I've heard that you need to cook burgers thoroughly on the grill. How do I do this without getting hockey pucks?
Here's how to get the best from your burgers and how to cook them safely too. For more info, go to our Cooking Lessons to watch our Beautiful Burgers video on-line.
Best Burgers on the grill...
- Before preheating, rub the grill with paper toweling dipped in vegetable oil or coat lightly with cooking spray.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (400°F/200°C) and cook patties with lid closed.
- For the juiciest burgers don't fuss over them while cooking – pressing on them with a lifter and turning them frequently drives out precious juices.
- Avoid overcooking – use a food thermometer to know when patties are done.
Grounds for safety...
- If making patties ahead, wrap tightly and refrigerate no more than one day.
- Always wash your hands before and after handling raw meat.
- Testing burger doneness is easy once you try it. Remove patty form heat to clean plate, insert 1-½ inches (4 cm) of the thermometer stem sideways into each patty for 30 seconds.
- NEVER cook burgers to rare; cook to 160°F (71°C)
- Check each patty for doneness since grills have hot and cold spots.
- Wash thermometer stem, tongs and plate after testing a partially cooked burger before using again.
Patties can look done (i.e. be no longer pink inside) before being completely cooked. Just remember “Your Burger's Done at 71!”
From the kitchens of friendly Manitoba, try out our Prairie Burger made terrific with lean ground beef sirloin.