How to Grill the Best Burger in Your Own Backyard

Grilling can be quite intimidating; but follow these simple tips and you will be able to grill the best burger right in your own backyard.

The number one rule to achieving an amazing burger is to buy good meat. This goes for buying any meat in general, but especially important with ground meat. Now for the cut, you want a decent amount of fat content – this is paramount in making a juicy burger. For a flavorful and juicy burger, ideally you want a ratio of 20% fat and 80% meat.

When you start forming your ground meat into patties, you want a good balance so you don’t overwork the patty (meat will become tough) but also don’t want to underwork the patty (meat will become crumbly).  The best method is to lightly toss the meat from your hand and form into balls, and then flatten the balls. Make an indent in the center of the burger; this will help it keep its shape while cooking. Season the patties, once formed, on both sides with salt and pepper. You won’t need much to season the burgers since you will have a fattier cut of meat which brings much flavor to the table. Keep the patties refrigerated until you are ready to grill.

Preheat your grill to medium/medium-high heat. Once the grill is heated up, scrape the grate with a wire brush. After the grate has been cleaned, grease it with a neutral oil, this will help prevent any sticking. Next, place the burger on the grill over direct heat and cover the grill; let them cook for roughly 3 minutes. When the burger easily releases from the grate, then you know it’s time to flip the burger.  From here move the patties over indirect heat; let them cook for about 2-3 minutes each side. Make sure your meat reached the temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit; doing so will make sure harmful bacteria like E. coli has been burned up.  You can verify the temperature with a meat thermometer.

Once the burgers are cooked, remove them from the grill and cover them with foil. The meat will still cook for a few minutes after the burgers have been removed.  Top your burger with cheese, pickles, tomatoes or any other fixings to your liking and serve. Voila! When you break it down, grilling isn’t so bad.