There are more than a hundred ways to make burgers. Each place will have its own taste and manner of cooking. Still, it doesn’t change the fact that burgers are quintessential food in every grill picnics. But the real challenge is keeping the patty juicy while ensuring that it’s fully cooked on the inside. For this post, we will teach you how to grill hamburgers on gas grill with the best recipe and technique.
No more lackluster burgers now that we’re sharing our secret recipe and grilling tips.
- Carbohydrates: 9.1 grams
- Cholesterol: 96 mg
- Dietary fiber: 0.5 grams
- Sugars: 2 grams
(9.5 / 10)
AuthorAuthor: David MorganCategoryBBQ & Grilling RecipesDifficultyBeginner
Ingredients
Equipment:
- Large bowl
- Mixing spatula
- Cooking oil (olive oil, vegetable oil, etc.)
- Gas grill or any type of grill
- A pair of tongs or a grill spatula
Preparation
Before we hit the grill, let’s prepare the patties first. Sure, you can purchase frozen hamburgers from the supermarket. Still, if you want to control the juiciness and taste of your burgers, it’s best to prepare it by yourself.
Once you’re all set with the ingredients and equipment, follow these simple steps for our best burger seasoning recipe:
Step 1. Freeze the ground beef in the fridge for a few hours. This will keep the fat intact in the meat. Remember that the fat content of your burger will make it juicy.
Step 2. In the large bowl, mix all the patty ingredients listed above. Make sure that you mix everything well so each patty will have equal parts of each ingredient. The key here is to keep the meat cold.
Step 3. Avoid over-mixing the patty ingredients. To know if your beef is thoroughly mixed, pinch a small portion, flatten it on your palm, and turn your palm upside down. If the meat sticks, it’s ready for the grill.
Step 4. As fast as you can, form the patties into flat, circular pieces. The 2-pound ground beef should give you 8 servings. It’s best to soak your hands in cold water before forming the patties. Your body heat will cause the fat to melt and detach from the lean meat. This will make your burgers dry.
Charcoal or gas grill?
Before you even prepare the patties, you can start preheating your grill. With this, you can go straight to cooking once your burgers are ready. Here’s what you need to know:
If you want the classic smoky burger flavor, charcoal grills will work like a charm. Aside from that, you can add flavored wood chips to complement the taste of your burgers. The only issue with charcoal grills is it’s quite challenging to control in terms of temperatures. Also, preheating a charcoal grill will take 15 to 20 minutes.
Cooking burgers on gas grill is the common option of American households. Gas grills offer better temperature control plus it usually comes with 4 burner gas grill. You can get a searing, grilling, and reheating gas grill temp for burgers all at the same time.
Grilling hamburgers on gas grill produce less mess and you don’t have to purchase charcoal and wood chips anymore. Also, you can use the grill for up to 500F in a matter of minutes. You can also use burgers on propane grill for outdoor and mobile use.
So how hot should the grill be? It should be hot enough to cook, but not too hot that it will burn your patties within minutes. The ideal grill temperature for burgers is between 450F to 500F before adding the patties to the grill.
Also, oil the grate to prevent the meat from sticking.
Optional burger glaze
If you want your burgers to be juicy and flavorful, you can prepare an optional glaze which you can apply before the patties become fully cooked.
Just mix Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a saucepan. Let this simmer for 20 minutes.
Avoid applying the glaze too early since it will burn and produce a cakey layer on your burgers. It will become dry, which is something we don’t’ want to happen here.
Steps for the best way to cook burgers on gas grill
Here’s how you’re going to achieve juicy and healthy grilled hamburgers:
On the pre-heated and oiled grill, place the patties with small gaps from each one. Don’t press the patties as this will squeeze out the moisture and fat from the meat.
As the burgers are searing, close the lid of the grill (if there’s any) and avoid opening it until the next step.
After 4 or 5 minutes, flip the burger to grill the other side. Again, don’t press the patty.
You can re-flip the patties one more time if it’s not yet golden brown. Also, you may need to cook longer if you have a thicker burger.
A few minutes before the patties become fully cooked, you can now apply the optional burger glaze. If you prefer cheese, place the slices one minute before removing the patties from the grill. This will give the right melt.
After placing the cheese, toast the buns on the grill as the patties are on the last phase of grilling. We love buttering our burger buns since it adds a smooth kick on every bite. Still, the choice is yours.
Once everything is cooked, turn off the grill and start placing the burgers into the buns. You can also add tomato slices, lettuce, and more fillings that you love.
