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Forget fine dining! Given a choice, most people would much rather sink their teeth into a big, juicy BBQ burger. Burgers have been around for over a century and are the ultimate convenience food. After all, what could be simpler and more satisfying than a meat patty, grilled to perfection and placed in a soft bun and topped with sauces and a few choice vegetables? But, of course, let’s not forget the melted cheese.
Before you start drooling, there are differences between an ordinary burger and a fabulous one. There is more to a burger than just a flat mound of minced meat and some bread. To really enjoy a burger, you need to know the best meat to use and how to cook the patty to perfection. Well, we have all the answers! Here’s how to create the perfect BBQ burger for a fantastic taste sensation every time.
What Is The Best Meat For A BBQ Burger? [i]
Interestingly, the perfect BBQ burger doesn’t necessarily mean you need an expensive cut of beef. While very tasty, the lean cuts of beef often produce a dry patty when grilled. As a general rule of thumb, you want a lean meat cut with at least 20% fat. The fat content will add lots of flavour and prevent the burger from drying out on the grill. Look for chuck steak, round steak or sirloin that has been coarsely ground. As long as there is a little fat in the meat, you’ll have a tasty burger.
What’s The Ideal Temperature For Cooked Burgers?
Minced meat can be tricky to cook with, and due to it already being ground, there is always a potential for bacteria to form. You should cook burgers long enough to ensure food safety, but you don’t want to overcook your burgers and have them resemble pressed sawdust. Ideally, the temperature of your cooked burgers should be around 70°C (160°F). [ii] A food thermometer placed into the burger from the side is the easiest way to check the temperature but if you don’t have a thermometer, ensure the outside of the burger has a nice char. You can also press the patty down with a spatula, and if the juices run clear, you’ve successfully cooked your burger.
For a twist on the traditional, why not try a pulled pork burger?
How To BBQ Burgers To Perfection
BBQing burgers to perfection[iii] take a little care and great timing. As simple as burgers are, so much can go wrong. Apart from choosing the right cuts of meat to grind, here are some tips on achieving perfectly cooked BBQ burgers:
- Keep your meat refrigerated until it’s time to prepare your burger patties.
- Lightly season your minced meat, and try not to overwork the meat when mixing in the seasoning.
- Using a measuring cup, scoop out equal portions of the mince so that all your patties are the same size and weight.
- Form patties that are nice and round. Try to keep them to the same thickness. One inch is a safe thickness to start, but you can experiment with different thicknesses as you gain more experience with BBQing burgers.
- Once you have formed the patties, refrigerate them. The idea is to keep the fat in the burger as cold as possible right up until it’s time to grill them.
- While your burger patties are chilling, light your BBQ and let the coals burn to bright red embers.
- Place your patties on a hot grill. Cook them for about 4 to 6 minutes on each side. Use a food thermometer to ensure the patties are cooked through.
- Once cooked, remove the patties from the grill onto a plate and let them rest for a few minutes before placing them in a bun with your favourite toppings.
Simple BBQ Burger Recipe
If you’re new to creating your own burgers, keep it simple. Once you master this basic recipe, you can start experimenting with different herbs and spices for seasoning.
For four servings, you will need the following:
Equipment
- A good BBQ or a fire pit with fire pit grills
- A large mixing bowl
- A spatula & a serving platter
Ingredients
- 1 pound of minced beef
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup of breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon each of salt and pepper
Method
- Start by preparing your BBQ grill. Light the fire or BBQ coals. When the coals are red and glowing, your BBQ is ready for grilling.
- Lightly beat the egg and add seasoning and breadcrumbs. Add the beef mince and mix well with your hands. Form 4 burger patties and set them aside.
- Place the burger patties on the preheated BBQ and grill for about 6 minutes on each side.
- Once cooked, remove from the grill and set aside.
Constructing your BBQ burger
Have your burger buns, toppings and sauces ready. Your toppings can include lettuce, tomatoes, caramelized onions, sliced cheese and anything else you like. Place a patty on each bun, and then add the toppings and sauces you like. You should serve your best burger with a side of chips and an icy cold beverage.
Finishing off your BBQ burger
There are no real rules for what else you add to your burger. You can add a variety of salad vegetables, such as lettuce and tomatoes, or you can opt for coleslaw and pickles. The only real rule when it comes to burgers is to have plenty of napkins nearby. Sinking your teeth into a big juicy burger can be quite messy, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying every bite. Be warned, though, once you’ve made and grilled your own BBQ burgers, you’ll find the ones in fast food places fall short of your own great creations.
Sources
[i] https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/which-ground-beef-is-best-for-burgers/
[ii] https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/cooking-tips-tutorials/a36720279/internal-temperature-for-burgers/
[iii] https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-grill-burgers/
Anna is the marketing and office manager for Garden Benches – a premium supplier of high-quality wooden benches and other outdoor furniture.
