Burgers in the oven: Perfect Burgers to Bake in the Oven

When making burgers in the oven, grilling is the most common method that comes to mind. Baking burgers is an equally great and very delicious alternative. Whether you do not have a grill or even just want an easier way to cook burgers, this will guide you to cooked burger perfection. Baking burgers is easier than any other method, and most other people are starting to bake burgers because you can cook a lot at the same time without the hassle of constantly having to flip the burgers.

Baking burgers allows you to experiment with different ingredients and flavors in a way that a grill would not. You will be able to achieve a nice and even cook to the burgers, which is not so easy to do on an outdoor grill. You will be able to evenly infuse the burgers with a lot of different flavors, and you will not have to deal with the inconvenience of going outside to the grill.

If you’re thinking of cooking burgers, baking them in the oven has some benefits compared to using the grill. For one, when you use the oven, you’re in a better position to control the cooking temperature, reducing the risks of burning the cooking patties. You can also use the oven if the weather is too bad to grill outside. Plus, using the oven is a better option when preparing multiple sliders to serve a large number of people, when compared to the grill. You also have the luxury of not having to wait by the oven as burgers won’t cause any flare ups like a grill might. This affords you more time to prepare any side dishes, or to entertain some guests.

Furthermore, baking is a more health conscious option. Particularly when using a wire rack, the method allows excess fat to drip away from the burgers. You can use the oven to sear the outside of the patties, which can be problematic on a grill, while leaving the insides juicy. You can also guarantee that all the burgers will be done to the same perfection.

How To Make Your Own Burger Patties At Home

Selecting the Appropriate Meat

When making these oven-baked burgers, the first thing you need to do is ensure you have good quality meat to work with. An 80/20 meat-to-fat ratio is the best option. If you are working with a blend that is too lean, it will yield a dry, unappetizing burger. The fat in the 80/20 blend is a good thing, it will render down during cooking and baste the meat to keep it moist. If you need to use a different meat, you can try ground turkey or chicken, but be aware that they are even leaner and you will likely need to add a moisture source, like a drizzle of olive oil, or a finely chopped onion.

If you want an even more interesting flavor, try grinding some pork or lamb to mix in with the beef. This will change the profile of the burger and add a whole new level of richness to it. When you use some of these other meats, just be aware that they will likely change the cooking time. Depending on the fat content and the texture of the meat, they could end up cooking a lot faster or slower than the beef.

Making the Patties

When forming your patties, make them approximately 3/4 inch thick. This will allow for even cooking. Use your thumb to create an indent in the center, helping the burger keep it shape while baking. The indent means the patties will not puff up while cooking, making an even surface for toppings to rest. To make the patties the same shape, use a burger press, or a ring mold, to shape the burgers.

Additionally, try to not pack the meat too tightly, as this will cause a denser texture, making the burger less tender. If you will not be baking the burgers right away, stack and freeze the burgers, with a piece of parchment in between, to allow the meat to further chill while they keep their shape.

Adding your seasonings.

You will want to season the outside of the patties with generous amounts of salt and pepper. If you want, other seasonings can be added as well, like garlic or onion powder, or Worcestershire sauce. The seasonings should be as evenly as possible spread out, as this will help with the overall flavor. If you want to go for a more elevated taste, you can add fresh herbs, or minced garlic, to the meat.

If you’re someone who enjoys some spiciness, you could add some chili flakes or cayenne pepper. Soy sauce or balsamic vinegar could be added for added flavor. Remember that when seasoning, there should be a primary flavor, in this case the meat, that should be the primary taste. Mixed seasonings should be combined with the meat without overworking the meat.

How To Bake Burgers

Preheating the Oven

Set the oven temperate to 375 degrees F (270 degrees C). Burgers will be cooked for around 20 to 25 minutes. 375 is a good oven temperature for cooking the meat without being dried out. Preheating ensures the meat will begin to cook immediately to seal in the flavor and juices. If you are in a hurry, you might be tempted to cook them at a higher temperature. But, with cooked ground meat, preheating is an important step.

If you attempt to attempt to cook burgers at a hotter temperature to get a crispier sear, you can turn the temperature to 375 degrees, but only after cooking at a hot temperature for several minutes to get the sear on the burger. This can get the outer side a nice and tasty sear while keeping the interior tender and juicy. Try to supervise the cooking, though, to avoid overcooking the burgers, especially with the hotter temperature skin and inner varying tastes on the burgers.

