How To Make Burgers on the Stovetop

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Ingredients:

How To Make Burgers on the Stovetop

Makes 4 (6-ounce) or 6 (4-ounce) burgers

What You Need

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef, 80% to 85% lean
4 to 6 hamburger buns
Butter or oil, for the pan
Salt and pepper
4 to 6 slices cheese, like cheddar, swiss, American, or provolone (optional)
Burger toppings: sliced tomatoes, sliced onions, lettuce, ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, pickles, relish

Equipment
Griddle or skillet — cast iron, stainless steel, or nonstick
Wide, flat spatula

Instructions

1. Divide the ground beef: Break the ground beef into 4 or 6 big chunks, roughly the same size.
2. Shape the patties: Gently press each chunk of ground beef against the counter into a disk roughly an 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. Warm the pan: Set your pan over medium heat. Add a pat of butter or a teaspoon of oil, and let it warm with the pan.
4. Toast the buns: Press the buns into the warm butter or oil, and toast until the surface is golden. Repeat with any buns that didn't fit in the pan, adding more butter or oil as necessary. Transfer the toasted buns to a serving plate.
5. Increase the heat to medium-high: 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. Cook the burgers for 3 to 5 minutes: Transfer the burger patties to 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. Sprinkle the tops generously with salt and pepper, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
7. Flip the burgers and cook another 3 to 5 minutes: 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. Sprinkle the other side generously with salt and pepper, and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes to your preferred doneness. If the burger falls apart when you flip, just press the edges together and carry on — your burger will still be great!

Burger Cooking Times

• Medium-Rare (red in the middle): 6 minutes total
• Medium (pink in the middle): 7 to 8 minutes total
• Medium-Well (a smidge of pink in the middle): 9 minutes total
• Well Done (no pink): 10 minutes total

8. To make cheeseburgers: If making 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. Finish the burgers: When the burgers have finished cooking, transfer them to the toasted buns and finish with your favorite burger toppings.

Recipe Notes

• Double-Batch of Burgers: If you're making burgers for a crowd, cook the burgers in batches and cook the burgers to just under the desired doneness level. Transfer the cooked burgers to a baking sheet and keep warm in a 300°F oven while you finish the rest of the batches.

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