Tips for grilling the perfect burger

FALLBROOK – Hamburgers are a staple at backyard barbecues. Though burgers are a relatively simple food, mastering the technique to grill them is no small feat, as there is more to great grilled burgers than simply firing up the grill and dropping down a patty.

Consider the following tips the next time you have a craving for delicious barbecued hamburgers:

• Choose fresh ground beef that has a decent percentage of fat. The fat-to-lean meat ratio should be around 20 percent fat to 80 percent meat. Spend a little more to get freshly ground meat that has not been previously frozen.
• Don't overwork the burgers with a lot of handling. This will warm up the fat in the burger, which causes it to emulsify and could make the meat rubbery.
• Reconsider adding a lot of herbs, spices or add-ins to the burgers, as such items can detract from the flavor of the meat. Extra herbs and spices also may require extra mixing, which can lead to over handling. Simply sprinkling both sides of the burger with salt and pepper, and perhaps a little garlic powder, will bring out the burger's flavor.
• Push a dimple into the top of the burger, which will help prevent the burger from expanding upward and out while cooking and rounding out in the process. The dimple will keep the top of the burger flat, which facilitates easy topping.
• Make sure the grill is hot. Burgers do well with high heat and will cook relatively quickly.
• Never push down on the patty with your spatula as this will cause the juices to spill out and may result in a dry, tough burger.
• Don't overcook the burger. A 3/4-inch-thick patty only requires four to five minutes of grilling time a side.
• If making cheese burgers, top the burgers with slices of your favorite cheese during the final minute of cooking and close the grill cover (or put the lid on if using your trusty Weber barbecue) to melt the cheese.
• Let burgers rest a couple of minutes before serving. This lets the juices redistribute throughout and makes for a moist and tasty first bite. While the burgers are resting, put the hamburger buns on the grill for a quick toasting.
• Now that the patties are grilled and the buns are toasted, it's time to build your burger. To enjoy the great taste of the burger, keep your selections of toppings and condiments simple – lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, pickles, ketchup and mayonnaise.
• Serve the burgers with your favorite salads – potato, macaroni, fruit – and you've got a classic summertime meal.