How to Make a Hamburger

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4 Recipe Ratings | Success Stories

Co-authored by Chef Jeff Woodward

Last Updated: October 23, 2024 Approved

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Toss out those processed burger patties! Making your own burger is both easy and a much healthier option. All you need is to get some freshly ground beef from your favorite butcher and to put in a bit of effort. If you want to know how to make a hamburger, just follow these steps.

Ingredients

Burger

1 pound (453 grams) 80% lean ground beef/chuck
6 burger buns
1 egg yolk

Seasoning

½ small red or white onion
Ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon mustard
1 tablespoon white pepper
1 garlic clove
Handful fresh herbs, chopped roughly
Salt and pepper to taste

Toppings

2 thinly sliced tomatoes
6 slices of cheese
Lettuce leaves
Ketchup
Mayonnaise

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Making the Patties for the Burger

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1
Get the right meat. Get a butcher to grind chuck beef for you with a 20% fat content. ^{[1]
X
Research source} If you use more fat, it will just drip off the meat and cause fire flare-ups; less and the burgers will be dry. ^{[2]
X
Research source} If possible, buy the meat the day you’re going to cook it.
- Ask the butcher to grind the meat twice, once in the coarse plate of the grinder and then through the fine plate.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Seasoning (Optional)

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You'll add the other ingredients to it when you're ready.
Put them in a bowl and mix them together until combined.
This includes the Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, mustard, and the chopped herbs. These ingredients are optional, but they can add a special flavor to the meat.
Season one egg yolk with salt and pepper and mix everything together. ^{[3]
X
Research source} It is easier to start mixing with a spoon; then use your clean hands to thoroughly combine the ingredients.
5
Create the burgers. Handle the meat as little as possible, so you don’t squeeze out the juices.
- Shape the mixture into 6 equal-sized balls using your hands.
- Press the balls down to make flat burger shapes about ½ inch (1.27cm) thick. Make a small indentation in the center of the burger with your thumb. This prevents the center from swelling, leading to uneven cooking. ^{[4]
  X
  Research source}

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Cooking the Burgers

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Cover them with plastic wrap or wax paper. Chill for 30 minutes to a few hours to make the burgers firmer and easier to cook. Burger meat is best cooked cold.
2
Choose your cooking method. The homemade burgers can be cooked with a broiler or grill, fried in the skillet or frying pan, or barbecued. They can also be baked. The method used depends on what you have available and what you prefer by way of taste and texture. Whichever method you choose, after taking the patties out of the fridge, spritz them with a little cooking oil or brush them with some melted butter before cooking. Here are the different methods you can use:
- Broiler/grill: Preheat the broiler (upper level grill) to medium heat. Line a broiler pan with foil, for easier cleanup after cooking. Place the burgers in the broiler pan. Broil them for 6-7 minutes on each side or until thoroughly cooked. ^{[5]
  X
  Research source}
- Frying pan or skillet : Add oil or butter to the pan and fry the burgers well. Be sure to use low heat and a long cook to properly cook the burgers the whole way through.
- Place the burgers on the barbecue grill. Cook as usual for hamburgers on the barbecue.
- Bake: Place in the oven on 350ºF/180ºC for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on thickness. You may like to flip them over halfway, testing doneness regularly.
3
Focus on the cook times for doneness.
- Avoid rare doneness to a burger. Officials say never to eat red meat because it is unhealthy, though tempting to eat it being so natural. ^{[ citation needed
  ]} However, personal ideas may say differently.
- For medium-rare burgers, keep a six-ounce burger on the grill for 4 minutes per side (with one flip to each side) so the temperature reaches 125 to 130 °F (52 to 54 °C) ^{[6]
  X
  Research source}
- For medium burgers, keep a six-ounce burger on the grill for 4 minutes on the one side, then keep the other side on the grill for 5 minutes side (with one flip to each side) so the temperature reaches 140 to 145 °F (60 to 63 °C), but you should check this at the 8th minute to ensure right temperature is reached. ^{[7]
  X
  Research source}
- For medium-well burgers, keep a six-ounce burger on the grill for 5 minutes per side (with one flip to each side). ^{[8]
  X
  Research source}
- Well done burgers must be kept on the grill for at least 10 minutes and you must watch the temperature reach no more than 160 °F (71 °C). ^{[9]
  X
  Research source}

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Adding the Toppings

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1
While the burgers are cooking, prepare the toppings. You can choose to use whatever toppings you like, but here's what you can do to prepare traditional toppings for the burger:
- Wash the lettuce and tomatoes.
- Halve the burger buns, then thinly slice the tomatoes.
- Place the ketchup and mayonnaise on the table for diners to make their own choice.
2
Serve. Once the burgers are cooked to each diner's liking, serve the burgers. Place inside the bun with the toppings and deliver to the table.
- Alternatively, place the burger on a plate with other food such as rice, chips, mashed potato, or salad.

Ideas for Burger Toppings and Sides

Best Burger Toppings

Burger Sides

Community Q&A

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Question

Do I need to use a barbecue grill to cook the burgers?

Qamar

Top Answerer

No. Hamburgers can also be cooked on a stovetop, on a grill pan, or in an oven. Cooking them on the grill usually yields the best results, though.

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Question

How do I heat the buns?

Community Answer

You can place them on a cookie sheet and heat them in a 300F oven/toaster oven until they are heated through.

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Question

Do you need something to hold the meat together?

Community Answer

Some people like to add an egg to hold the patties together and breadcrumbs for texture. Another alternative is to add barbecue sauce for texture and taste all rolled in one.

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Tips

Don’t press down on the patties with your spatula as they’re cooking. It will just make you lose those tasty juices, leading to dry burgers. ^{[10]
X
Research source}

Thanks
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If you are frying on a pan, it is good to cover the pan with a lid to keep the burgers juicy and moist.

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If you want a cheeseburger, slice the cheese thinly and place it on the burgers when the patties are almost ready to come off the grill.

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Warnings

Grills and broilers are obviously very hot; take appropriate precautions and use oven mitts to protect your hands.

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The faster you eat it the better. The warm burger is very vulnerable to bacteria.

Thanks
Helpful 6 Not Helpful 1
Cook the beef well to remove the chance of bacterial or other infections. To avoid E. coli contamination, avoid eating burgers that are still raw in the middle. ^{[11]
X
Trustworthy Source
FoodSafety.gov
Online portal combining food safety information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Go to source}

Thanks
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Always be sure to wash your hands before you handle food to stop the spread of bacteria.

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Helpful 8 Not Helpful 1

Things You'll Need

Cutting board
Sharp knife
Wooden spoon for mixing
Large plate
Mixing bowl
Plastic wrap or wax paper (cut individual squares for each burger)
Foil-lined broiler pan and rack or frying pan/skillet or barbecue or oven baking sheet (lined with parchment or greased)
Spatula for lifting burgers

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How to Make a Hamburger

Ingredients

Burger

Seasoning

Toppings

Steps

Making the Patties for the Burger

Seasoning (Optional)

Cooking the Burgers

Adding the Toppings

Ideas for Burger Toppings and Sides

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

You Might Also Like

Expert Interview

References

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