The Ice Cube Hack For Ridiculously Juicy Burgers Every Time
Ask five people what the secret to a great burger is and you will get five different answers. Some will say the secret is the type of meat you choose, which is an important factor, no doubt. High-quality meats will make your burger taste better than those of lower-quality. Other people will tell you that it's the amount of meat you use to make your patties. Making them too thick or too thin can impact how they are cooked. And yet some will swear by using breadcrumbs to hold the patties together.
Of course, the secret may also be in the seasonings you use, or adding a bit of butter to the patties. Others will tell you that the pan is the secret to the best burger, while how you cook the patties, such as grilling with charcoal versus grilling with propane, or well-done versus medium rare is the most important part. But there's one surprising trick that can help you keep your burger patties juicy as you cook them.
Master Chef judge Graham Elliot swears by this trick
"Master Chef" judge Graham Elliot recently explained to Fox News that the secret to juicy burgers is something that you can find in just about any kitchen — regular ice cubes. According to Elliot, you simply make your patties as you normally would, then put a single ice cube in the center of each one and fold the meat around it. When you grill the patty, the melting cube keeps it from drying out by distributing more moisture throughout the patty.
The great thing about using an ice cube is that its plain water, therefore it won't impact the flavor of the seasonings you use in the patty. It's also readily available. The downfall, though, is that most ice cubes tend to be a little thick for the average-sized burger patty, so you will need to make the patties thick enough to wrap around the cube. If the patty is too thin, it will lead to a deformed shape as the cube melts and the meat cooks.
Using ice cubes in burger patties
According to Sunfed Ranch, you can also just place your patties on the grill and then put an ice cube in the center of each patty, pressing it down gently. This means you can make the patties as thick as you want because it keeps you from having to fold the cube into the meat. Then, you just cook the patties like you normally would, without the risk of deformed patties.
Furthermore, keep in mind that if you cook your burger rare, using an ice cube to keep the meat moist may not be the best move. According to Burger Republic, rare burgers are "cool" in the center, meaning the ice cube won't melt if you're cooking it this way. You will want to cook the burgers to at least medium rare if you plan to use an ice cube to keep the patty juicy so that you can ensure you aren't biting into ice as you enjoy your upgraded hamburger.
Cooking your burger to perfection
A medium rare burger is a burger that has been cooked to an internal temperature of around 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius), per Burger Republic. This means that the center of the patty is still pink and slightly warm, with a crust on the outside that is browned or seared. When cooking a medium rare burger, it should be grilled for about three to four minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the patty and the heat of the grill. You can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the patty to ensure it has reached 145 degrees F.
It is important to note that consuming undercooked or raw meat, including beef, can lead to food poisoning, according to Healthline. Therefore it is important to cook the burgers until they reach the appropriate internal temperature. To mitigate this risk, many people like to eat their burgers well done.
According to Burger Republic, a well-done burger is cooked to an internal temperature of around 160-165 degrees F (71-74 degrees C). This means that the patty is cooked through and through, with no pink or red remaining in the center. The meat is also typically dryer than a medium-rare or medium burger, which is how using an ice cube can really help. It keeps well-done patties moist.
When cooking a well-done burger, it should be grilled for longer than a medium-rare or medium burger, usually around five to seven minutes per side, once again depending on the thickness of the patty and the heat of the grill. Once the burgers are cooked to your liking, remove them from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to settle and redistribute throughout the patty, says Consumer Report.