The Only Way To Grill a Moist, Juicy Burger—It’s So Simple

I cannot resist the smoky aroma of a sizzling burger. It doesn’t matter if I’m at a backyard barbecue or in a fancy restaurant. The anticipation of that first juicy, flavorful bite, enhanced by some melted cheese and tangy ketchup… well, it’s almost too much to bear.

That’s why it’s such a letdown to bite into a burger that’s dry, tough, and flavorless. It’s an experience that even caramelized onions and thick-cut bacon can’t salvage.

This time of year brings a flurry of advice on how to avoid that kind of wreck on a bun. People swear by folding butter into the beef or melting an ice cube on top of each patty. I’ve tested all kinds of “helpful” TikTok hacks to see what works (and what doesn’t).

In this case, you can put your phone away. The best way to ensure a juicy burger off the grill is simple: Keep the meat cold. 

Why Cold Ground Meat Makes the Juiciest Burgers

Whether the burger is made with beef, turkey, or a blend of ground meats, what they all have in common is some amount of fat. That fat is what keeps burgers juicy and tender as it melts into the meat during grilling.

The mistake some grillers make is to let burger patties get warm before grilling, either by taking them out of the fridge too early or by over-handling the meat. When this happens, the fat rapidly melts over the heat of the grill and drips away, leaving the cooked burger dry and chewy. 

This is why it’s so important to keep shaped burgers very cold right up until the moment they hit the grill. The fat in the meat also stays cold and firm. Then, during cooking, it melts slowly and coats the meat to create a moist, tender texture.

How I Get a Perfect Burger Every Time

Here’s the method I follow to grill the best burgers:

• Shape the burger patties quickly and gently, with minimal handling.
• Keep the shaped burger patties covered in the fridge, only removing them when it’s time to put them on the grill.
• Use an 80/20 blend of ground beef; leaner grinds with less fat will dry out more quickly. 

Though they are popular hacks, avoid adding ice cubes or liquids to your burgers. They won’t chill the fat, and the excess liquid creates a watery texture in the cooked meat. And watery is definitely not what we want in a good burger!