How to Cook a Good Seasoned Hamburger on a Stove

Hamburgers are a convenient meal.

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Hamburgers are a simple snack food made almost worldwide with a variety of meats and in numerous styles. Burger patties can be enhanced in a number of ways by adding ingredients to the meat itself. Fresh herbs, seasoning mixes and even cheese can be combined with the ground meat to customize the burger's final taste. On the simplest level, a mixture of lean and fatty ground meat with basic seasoning and a good technique creates a tasty burger.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedGround beef, 80 percent lean 20 percent fatSaltPepperLong-handled spatulaCooking oil sprayProbe thermometerSuggest EditsForming the Patty1

Sprinkle the ground beef with salt and pepper as well as any other seasonings, such as ranch dressing mix or chili. Mix the meat carefully by hand, making sure not to squeeze or compact it as you work the seasonings through the beef. Squeezing the meat together will make the patty tough after cooking.

2

Section the seasoned beef into roughly equal lumps, which will be formed into the patties.

3

Roll each section of beef into a loose ball shape, being careful not to overly compress or handle the meat. Gently flatten the ball into a circular patty shape, and make sure to keep it as even in thickness as possible.

4

Indent each burger patty slightly at the center so the edges are thicker than the center of the burger. As the burger cooks, the center balloons slightly, so if it is not thinner in the middle, the patty will dome in the center.

Cooking the Patty1

Heat the cooking surface to a medium-high temperature and check that it is hot enough to sear the meat. This can be tested by using a little piece of leftover meat. It should sizzle loudly when placed on the cooking surface.

2

Spray the burgers on both sides with a neutral-tasting cooking oil spray before laying them on the heated surface. Be decisive with the patties' placement because you should not move them again until they are ready to flip.

3

Once the patties are cooked on the first side, turn them over by sliding the spatula underneath and flipping each burger once only. Do not squash them down with the spatula, as this will just push out all of the juices.

4

Test the internal temperature of one of the burgers by pushing the thermometer's probe into the side of the patty all the way to the center. It should be a minimum of 160 degrees Fahrenheit to be safe, but can be cooked more for a well-done burger. If all of the patties are the same thickness, you will only need to test one.

Tips & Warnings

If you do not have a meat thermometer, cut one patty in half to check that the center is at least not raw. A hint of pink is usually fine and safe to eat.

Experiment with seasoning levels and types to find the ones you like.

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ReferencesFood Network: Basic Hamburger TipsGood Housekeeping: Hamburger Cooking TipsPhoto Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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