Expert: Keith Patton - 4/18/2005

Question
My choice of meat is fairly simple, but my goal is to cook a 2 pound hamburger patty.  I can assume that I would reduce the heat and cook for a longer time so that I wouldn't burn the outside by the time the inside was done.  But do you have any suggestions or guidelines on what temperature I should use?

Answer
I assume you are using a range top or grill. If using a pan, Low-medium is probably the best setting.   I would braise it in a large covered pan, that is cook it in it's own juice.  Find a covered pan large enough to hold it.  Put foil or a lift out basket in the pan with the foil hainging out far enough that you can use it to lift it out. Then cover it.  Use a meat thermometer to judge doneness in the inside.  Check it periodically and when it gets to around 145-150 in the center it will be done to medium. If you want to turn it lift it out, put foil on top and flip it then put it back in the pan.  same can be done on a grill.  I would use a covered grill and and the foil and turn it the same way.  Another idea is rig a burger basket out of chicken wire, kind of like those baskets you see for cooking fish.  On the coverd grill I would cook it on medium covered.  In the oven, around 250 till the inside is 150 then under the broiler to brown it.

Keith