How to make the perfect burger at home

A good burger is a factor of many things. Here's how to make the perfect burger at home.

Cooking time

30 minutes

Recipe category

Main Meal

Recipe cuisine

Foreign

Cooking method

Frying/Grilling

Recipe Yield

4-6 servings

Nutrition

Contains about 271 calories.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

4 to 6 hamburger buns (split)

Butter or oil

4 to 6 slices cheese, such as cheddar, swiss, American, or provolone (optional)

Toppings: sliced tomatoes, sliced onions, lettuce, ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, pickles, relish

Instructions

1. Divide the ground beef into 4 or 6 portions, depending on the number of burgers you would like to make.

2. Gently press each portion of ground beef into a disk about 1-inch thick. Press the middle to create a shallow "dimple" and pat the edges into a round — the patty should look like a frisbee and be slightly larger than your burger buns. Don't worry if there are some cracks in the edges; try not to mash the beef too much as you shape the patties.

3. Heat a pat of butter or a teaspoon of oil in a griddle or large skillet over medium heat.

4. Working in batches if needed, place the bun halves cut-side down in the warm butter or oil. Toast until the surface is golden-brown. Transfer the toasted buns to a serving plate.

5. Increase the heat to medium-high, and keep a careful eye on the pan. When you see the first wisp of smoke, you're ready to cook the burgers.

6. Place the burger patties in the hot pan, leaving a little space between each one. Work in batches if necessary. The burgers should sizzle on contact — if they don't, nudge the heat up a little. Generously season with salt and pepper, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

7. Quickly slide a spatula under the burgers and flip to the other side. You should see a dark brown sear on the underside — if not, increase your heat next time. Season the other side generously with salt and pepper, and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes to your preferred "doneness". If you don't want to fry, you can grill the patties the same way.

8. For cheeseburgers, top the burgers with cheese as soon as you flip them. If the cheese isn't melting fast enough, cover the pan with a lid or other dome to encourage the cheese to melt.

9. When the burgers have finished cooking, transfer them to the toasted buns and finish with your favourite burger toppings.

Check out how to make chicken burgers.