How To Cook Hamburgers On The Stove

If you’re making homemade burgers, this only takes about 20 minutes, and involves very few measured ingredients (for four complete burgers).

• Ground Beef: One pound of ground chuck makes four burger patties. The meat must be 80%-85% lean beef to stay moist while cooking. Each raw patty weighs four ounces before placement in the skillet.

• Basic Seasonings: A measured sprinkle of kosher or sea salt plus freshly ground black pepper seasons each patty. The amount varies based on personal taste, but start with 1/4 teaspoon of each per patty, adding more if needed.

• Cheese Options: Four slices of cheese - one per burger. American or cheddar cheese slices measure approximately 3/4 ounce each. The cheese melts evenly across the patty during the final minute of cooking.

• Hamburger Buns: Four standard-sized burger buns hold all the ingredients together. Toast them lightly for extra texture and to prevent them from becoming soggy.

• Fresh Toppings: Common measurements include 4 lettuce leaves, 4 tomato slices (about 1/4 inch thick), 4 thin red onion rings, and 8-12 pickle slices - allowing each person to customize their burger.

• Condiments: Standard portions include 1 tablespoon each of mayonnaise, mustard, or ketchup per burger. You can typically spread 1-2 teaspoons of each chosen condiment on their bun.

With all our ingredients ready on the counter, we will learn how to pan cook a burger in just a few simple steps. These classic burgers take about 30 minutes to prepare from start to finish.

Required Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground chuck (80%-85% lean)
• Kosher or sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 4 slices American or Cheddar cheese
• 4 burger buns
• Optional toppings: lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles
• Condiments: ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise

Directions

Step 1: Season the Meat

Start by putting your ground chuck in a mixing bowl. Add salt and pepper to the meat. Make use of your hands to mix everything together, but do it gently. Split the meat into four equal parts. Remember not to mix too much - this keeps your burgers tender.

Step 2: Form the Patties

Take each portion of meat and shape it into a round patty. Make each patty about one inch thick. Press your thumb around the edge to make a small groove. This creates a small dip that helps the burger stay flat while cooking. The patty should look a little rough on top, not perfectly smooth.

Step 3: Cook the Burgers

Turn your stove to medium-high heat and place a large skillet on it. Once the skillet feels hot, put your patties in. Leave space between each burger. Watch the sides of the burgers - when they turn brown halfway up, it's time to flip them. Cook until they reach 160°F inside for food safety.

Step 4: Add Cheese

Remove the pan from the heat source to impede the cheese from melting too quickly. Place one ooey-gooey slice of cheese atop each delicious and juicy beef patty.

Once you have covered all of your burgers with cheesiness, put a lid on the pan. The heat trapped inside works absolute wonders with the cheese, causing it to melt very quickly and become gooey over the amazing burgers that will be super tasty.

Step 5: Toast the Buns

Start the buns toasting by smearing a generous amount of softened butter evenly onto the cut side of each bun. Move on to heat a clean skillet on the stovetop over medium heat until it warms up for about a minute or two.

Now that the skillet is hot, delicately place the buttered buns into the pan, cut side down. You may wish to work in batches if your skillet isn't large enough to accommodate all the buns at once.

Allow the buns to cook undisturbed for a few minutes. After a couple of minutes, check the buns occasionally, using a spatula to lift one slightly and inspect its color. When they are a beautiful golden brown, remove them from the skillet and set them aside.

Step 6: Make the Sauce

Start with equal quantities of mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup. Whisk or stir them strenuously using the whisk or spoon. Stir well, without lumps; if there are lumps, further stir until they dissolve completely.

Once you get the sauce combined well and reach a creamy, smooth texture, stop to taste it. You can always fiddle with the ratios if you would rather have one of those flavors dominate over the others.

Step 7: Put Your Burger Together

Place a burger on top of the bottom bun, add any kind of toppings you like: lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles. Place the top bun and there you go, serve while the burger is hot.

Stovetop burgers create a delicious meal option for any weeknight dinner. The process requires attention to timing and temperature to achieve the desired results. These burgers cook quickly, taking no more than 10 minutes total.

Cooking beyond this time leads to dry, hard patties that lack flavor and moisture. Setting a timer brings precision to the cooking process. This simple step prevents distractions and ensures consistent results.

The sides of the burger provide valuable cooking indicators. A small pinkish-red line in the middle signals a medium-rare burger, while its disappearance indicates a medium cook level.

A meat thermometer offers additional accuracy for checking doneness. This tool measures the internal temperature, confirming when the meat reaches food-safe levels. The reading provides clear guidance for achieving the exact level of doneness desired.

Burger Cooking Times:

• Medium-rare with red center: 6 minutes total cooking time
• Medium with pink center: 7-8 minutes total cooking time
• Medium-well showing minimal pink: 9 minutes total cooking time
• Well done without pink: 10 minutes total cooking time

These cooking times represent the total duration. Flipping the burger halfway through the indicated time ensures even cooking on both sides. This method produces consistent results while maintaining the burger's natural juices and flavor.