Don’t take a bite just yet! Let the burgers rest for a minute. It will let the juices redistribute throughout the patties to achieve the perfect burgers on gas grill. If you eat it right away, the juices will just stay in the middle, leaving the other parts dry and less flavorful.
These same steps apply when cooking burgers on propane grill and electric grill.
How long should your grill?
We often receive this question from our followers. The answer actually depends on how ‘done’ you want your burgers to be. Here’s a rough estimate from our burger temp chart:
Take note that the USDA strictly advises that ground meat be cooked at an internal temperature of 160F to kill all the bacteria. Still, it’s on your own discretion if you want different doneness. Just make sure that the meat is fresh and prepared appropriately.
How about frozen burgers? How long to grill frozen burgers depend on the thickness and heat setting of your grill. Basically, it will take about 5 minutes per side. However, you have to thaw it first on a warming rack so the beef will become pliable. If not, it may burn on the outside and stay pinkish on the inside.
Another option that you have is to set the frozen burgers on the grill right away but in a lower heat setting. Also, flip the burgers every 3 minutes and watch for the doneness. We recommend using meat probes here to check the internal temperature.
Additional instructions
To make sure that you’re cooking the juiciest burgers, keep these extra points in mind:*Don’t add anything to make the beef stick together
Good quality ground beef sticks together and doesn’t crumble. Getting ground beef with the right amount of fat should keep it sticky during the preparation. Also, adding a binder like bread crumbs or flour will ruin the juiciness of the burger.
*Don’t add anything to make the beef stick together
Good quality ground beef sticks together and doesn’t crumble. Getting ground beef with the right amount of fat should keep it sticky during the preparation. Also, adding a binder like bread crumbs or flour will ruin the juiciness of the burger.
*Always chill the patties first
This process will keep the juice and fat intact. However, don’t freeze the beef to the point that it has become a solid block of pink meat.
Also, we advise that you run your hands on cold water to keep the patties cold on a hot day.
*Brush the burgers with oil before grilling
This prevents the patties from sticking to your grill. It will also give that nice searing sound without burning any side.
*Choose the right cut for the meat
If you want the most flavorful ground beef, look for the chuck part. It’s the most exercised part of the cow’s shoulder, thus excellent texture and taste. If you want a smooth mouthfeel, you can opt for ground sirloin. However, it has less flavor. If you want just a little bit of everything, the bottom round part is ideal.
*Shape the burgers right
Instead of placing a thumb mark in the middle as most grillers do, we advise that you shape it like a plate with raised sides. This will prevent the burgers from puffing without losing the thickness.
*Flip the burgers just once
As much as possible, cook each side only once. This will prevent the juices from drying out from too much heat. Also, never press the burgers with your spatula. It’s a common habit that squeezes out all the yummy juices of the meat.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I reheat burgers on the grill?
Q: How do you store hamburger patties?
Q: How long do burger patties last?
Q: What can I use to separate hamburger patties?
Q: How do you unstick frozen hamburger patties?
Final words
Regardless if you’re grilling burgers on propane grill, charcoal grill, or gas grill, there are easy ways to keep each patty juicy. The right preparation and proper cooking will do wonders on your burgers. You don’t need any special seasoning or equipment. The correct technique will go a long way.
Ingredients
Directions
On the pre-heated and oiled grill, place the patties with small gaps from each one. Don’t press the patties as this will squeeze out the moisture and fat from the meat.
As the burgers are searing, close the lid of the grill (if there’s any) and avoid opening it until the next step.
After 4 or 5 minutes, flip the burger to grill the other side. Again, don’t press the patty.
You can re-flip the patties one more time if it’s not yet golden brown. Also, you may need to cook longer if you have a thicker burger.
A few minutes before the patties become fully cooked, you can now apply the optional burger glaze. If you prefer cheese, place the slices one minute before removing the patties from the grill. This will give the right melt.
After placing the cheese, toast the buns on the grill as the patties are on the last phase of grilling. We love buttering our burger buns since it adds a smooth kick on every bite. Still, the choice is yours.
Once everything is cooked, turn off the grill and start placing the burgers into the buns. You can also add tomato slices, lettuce, and more fillings that you love.
Don’t take a bite just yet! Let the burgers rest for a minute. It will let the juices redistribute throughout the patties to achieve the perfect burgers on gas grill. If you eat it right away, the juices will just stay in the middle, leaving the other parts dry and less flavorful.
I like my burger done no pink but not burnt how long should I cook each side