Baking Process

• Prepare the Baking Sheet: For easier clean-up, lay a piece of foil on a baking sheet. To allow the burgers to cook evenly, you will need to use a wire rack to allow the hot air to circulate.
• Arrange the Patties: If you own one of those cooling racks with too many square holes on them, that would work fine. Otherwise, you can place the defrosted burgers, evenly spaced to allow for some growth on the foil, but you will want to flip them mid-way through the cooking to allow for most of the patty to contact the hot foil, which will make the patty brown better.
• Bake the Burgers: When you place the baking sheet with the now assembled burgers in the hot oven, you should have a good idea of how greasy the burgers are to help you guess baking duration. You should set a timer for 20 minutes if it will only have a few drips. For medium burgers, add on 2-5 minutes. If you are trying to keep everyone at the grilling party healthy, I suggest you keep in mind that the safe consumption temp on burgers is 160 degrees. You could use a meat thermometer to get a good idea if it’s healthy to eat after they are done, but it is necessary to use a meat thermometer to get a positive idea of safe consumption for burgers that are ground meat.

Having the grilling rack is a very useful tool in the kitchen as it will make the baking process healthier. This is because the extra fats will drip out and be kept in the foil-covered baking tray. If you need to joint the different meats that you will be baking to create a different dish, it is important to understand the positions that you can place them when baking. To keep the cooking process the same for each different meat, it is recommended to keep the leaner meat in the center with the fatter meats around the side. To achieve a good crust, it is best to flip the meat when using foil to cover it.

When Adding Some Chees

For those who enjoy a good cheeseburger, it is important to drop a slice of cheeseburger patty right when the meat is almost done baking. This is for the purpose of the cheeseburger to melt right without burning and to stay intact. If you want to make it a little fancy, you can also mix in some different flavor cheeses such as, Swiss with blue cheeseburgers and some pepper jack cheeseburger. This can really make a good burst of flavor to the meat and can really enhance the burger you will be eating.

To make the cheeseburgers melt in a milder and evenly way, you can cover the cheeseburgers you are baking in foil. This will make it a steamy cooking environment to achieve a really good melt on the cheeseburger. This is also a good idea for mixing the different types of cheeses to make a good flavor.

How to Serve Your Burgers

by Arun R (https://unsplash.com/@arunz)

The time has come to serve your delicious burgers. Start by placing the fully cooked patty on the fully toasted bun. At this point you can add any toppings you like. Some favorites are lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles, as well, as ketchup and mustard. For something a bit fancier, consider adding some sliced avocado, crispy bacon, or a fried egg. It may even be a good idea to toast the bun for an even more delicious, crispy texture to counter the juiciness of the patty.

The experience can also be elevated by adding new and unique sauces or condiment. Exciting sauces to consider are garlic aioli, spicy sriracha mayonnaise, or even a tangy barbecue. As a refreshing twist to the toppings, consider adding some basil or arugula instead of the standard lettuce. For large groups of people, a great idea is to set up a “burger building” station so custom burgers can be made on the spot.

Perfect Oven Baked Burgers

Using a Convection Oven

A convection oven circulates hot air with a fan, which theoretically means it should cook the burgers more evenly and in a shorter amount of time than a standard oven. This option can also give the burgers the crispy, browned exterior that many burger lovers crave, though it’s important to set the oven to a slightly lower temperature than a standard oven to avoid burning the food.

A convection oven is particularly useful for large groups of burgers, since it can ensure more even cooking with less time. Burgers can definitely cook faster in a convection oven, but it’s still important to monitor their internal temperature to make sure they’re cooked properly.

Letting the Burgers Rest

Let the surfaced oven bedside the cooked burgers sit for just a few, even 3, minutes after removing them. This will give the juices time to redistribute throughout the burgers, so that every portion of each patty is just as juicy as the last. If you cut into the burgers as they finish resting, you let all the juices recoil back out into the burger, and it can seep out even more as the rest is cut into. Resting the burgers is also important for flavor purposes, as it enhances the taste a good amount.

While this is cooking, think about preparing the buns, and toppings, and get ready for the assembly. If there is any concern about the burgers cooling too much, you can cover them loosely with foil. That way they will hold the heat without steaming and soften the crust.

Exploring Flavor Variations

There are so many possibilities for the flavors in the burger patties. You can add fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro, or crumbled cheese like feta or blue, or even a hot sauce for a spicy kick. Finely chopped veggies like peppers or onions are also a great option.

Experimenting with flavors from other cuisines can be an interesting option too, for an Indian burger you can add a bit of curry powder, for an Asian one, soy sauce and ginger and there are so many more ideas. Looking for new favorites is always a great reason to experiment. Make sure to keep a record to recreate them later.

Common Questions