In brief
- Sear the hamburger briefly on high heat, then cook it through on medium heat.
- Allow 4 to 6 minutes per side for a burger about 1.5 cm thick.
- Ground beef must be fully cooked: an internal temperature of at least 70°C.
- Do not press the burger flat while cooking, or you will lose the juices.
A juicy hamburger from the pan is easy to make, as long as you don’t press it flat and cook it thoroughly. Unlike a steak, ground meat must always be fully cooked. Here’s how to do it.
How to cook a hamburger step by step?
- Bring the burgers to room temperature and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat a pan well and sear the burgers briefly on high heat.
- Turn the heat to medium and cook them through.
- Flip once and do not press the burger flat.
- Let them rest briefly before placing on the bun.
How long should you cook a hamburger?
Allow 4 to 6 minutes per side for a burger about 1.5 cm thick, on medium heat. Thicker burgers need more time. Keep in mind that ground meat must always be fully cooked, so it’s better to cook them a little longer than too short.
At what internal temperature is a hamburger done?
A hamburger made from ground beef is done at an internal temperature of at least 70°C. Unlike a whole steak, you cannot leave ground meat rare because bacteria are spread throughout the meat and are only killed by thorough cooking. A meat thermometer gives you certainty here.
Which pan should you use for hamburgers?
A heavy frying pan with a thick base retains heat when the cold burgers go in, so they brown nicely instead of steaming. Which pan is best for what purpose is explained in our pan guide.
How to cook a juicy burger
Sear briefly, cook through on medium heat to at least 70°C, and above all: don’t press it flat. This way you keep a juicy, well-cooked hamburger instead of a dry patty.
