eggs or breadcrumbs, although some recipes call for them. When you add either or both of these elements, you’ll get a slightly tougher texture more reminiscent of meatballs or meatloaf. For this reason, hamburger patties are more fragile, but will be tender. 

What is your favorite brand of store bought frozen hamburgers?

I usually make my own patties, but I do like Bubba Burgers. They are pricey, but delicious. 

Read these 10 tips for better burgers to make every single hamburger recipe better by miles: juicy, flavorful and delicious! You won't beleive #4! #hamburgerrecipes #burgerrecipes www.savoryexperiments.com

We hope you go home and make a positively delicious hamburger!

Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Jessica Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and food lover behind Savory Experiments. She is obsessed with butter, salt and bacon and spends all her time in the kitchen and behind a camera. Jessica is a contributor to PopKitchen by Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal Food + Travel and more!

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Questions and Reviews

  1. Nice post with plenty of good tips that will make a difference. I must admit that I love my burger press after making them by hand for more than twenty years-LOL! I settled for a simple stainless steel manual press. Press will handle up to 8oz and is 5-inch diameter. I usually keep the burgs at 5oz, but also made some nice 6oz. This press has indents to make the dimple that keeps the burgs from turning into UFOs. Look for “Calivo” on a popular online site. And yes, nothing wrong with pulling them out of the freezer and throwing them on the grill or stove (cast iron!). Just allow a little more time. Also, a meat thermometer is an essential tool. Have fun!

    For those who are about to cook, we salute you!

  2. I agree that you don’t need much additives to put in the burger meat. I prefer to mix the ground beef with some salt, pepper, red onions and garlic. I keep it simple, most of the flavour of the burger has to come from the fat content of the burger and the top quality meet.

  3. Thank you for sharing these tips. It is so important to know how to contain the juices and flavors of the burger as it cooks. Great post!

  4. Thanks for sharing these tips. I’m sure they will help me take my burger recipe from good to great. Maybe I’m just overthinking it like you mentioned.

  5. These are really great tips! It’s easy to make an okay burger, but if you put a little extra work into it you can come away with a really delicious burger. Thanks for sharing these tips!

  6. I was surprised that ground beef could have a fat content of 20/80. This was a surprise because I would have thought that all meats would have a higher fat level. Another thing that surprised me was that the cut of the meat makes a difference in taste as well.

    1. The 20/80 was a typo on my part! Thanks for catching that and I have now fixed it. But yes, the cut of beef will most certainly impact taste.