Grilling hamburgers typically depends on the thickness of the patty, grill temperature, and desired doneness. For a standard 1-inch thick patty grilled at about 450° to 500°F, here are general guidelines:
- Rare (125°F internal temperature): Grill about 2 minutes per side, 4 minutes total.
- Medium-rare (135°F): Grill about 2.5 minutes per side, 5 minutes total.
- Medium (145°F): Grill about 3 to 3.5 minutes per side, 6 to 7 minutes total.
- Well-done (160°F): Grill about 4 to 4.5 minutes per side, 8 to 9 minutes total
For typical 4-ounce burgers, a good rule of thumb is 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare on a pellet grill, with thicker patties requiring longer time (up to 4 to 8 minutes per side)
. On a charcoal grill, initial searing over direct heat for 2-3 minutes per side followed by moving to indirect heat to finish cooking is recommended, with total times varying by doneness (medium-rare around 2-3 minutes more, medium 3-4 minutes, well-done 5-6 minutes)
. The USDA recommends cooking ground beef to a minimum internal temperature of 160°F for safety, which corresponds to well-done
. Using a meat thermometer inserted through the side of the patty helps ensure accurate doneness. In summary, expect about 4 to 9 minutes total grilling time for a 1-inch patty depending on how well done you want it, flipping once halfway through the cooking time and avoiding pressing down on the patties to retain juiciness
