Cooking burgers on a griddle is a simple and convenient way to prepare a batch for many people.
The even distribution of heat on the flat surface helps burgers cook evenly.
You don’t have to worry about it being raw on the inside and overcooked on the outside.
However, the cooking temperature will decide the quality of the results.
So, what is the ideal griddle temperature for burgers?
Ideal Temperature for Burgers on A Griddle
The minimum temperature required for cooking a burger on a griddle is 350°F. At this temperature, the burger will cook well without burning.
Cooking burgers at a lower temperature will make them unsafe to consume.
You can, however, cook burgers at a higher temperature.
Most griddles operate at a temperature of 400°F or more, which is suitable for cooking burgers.
Steps to Set the Ideal Griddle Temperature for Burgers
Let’s look at how to set the griddle temperature to make the perfect burgers.
1. Preheat the Griddle
For certain dishes like grilled cheese sandwiches, you can directly place the bread on a cold griddle.
It will cook as the griddle warms. However, this approach isn’t ideal for cooking meat.
You should always preheat the griddle before placing the raw burgers on it for cooking.
This ensures that the meat starts cooking right away without spending any time in the danger zone.
Turn on all the burners of the griddle to preheat it.
The temperature of the cooking surface will gradually start rising.
It will take a few minutes for the entire surface to heat.
Once the entire griddle has heated up, you can gradually turn off the burners at the outer edges.
This will reduce the area of the heated surface. However, it will usually be enough for a small batch of burgers.
2. Check the Griddle Temperature Using a Thermometer
Wait for the griddle to reach temperatures between 350°F to 400°F to start cooking.
You can use a thermometer to check the temperature.
Alternatively, you can also sprinkle a few drops of water on the cooking surface.
If it sizzles and evaporates immediately, the griddle is ready for cooking.
An electric griddle will quickly achieve the required temperature.
If all the burners are on at once, it will heat evenly.
So you will not have any hot or cold spots.
Once it reaches the desired temperature, you can start cooking the burgers.
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3. Spread Oil on The Griddle
You will not have trouble flipping burgers on a well-seasoned cast iron griddle.
Nonetheless, it’s a good idea to spread oil on the griddle for cooking the burgers.
A thin layer of oil will do. The oil will ensure that the burgers crisp up better.
You can use a pastry brush to spread oil on the griddle.
Alternatively, you can also use a paper towel dipped in oil to grease the griddle surface.
4. Place the Burgers on The Griddle
The griddle temperature can rise quickly when there is no food on the surface.
So place the burgers on the surface as soon as it has preheated.
You can check if it’s ready to cook by sprinkling a few drops of water on the surface.
If the water sizzles quickly and boils, the surface is hot. You can start laying the burgers on the griddle.
The burgers should sizzle and start cooking as soon as the meat hits the griddle surface.
If it doesn’t make a sizzling sound, the griddle isn’t hot enough.
When laying a batch of burgers on the griddle, space them out evenly.
Each burger should have enough space to cook properly on all sides.
Crowding them will affect the outcome.
5. Maintain the Griddle Temperature
An electric griddle will usually maintain a steady temperature unless you turn the knobs.
The entire surface stays warm if you keep all the burners running.
However, you may not need a large cooking surface for a small batch of food.
In this case, you can turn off some of the burners.
We recommend turning off or reducing the burners at the ends while keeping the ones in the middle on.
It will close the vents at the sides and concentrate the heat in the center of the griddle.
The heat should remain stable throughout the cooking process.
If the temperature begins to fall, fire up the remaining burners to increase the temperature.
Factors to Consider when Cooking Burgers on A Griddle
It’s not difficult to cook burgers on a griddle.
However, you should take care of a few factors to ensure that the results are always impressive.
Let’s find out what they are.
1. Cook for Four to Five Minutes on Each Side
The cooking time for a burger depends on its thickness.
Thicker burgers will take longer to cook through than thin ones.
So you will have to add a few extra minutes for a thick burger to cook properly.
Burgers of standard thickness need four to five minutes of cooking on each side.
They should cook at an even temperature for doneness.
Thinner burgers will need less time; around three minutes on each side should be enough.
While cooking, keep an eye on the burgers to ensure they aren’t burning.
The burgers should be done thoroughly on one side before flipping them over.
Flipping them too soon can make them break.
2. Monitor the Internal Temperature of The Meat
Consuming partially cooked or uncooked meat is very dangerous. It can lead to severe digestive problems.
Hence, you should ensure that burgers cooked on a griddle are properly done before taking them off.
Just relying on the cooking time isn’t enough since it’s affected by the temperature of the griddle.
The best way to ensure a burger is done is to check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer.
The insides of the burger should be 165°F for proper doneness.
Check at different places to make sure the burger is cooked thoroughly.
If you don’t have a meat thermometer, make an incision in the burger.
The meat should be white. The juices from the burger should also run clear.
If it’s still pink in any section, it hasn’t cooked enough. Treat even a slightly pink bit as uncooked, and avoid eating it.
3. Space the Burgers out Evenly
When placing burger patties on the griddle, don’t overcrowd them.
The way you place them will decide how well they cook on all sides.
Leave a few inches of space on all sides of the burger to ensure that they cook properly.
There should be enough space between them.
The heat from the griddle should reach the burgers on all sides so they cook properly.
You should also be able to comfortably flip the burgers midway through the cooking process.
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4. Consider Shrinking of The Meat
The burgers will shrink as they cook. This is because the fat in the meat is lost during the cooking process.
You can’t completely prevent the meat from shrinking. However, you can prevent the burger from losing its shape.
For this, make a small depression in the center of the burger patty.
It will help the middle part expand more than the edges.
As a result, the burger will have an even thickness when cooked. It will also hold its shape better.
