Now that the summer is right around the corner it's time to start prepping for our annual barbecues. Everyone loves a good hamburger or hot dog, but what happens if you don't have a grill or a rainstorm brings everyone inside? It might seem like the day's ruined, but the party isn't over. There are ways to cook burgers in a variety of other ways.
We're going to teach you how to cook burgers on the stove, how to cook burgers in the oven, and even how to cook burgers in a microwave!
Quick Tips
We covered the kinds of beef you should get and how to shape your patties for the grill. But there are ways you can make your hamburgers indoors as well and there are some key points you should follow before you get started:
- You can use pre-packaged beef from the grocery store, but if you want to make a delicious burger you should really be using freshly ground beef.
- Aim to get beef from the chuck of the cow, which is right around a cow's shoulders. Chuck cuts of beef tend to have a great lean-to-fat ratio.
- Aim to get beef that has about 20% fat. The remaining 80% of the beef will be lean, making the lean-to-fat ratio 80/20.
- Don't pack your patties too tight or you'll end up with a dried out hamburger.
- Press your thumb in the middle of a patty to create an indentation. This indent will prevent the middle of your beef from puffing up as you cook it.
- When it comes to seasoning your burger, don't salt your beef before you shape them. The salt will ruin the juices, so it's best to salt them before you cook them.
- Refrain from pushing your patties down with the spatula as this gets rid of the juices in the meat.
- Only turn your burgers once.
You should really be using a meat thermometer to determine your burger's doneness. The USDA suggests that you don't remove a beef patty from heat until it reaches an internal heat of 160 degrees F. You'll most likely have a more flavorful burger if the internal temperature is lower than 160 degrees, but it's still considered a safe temperature if you cook to 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on the kind of burger you want, the internal temperatures will shift.
Medium Rare: 140-145 degrees Fahrenheit
Medium: 155-160 degrees Fahrenheit
Medium Well: 165 degrees Fahrenheit
Well Done: 170 degrees Fahrenheit
1. Cooking Burgers On The Stove
What You'll Need
- Ground beef patties
- Meat thermometer
- Skillet/pan
- 2 teaspoons of canola oil
Steps
- Pour the oil into the pan and let it preheat over medium heat until the pan is hot. This should take about 5-6 minutes.
- Put a beef patty in the pan and cook it for about 3-4 minutes on the first side. Do not flip or squish the patty with your spatula.
- After 3-4 minutes, flip the patty and cook it for an additional 3-4 minutes.
- Place your meat thermometer into the patty and check its internal temperature. The USDA suggests that the internal temperature be 160 degrees Fahrenheit before you remove it from the heat.
- Once everything is good to go, remove from heat.
2. Cooking Burgers In The Oven
What You'll Need
- Ground beef patties
- Meat thermometer
- Baking sheet
- Oven mitts
- Tongs
Steps
- Turn on the oven to 400F.
- Preheat the ungreased baking sheet in the oven for about five minutes.
- Put on oven mitts and place the hamburger patties on the baking sheet.
- Leave the patties to cook for 10 minutes on one side.
- Put on your mitts and use the tongs to flip them over to the other side after 10 minutes.
- Let the other side cook for an additional 10 minutes.
- Stick the meat thermometer in the patty and check its internal temperature.
- Once it reaches a safe temperature, remove the baking sheet from the oven and serve the burgers.
3. Cooking Burgers In The Microwave
What You'll Need
- Ground beef patties
- Microwave-safe dish
- Wax paper
- Tongs
- Meat thermometer
Steps
- Place your beef patties on a microwave-safe dish lined with a sheet of wax paper. Cover your meat with another sheet of wax paper or a paper towel to avoid splatter.
- Set the microwave for two minutes and let the first side cook.
- Once the time is up, use the tongs to flip the patties over. Cook the second side for an additional minute.
- Once the minute has passed, check the internal temperature of the patty to see if it has reached a safe temperature.
- As soon as your patties have reached a safe temperature, take them out of the microwave and serve.
So there you go! You no longer need to worry if the rain keeps you inside or if you find yourself without a grill. There are lots of ways to keep the party going inside your house with these simple ways to make hamburgers indoors.