First and foremost, pan-cooked burgers require a frying pan or skillet. If at all possible, use a pan without a nonstick coating. This recipe doesn't work as well in a coated pan because the exterior doesn't develop the nice, crunchy layer this recipe is designed to produce. Other additional ingredients and equipment needed are:
1 T butter per burger
A pastry brush or regular spoon
A sturdy spatula
A cereal bowl (optional)
Buns, condiments, toppings, etc.
How to Pan Cook Burgers, Step-By-Step
1.Melt approximately 1 tablespoon of butter per burger. You probably won't use a whole tablespoon on each one, but this will give you a little leeway, as pastry brushes tend to take up some of the butter. You can either use the stove or microwave to melt your butter. Note: Keep mind that butter melts very quickly. So, always start with a low heat setting or just a few seconds in the microwave. It's better to wait a few extra seconds or turn the microwave back on rather than to deal with hot, exploding butter!
2.While the butter is melting, pre-heat your skillet. Depending on your stove and pan, use medium or medium-high heat. Water should sizzle when it hits the pan.
3.Brush or spoon a liberal coating of butter on each side of the burger.
4.Place the burger in the pan. You should hear it sizzle immediately. If you don't, the pan is too cool and you need to raise the temperature setting. Don't flip, touch, poke, or prod the burger. Let it sizzle away for 3-4 minutes.
5.After those 3-4 minutes have passed, you should notice the burger looks, literally, half cooked -- the bottom of the burger's edge should look cooked, while the top half should still look raw. Use a rigid spatula to carefully flip the burger. You basically want to scrape the bottom of the pan as you push the spatula under the burger. This removes the desirable crust from the pan and keeps it attached to the meat.
6.Allow the burger to cook an additional 2-3 minutes. Use an instant read thermometer to measure the burger's internal temperature, or use the simple hand testing technique demonstrated in the video. If you're not absolutely certain you trust your burger meat, go ahead and cook it to a safe 160 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are confident your meat is freshly ground and high-quality, you can opt for a medium-rare burger and a lower temperature -- but, always make sure to cook the meat to at least 140 degrees.
7.When the burger is done, carefully scrape the pan, again, to ensure that the crust stays on the burger. If you want, you can also place the burger on a paper towel to absorb some of the grease. If you do, however, be prepared to lose some of that tasty crust.
8.For a cheese burger, place the cheese on top of the hot burger and cover it with a small bowl, such as a cereal bowl. Allow the burger to rest for a couple of minutes while the residual heat melts the cheese.
9.Place your burger on a bun along with your favorite toppings and condiments, and enjoy!