There are several methods on how to cook burgers on a gas grill. When the weather is prime for cooking on the grill you want to make sure you have everything you need to get that perfect grilled burger. We are going to talk about how to prepare your burger patties, what should the temperature of the grill be and the length of time to cook the burgers. Do you keep the grill lid open or closed and why, how do you know when the burgers are done on a gas grill, and other tips you should know for how to cook burgers on a gas grill.
When you cook burgers on a gas grill you get heat into the burger just from it touching the grill grates and also from the heat below going in between the grill grates. The advantage of cooking on a gas grill is that fat can drip down from the burger onto the flavor bars below. When the fat burns off it creates a mist-like occurrence coming up through the grill, and this is what makes the burger have the charbroiled taste.
When cooking burgers on a flat surface you get more direct heat transfer and the moisture from the fat in the meat stays with the burger. This can prevent browning, but if your heat is high enough that wouldn’t be a problem! Also, the burger cooks in its own fat letting the flavors from the rendered fat distribute throughout the burger.
When you grill burgers directly on a gas grill it gives that char flavor and, for those who like that charred look, you can also get the grill marks on the burger. Keep in mind too that there will be less fat left in the burger. If done properly, you will still have a juicy burger.
You can also use a cast-iron skillet put directly on the grill. You will still get that outdoor grilled flavor but not lose any of the fat through the grill grates.
How to Make the Burger Patties That Don’t Fall Apart
How do you make the burger patties so they don’t fall apart on the grill? Well, prepping your burgers for the grill is just as important as the actual cook. A problem we see and experience most when grilling burgers on a gas grill, or any grill, is how do you keep the patties from falling apart? The burgers fall into the grill when I try to flip them over or they just basically crumble when putting them on the grill!
If you prepare the patties ahead of time so you can keep them in the fridge for a bit, it helps to keep them together. You don’t want them to be at room temperature. Be sure you adjust this time if you are dealing with a very hot day. Also, if you make your patties in a press, they won’t fall apart as using a press makes the meat bind together. Keeping the patties cool and not overworking the meat will ensure that the burger patties will not fall apart when you put them on the grill.
Here are some steps to preparing the burgers just before going on the grill:
- Make sure your grill is piping hot.
- Clean the grill with a good grill brush once it has heated to temperature. Always cook with clean grates. Heat up the grill and before cooking, brush down the grates well with a good grill brush. There are many good ones with stainless steel wire bristles – just be sure to be careful if any come off that they don’t get into your food.
- Season the burgers on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Don’t oil the grill grates – oil the burgers instead. This will keep the flare-ups from happening with the oil going down the grates if you oil those instead. You may still have some flare-up, but not big.
What Temperature Do You Grill Burgers on a Gas Grill?
What is the best temperature to grill burgers on a gas grill – high heat or medium?
You want to preheat your grill to a high temperature of about 450 to 500 degrees. If your grill doesn’t have a thermometer on the lid, a good test is to hold your hand about an inch over the grill grates and you can only keep it there for about a second. Then you know your grill is nice and hot.
You can also get a grill thermometer if you don’t want to put your hand near the hot grill and/or you want to be sure of the right temperature of the grill.
To assure you are cooking your burgers through and still getting that nice outside char, set the flame to high over half of the grill depending on how many burgers you are making. You want to set the other half at a medium heat so you can sear the burgers on the high heat side and then transfer them to the low heat side to finish cooking through.
How Long Do You Cook Burgers on a Gas Grill?
The length of time in how to cook burgers on a gas grill will vary according to your grill. But a rule of thumb is 3 to 5 minutes on each side depending on the thickness of the patty. Of course, if you have a thinner patty or even if you are using a frozen patty you will have to adjust your cooking time.
Place the burgers on the high heat part of the grill so you can get that sear going. Leave the burgers until you are ready to turn. Once seared on both sides, then move the burgers to the lower heat to complete the cooking process.
What Oil to Use on Burgers to Keep Them From Sticking?
We talked previously about oiling the burgers and not the grill grates to avoid those big flare-ups. But what oil is the best to use on burgers to keep them from sticking to the grill grates? You want an oil with what is called a high smoke point. The smoke point of any oil is the temperature in which the oil stops shimmering and starts smoking. This is also known as the burning point and according to The Globe and Mail, cooking with oil does matter.
