1. Flex your thumbprint.
Nope, it's not an old wives tale
that making an indent into your burger patty with your thumb is important. Don't
skip this step! As the meat cooks, the patty shrinks, so this will help it keep
its shape and ensure even cooking.
2. Get your grill HOT.
You don't want your burger patties
to touch the grill until the grates are smokin' hot. Heat your grill to high
and bust out the oil—you'll need it for your brushing the grates to prevent
sticking.
3. Time each side.
After you've successfully cooked a
lot of juicy burgers, you'll be able to tell when a patty is ready by feel. But
until then, don't be ashamed to time each side. For medium-rare burgers that
are about an inch thick, you'll need to cook for 4 minutes per side, or until
the internal temperature reaches 130°-135°. We
try
not to judge
people that prefer their burgers well done, but we seriously discourage a
cook time of 7+ minutes per side.
