How do you keep burgers from puffing on the grill?

Why do my burgers puff up on the grill?

Kenji over at Serious Eats says that this is because grilling or broiling burgers, where heat hits the edges of the burger, cooks and therefore contracts the meat on the outside more quickly than the middle, resulting in the center puffing. The indent counteracts this effect from those cooking methods.

Why do my burgers not stay flat?

Shrinkage happens throughout the cooking process, so a medium-rare patty will retain a larger size than the same sized patty that’s cooked well-done. When burgers are cooked on the grill with the lid closed, the burger may reach a higher temperature too quickly.

Why put an ice cube on a burger?

The ice cube will prevent the burgers from overcooking and add a bit of extra moisture to the beef — something that’s especially helpful if you’re grilling rather large patties. What you’re gonna do is take a ball of ground beef, gently press a little ice cube in the center, and form the beef around it so it’s sealed.

What does adding egg to hamburger do?

When it comes to egg in hamburger patties or meatloaf, the egg serves as a binder to hold the meat and other ingredients together. According to Michigan State University, the higher the fat content, the more the meat shrinks during cooking. You need fat to add flavor and juiciness, but the fat packs on extra calories.

Do you close the grill when cooking burgers?

If you’re grilling quick-cooking foods such as burgers, thin steaks, chops, fish, shrimp, or sliced vegetables directly over the flames, you can leave the grill open. … But when you grill thicker steaks, bone-in chicken, or whole roasts you’ll want the lid down, especially when you’re cooking with indirect heat.

How do you know when burgers are done on the grill?

To see if your burger is ready, just plunge the thermometer into the center of the burger. We suggest putting the thermometer into the side of the burger—that way it’s less likely to go all the way through the meat, and give you a false reading. At 120°F, the burger is rare. At 130°F, it’s medium-rare.