Stovetop burgers require specific steps and ingredients to create juicy, flavorful results. Following these guidelines helps achieve properly cooked burgers that taste delicious for any meal.

1. Ground beef with 80/20 fat content produces moist, flavorful burgers during cooking. The proper amount of fat prevents the meat from becoming dry and adds natural taste to each patty.
2. Adding salt and pepper directly into the ground beef creates an even distribution of seasoning. This preparation step ensures each portion contains the right amount of flavor throughout the meat.
3. A flat pan heated to medium-high temperature creates the needed sizzle when the patties touch the surface. The proper heat level develops a brown exterior while maintaining moisture inside the burger.
4. The correct spatula makes a significant difference in maintaining the burger's shape. A wide, thin spatula slides smoothly under each patty and preserves the browned surface during flipping.
5. Single flips produce better results than multiple turns during cooking. Allowing each side to cook completely develops an even brown surface on both sides of the burger.
6. Following specific temperature guidelines ensures properly cooked burgers every time. The internal temperature indicates when each burger reaches the correct doneness level for safe consumption.
7. Making uniform-sized patties helps ensure even cooking across all burgers. Creating a small dimple in the center of each patty prevents it from puffing up during cooking, maintaining a flat shape.
8. Letting the burgers rest for 3-5 minutes after cooking allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. This simple step prevents the juices from running out when serving.
9. Keeping the pan uncovered while cooking helps achieve a better crust. This technique allows moisture to escape, creating that desirable browned exterior that adds texture and flavor.

Hamburgers offer versatility in cooking methods, allowing preparation in various kitchen appliances. Each method produces different textures and flavors while maintaining the essential qualities of a good burger.

These cooking variations provide options based on available equipment and personal preferences.

1. Grilled Burgers:

A preheated grill set to medium heat creates the traditional grilled burger experience. The burgers cook for 10 to 12 minutes total with the grill lid closed. Turning the burgers once halfway through cooking ensures even results, and the meat reaches a safe temperature of 160 degrees.

2. Air-Fried Burgers:

Air fryers provide a prompt method for cooking hamburgers at 350 degrees. The burgers require six to eight minutes of total cooking time in the air fryer basket. A single turn halfway through cooking creates even browning, and the burgers finish when reaching 160 degrees internal temperature.

3. Oven Burgers:

Oven cooking offers a simple approach using a greased baking sheet at 350 degrees. The burgers need 15 to 20 minutes to reach the proper internal temperature of 160 degrees. Flipping once during cooking ensures both sides develop equal color and texture.

Various potato-based side dishes complement stovetop burgers, adding different textures and flavors to the meal. Each preparation method creates unique tastes that pair with burger seasonings. These sides for burger turn this dish into a complete and satisfying meal.

• Cajun Fries: Standard potatoes cut into strips and seasoned with cajun spices create a spicy accompaniment. The fries develop a crunchy exterior while maintaining a soft interior during cooking. These pair particularly well with burgers topped with pepper jack cheese and spicy mayo for a complete flavor experience.

• Shoestring Fries: Potatoes cut into very thin strips produce delicate, extra-crispy fries. The thin size allows quick cooking and maximum crispiness throughout each piece. A sprinkle of salt and black pepper enhances these fries, making them perfect for dipping in ketchup or garlic aioli alongside burgers.

• Skillet-Fried Potatoes: Diced potatoes cooked in a hot skillet evolve golden-brown surfaces and tender centers. A combination of salt, pepper, and dried herbs seasons these potatoes during cooking. The crispy edges provide texture contrast with soft burger buns.

• Sweet Potato Fries: Sweet potatoes cut into wedges offer a healthier substitute with natural sweetness. The fries develop caramelized edges during cooking while maintaining their distinctive flavor. These fries complement burgers topped with regular cheese or blue cheese crumbles.

• Ranch Roasted Potatoes: Potato chunks tossed with ranch seasoning create a savory side dish. The potatoes roast until golden brown, developing crispy exteriors and fluffy interiors. This variation works well with classic cheeseburgers topped with lettuce and tomato.

Cooked hamburgers require proper storage to hold their quality and safety. Place leftover burgers in sealed containers before storing them in the refrigerator.

These cooked patties remain fresh for four days when refrigerated properly. For longer storage, place the burgers in freezer containers where they stay good for four months.

Raw burger patties allow advance preparation up to two days before cooking. Form the patties into desired shapes without adding salt, and store them in covered containers in the refrigerator.

These uncooked patties last in the freezer for four months when stored in appropriate freezer containers. Moving frozen patties to the refrigerator overnight allows proper thawing before cooking.

Similarly, reheating stored burgers requires attention to maintain their moisture and flavor. Place the burgers in a covered pan over medium heat.

Add a little amount of water to create steam, which prevents the meat from drying out. Heat the burgers until they reach 165 degrees for safe consumption.

Freezing Burgers

The freezing process starts after the burgers cool completely to room temperature. Wrap each burger separately in aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn.

Place the wrapped burgers inside freezer bags, removing excess air before sealing. Label the bags with the current date, as frozen burgers maintain quality for three months.