Preparation

• Prepare ahead of time a hamburger recipe of your choosing. Form meat into patties, creating wells with your thumb in the center for even cooking. Each patty should be about three-quarters of an inch thick and four and a half inches across. Avoid over-handling the patties to lock in the most moisture as possible. It may be best to have on hand a cooking thermometer to determine proper doneness.

Selecting a Cooking Temperature

• The grill should be preheated on a medium/high setting, or about 375 to 400 degrees. As a general rule, hamburgers should be cooked to an internal temperature of 155 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range is sufficient for killing any harmful bacteria typically found in meat sources.

Cooking the Appropriate Time

• A burger should be cooked for about four minutes on each side for a medium-done patty. For a well-done burger, cook about five minutes on each side. Double-check the center of the burgers with a thermometer to make sure that they reach the appropriate temperature. Some electric grills cook both sides at the same time. If that is the case, split the total cooking time in half.