Why is this important? If the oil you are using has a low smoke point and you are using a high cooking heat, the oil will start to give off chemicals when it reaches its smoke point and this will give your burgers a burned or bitter flavor. It can also release free radicals into your body, which can be very harmful. And we definitely don’t want that.
So when cooking burgers on high heat on the gas grill you want to use an oil with a high smoke point because it will have a neutral flavor and a longer shelf life.
Choices of oils are:
- Avocado Oil – this has a very high smoke point of about 520 degrees
- Sunflower Seed Oil – smoke point of about 450 degrees
- Vegetable Oil – up to 400-450 degrees
- Grapeseed Oil – smoke point of 420 degrees
- Canola Oil – smoke point of 400 degrees
When to Grill With the Lid Open or Closed
Part of how to cook burgers on a gas grill is the lid – do you keep it open or closed? There are definitely two schools of thought when it comes to this conundrum. Grill lid open or closed; which is best and what should I do? Well, a little bit of both actually.
When cooking burgers on a gas grill with the lid open it will take longer for the burgers to cook. You are losing heat when you open the lid, just like when you open your oven door. The temperature will go down.
However, leaving the lid open does give a darker sear on the burgers so you may want to give it a try. It is similar to searing on the stove. You are cooking it quickly to get that browning reaction on the outside. If you want to brown, but not necessarily that dark char then go ahead and close the lid.
Once you have that sear on your burgers you want to then move the burgers to the lower heated portion of the grill and close that lid. If you continue to leave the lid open, the food will continue to cook but it will take longer and you then lose that juiciness in the burger you worked so hard to get!
If you decide to leave the lid closed from the beginning it will allow heat to build which will make the burgers cook more quickly. If you are staying by the grill when cooking, which you should anyway, and keeping an eye on the burgers you can close the lid. Do this if you want to get the burgers done a bit more quickly.
When keeping the grill lid closed you will get a brown burger, of course, but if you want that dark, crusty sear you won’t achieve that as much as you would with the lid open at the beginning of cooking.
When you cook with ground beef with a high-fat ratio of say 75/15 or even 80/10, you run the risk of more flare-ups due to the larger amount of fat dripping down into the grill. This can result in overcooked burgers. Leaving the lid closed can help reduce the number of flare-ups you get using high-fat meat.
Try it a couple of different ways until you find the way you like your burgers the best. It all comes down to your preference and taste.
Can You Use a Cast Iron Skillet on the Grill?
Cast iron is a great heat-holder on the stove, but can you use a cast-iron skillet on the grill? In a word, yes. Putting a cast iron skillet on the grill grates is no different than using it on the stove. This can be a good alternative if you aren’t cooking a lot of burgers and you want that nice grilled flavor.
If you do have a lot of burgers, consider using a cast iron griddle so you have a bigger cooking surface. Cast iron has a high heat tolerance and that is why it is used so much for searing meats. Because you may struggle with varying temperatures on your grill, using cast iron is a good alternative.
Cast iron absorbs and distributes heat evenly throughout the pan so it can help with a more even cook. If you want that grilled flavor on your gas grill, but don’t want to lose the fat that is giving the burgers the juiciness, use a cast-iron skillet on the grill.
There is nothing special you have to do when using the skillet or griddle. Just heat up the grill as you would normally. Once heated, put the skillet on the grill for about 10 minutes, just as you would on the stove, to preheat it.
Do be careful when handling as cast iron gets very hot and retains the heat for a long time. Before handling once your cooking is finished, just let it cool down to be safe.
The Conclusion to How to Cook Burgers on a Gas Grill
You should have some great burger cookouts if you follow the steps we have outlined on how to cook burgers on a gas grill. For the burger buns you can toast these on the grill when cooking the burgers – be sure to lightly oil or butter first, and if you love grilled onions, add some slices to the grill too. These don’t take long at all and make great toppings for your burgers.
You might even want to try grilling tomato slices or any other topping you want to have that great grill flavor. And absolutely don’t forget the cheese!!!
Let us know if you have your own methods of grilling burgers on a gas grill. We love to hear your ideas.