Grilling burgers to perfection can be tricky. It’s easy to accidentally overcook or undercook them. Using a doneness chart as a guide can help you cook burgers just the way you like them. In this article, we’ll explain what a doneness chart is, provide a doneness chart for hamburgers, and give tips on how to use it.
What is a Doneness Chart?
A doneness chart indicates the internal temperature and visual signs you should look for when cooking meat to various levels of doneness. Doneness levels typically range from very rare to well done. For burgers, the doneness chart focuses on temperatures and visual cues when cooking ground beef patties on a grill or stove top.
Doneness charts provide a helpful guide, but getting the hang of cooking burgers perfectly takes practice. Variables like patty thickness, grill temperature, and personal taste can impact your results. With experience, you’ll learn how long to cook patties of different thicknesses and ratios of fat to meat.
Doneness Chart for Hamburgers
Here is a doneness chart for hamburger patties:
| Doneness Level | Internal Temp | Visual Cues |
|---|---|---|
| Very Rare | 115°F – 125°F | Bright red center, very soft |
| Rare | 125°F – 130°F | Bright red center, soft |
| Medium Rare | 130°F – 135°F | Warm pink center |
| Medium | 140°F – 145°F | Slightly pink center |
| Medium Well | 150°F – 155°F | Trace of pink in center |
| Well Done | 160°F+ | No pink, brown throughout |
As you can see, the doneness levels for burgers range from very rare (115°F) to well done (160°F+). The lower the temperature, the rarer the center of the burger will be. Many people prefer burgers in the medium rare to medium range.
Very Rare
A very rare hamburger is cooked on the outside but still bright red and quite soft in the middle. The center of the patty will only reach between 115-125°F. This doneness is popular with those who want beef that is lightly cooked but still cool and bright in color.
Rare
Rare burgers register from 125-130°F internally. At this stage, the meat is still bright red and quite tender throughout, while the exterior should be nicely seared.
Medium Rare
Many burger aficionados consider medium rare to be the ideal doneness. It typically reaches 130-135°F internally. You’ll see a warm pink center that is firmer than rare beef but still juicy and tender.
Medium
Medium burgers reach 140-145°F on the inside. At this doneness, the patty will show a slight trace of pink toward the center but look mostly brown throughout otherwise.
Medium Well
Cook a burger to 150-155°F for medium well doneness. It will have just a hint of pinkness inside but be mostly brown. The meat fibers will be firmer than more rare patties.
Well Done
Burgers cooked to 160°F and beyond are considered well done. They lose all evidence of pinkness and take on a uniformly brown color from edge to edge. The burger may start to get tougher as it cooks past the well done stage.
How to Use a Doneness Chart
Here are some tips for getting the most out of a hamburger doneness chart:
1. Choose target doneness
Decide if you want rare, medium, well done, etc. If unsure, medium rare or medium is a safe bet.
2. Weigh patties
Patty thickness affects cooking time. Weighing ensures consistent sizes for even cooking.
3. Insert meat thermometer
Use an instant-read thermometer to check internal temp when nearing target temp.
4. Compare to visual cues
Cross-check temperature with visual doneness signs like color.
5. Adjust cooking time
For thicker/thinner patties, adjust cooking time up or down.
6. Let rest before serving
Let burgers rest 5 minutes after cooking so juices redistribute.
Tips for Cooking Burgers
In addition to using a doneness chart, keep these tips in mind for grilling or pan-frying burgers:
- Preheat grill or pan to the same temperature each time for consistency.
- Gently shape patties without over-handling to avoid dense texture.
- Make a slight dimple in the center of patties to prevent bulging as they cook.
- Cook patties of the same thickness together for even doneness.
- Flip burgers gently halfway through cooking to prevent breaking apart.
- Add cheese shortly before burgers reach desired doneness so it melts.
- Avoid pressing burgers as they cook, which squeezes out juices.
Conclusion
Getting the perfect level of doneness when cooking hamburgers takes some skill. A doneness chart provides temperature and appearance guidelines to help you pull patties off the grill or pan at just the right time. For rare burgers, cook to an internal temperature of 125°F. Medium burgers should reach 145°F and well done burgers 160°F+. With the doneness chart as a handy reference and some practice, you’ll be able to master cooking juicy burgers to everyone’s preferred doneness.