Hamburgers

Ingredients :

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 4 hamburger buns, split

Seasoning Options: (If desired, add any of the following to the ground meat)

• 2 tbsp. green onion, sliced
• 2 tbsp. sweet pickle relish
• 2 tbsp. pimiento-stuffed olives, chopped
• 1 tbsp. prepared horseradish (or 1/4 tsp. garlic, minced)

(Conversions For Cooking)

Cooking Procedures :

1. Shape meat into four 1/2 inch thick patties.
2. Pan broil, broil, bake, or grill as directed below.
3. Serve on buns.

To Panbroil Patties

1. Heat a heavy skillet until very hot.
2. Sprinkle surface of skillet lightly with salt.  Add patties.
3. Cook over medium-high heat until desired doneness, turning only once.  (allow about 6 minutes total time for rare; about 8 minutes for medium; about 10 minutes for well-done).
4. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.  If necessary, partially covered skillet to prevent spaterring.

To Broil Patties

1. Place patties on rack of unheated broiler pan.
2. Broil 3 inches from heat until desired doneness, turning only once (allow about 8 minutes total time for rare; about 10 minutes for medium; about 12 minutes for well-done).
3. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.

To Bake Patties

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Place patties into a 8 x 8 x 2 inch baking pan.  Cover with foil.
3. Bake until desired doneness (allow 20-25 minutes for rare; 25-30 minutes for medium; 30-35 minutes for well-done).
4. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

To Grill Patties

1. Preheat grill to 400°F (if using propane gas grill).
2. Let coals burn for 20-30 minutes or until ash-gray (if using charcoal grill). Spread out in single layer.  Check temperature of coals (see tip below).  Position grill 4 inches above coals.
3. Place burger patties on a hot grill.
4. Grill burgers until desired doneness, turning only once.
5. Sprinkle both sides of burgers with salt and pepper.

Determine the cooking temperature of coals by holding your hand just above the hot coals at the height where the burgers will be cooking.  Then count the seconds you can hold that position.  If you need to withdraw your hand after 3 seconds, the coals are medium-hot and after 4 seconds, the coals are medium.

If the burgers cook too quickly because the coals are too hot, raise the grill, close the vents, or remove some hot coals.  If the burgers cook too slowly because the coals aren””t hot enough, lower the grill, open the vents, move coals closer together, or tap ashes from burning coals.

Open Grill

• medium-hot (coals temperature): allow about 8-10 minutes total time for rare and about 10-12 minutes for medium

Open Grill

• medium (coals temperature): allow about 10-12 minutes total time for rare and about 12-15 minutes for medium

Covered Grill

• medium-hot (coals temperature): allow about 7-9 minutes total time for rareand about 8-10 minutes for medium

Covered Grill

• medium (coals temperature): allow about 8-10 minutes total time for rareand about 10-12 minutes for medium

Helpful Tips
TURN OUT UNIFORM BURGERS by starting with equal portions of meat.  Just scoop meat into a 1/2 cup measure, and then turn out and shape into a patty.  Or, form meat into a roll 4 inches in diameter and cut into 1/2 inch slices.

Making all of the burgers a uniform size helps ensure that they will cook evenly.  Shape burgers carefully.  However, too much handling will give them a compact texture.

FOR A STUFFED BURGER, spoon desired filling in the center of one patty.  Leave a margin of about 1/2 inch around the edge for sealing to help ensure that the filling stays inside the burger during cooking.  Top with a second patty and press the edges of the patties together with fingers to seal.  If necessary, gently reshape stuffed burger to make it even.

USING A WIRE GRILL BASKET when grilling burgers makes it much easier to turn them.  Choose a hinged basket that allows adjustment to the thickness of the burgers.  Open the basket and place the burgers on one side.  Hook the other side on top.  To turn the burgers, simply invert the grill basket – you don't need to turn them one by one.