Quick Answers
There are benefits to both fast and slow cooking methods when making burgers. Fast cooking can yield a juicy burger with a nice sear. Slow cooking allows the flavors to meld and makes it easy to cook burgers evenly throughout. Ultimately, personal preference will determine whether fast or slow cooking is “better.”
Intro
Burgers are a beloved and quintessentially American food. Whether enjoying a burger at a backyard barbecue or grabbing a quick bite from a fast food joint, Americans consume billions of burgers every year. With so many burgers being cooked across the country on a daily basis, there is an ongoing debate around the best cooking method. Some swear by cooking burgers quickly over high heat to get a nice sear and keep them juicy. Others believe low and slow cooking is superior for producing evenly cooked burgers packed with flavor. In this article, we’ll dive into the benefits and drawbacks of fast versus slow cooking methods to help you determine which is best for your burger-cooking needs.
Fast Cooking Benefits
– Quick cook time – Fast cooking over high heat can have a burger ready in just a few minutes. This is perfect when you’re short on time or cooking for a crowd.
– Juicy interior – The high heat helps seal in moisture and results in a juicy burger. Slow cooking runs the risk of drying out the burger.
– Better sear – High heat enables the Maillard reaction to quickly occur, leading to a crispy, brown exterior full of flavor. Slow cooking makes it hard to achieve this.
– Retains shape – With a shorter cook time, there’s less opportunity for burgers to break apart or become misshapen.
Fast Cooking Techniques
– Grilling – Cooking burgers over a hot grill. Temperatures can exceed 700°F.
– Broiling – Cooking under high heat from above in the oven. Temperatures reach 500°F or higher.
– Pan searing – Cooking in a heavy skillet on the stovetop over high heat. The pan should be very hot before adding burgers.
Slow Cooking Benefits
– More even cooking – Burgers cook gradually through to the center, preventing undercooked insides. The lower heat gives time forcarryover cooking to occur.
– Better flavor melding – Slower cooking gives time for seasoning, marinades, and mixes to fully penetrate the meat for enhanced flavor.
– Prevents overcooking – It’s easy to overshoot when cooking burgers quickly. Slow cooking provides a window that makes it hard to go past medium or medium-well doneness.
– Less attention needed – Once up to temperature, a slow cooker or oven doesn’t need monitoring like a skillet or grill does at high heat.
Slow Cooking Techniques
– Oven baking – Cooking uncovered at 250-325°F allows even air circulation for gradual doneness.
– Slow cooker – After browning, burgers can finish cooking on low for 1-3 hours depending on size.
– Simmering – Poaching burgers in a flavored liquid like tomato sauce, soup, or gravy.
Fast Cooking Drawbacks
– Risk of undercooked centers – It can be hard to guarantee the inside is fully cooked at such a quick cooking time. Burgers should reach 160°F internally.
– Shrinkage – High heat causes greater shrinkage versus low and slow cooking. Expect up to 30% reduction in size.
– Not as foolproof – Fast cooking requires more attention and timing precision. It’s easy to mess up with uncontrolled heat.
– Less room for error – At such a quick cook time, just seconds over or under ideal can make a big difference in doneness and drying out.
Slow Cooking Drawbacks
– Longer cook times – What can be cooked in minutes on a grill may take an hour or more with slow methods. This prep/cook time needs factoring.
– Less sear – Achieving an evenly browned crust is difficult without the high heat of grilling, broiling, or searing.
– Mushy texture – Too long a slow cook can lead to overly soft burgers with poor structural integrity.
– Moisture loss – Prolonged low heat eventually causes some moisture evaporation despite the gradual cooking.
Comparing Fast and Slow Cooking Methods
| Attribute | Fast Cooking | Slow Cooking |
|---|---|---|
| Cook time | 2-8 minutes | 45-60+ minutes |
| Juiciness | Tends to be juicy if not overcooked | Can dry out after prolonged cooking |
| Doneness | Risk of uneven or undercooked centers | More likely cooked evenly throughout |
| Ease of cooking | Requires close monitoring | More hands-off once up to temperature |
| Flavor development | Maillard reaction provides flavor | Allows more blending of seasonings |
| Texture | Can retain firmness and shape | May become oversoft |
This comparison shows that both methods have pros and cons. Faster cooking can provide superior texture and moisture while slower cooking offers more even doneness and thorough flavor.
Choosing Fast vs. Slow Cooking
So when should you opt for high heat quick cooking versus low and slow? Here are some factors to consider:
When to choose fast cooking:
– You want a good sear on the burgers
– Time is limited
– Serving immediately without holding time
– Thinner patties are being used
– You have a very hot grill, broiler, or pan available
When to choose slow cooking:
– Cooking for a crowd where holding time is required
– Using thicker burger patties
– Adding lots of spices, marinades, or meat mixes
– You want very even doneness throughout
– Only lower heat sources like oven or slow cooker are available
– Prefer more hands-off cooking with less monitoring
Ultimately there’s no universally superior burger cooking method. Both techniques have their merits depending on factors like timing, equipment available, patty thickness, and personal taste preferences around texture and doneness. Basic principles for success apply to both fast and slow cooking:
– Use fresh, high quality ground beef with an appropriate fat ratio
– Gently shape patties without overworking the meat
– Season just before cooking unless marinating
– Cook on a clean, lubricated hot surface without moving patties
– Allow carryover cooking after removing from heat
– Avoid pressing down on patties while cooking
– Let patties rest a few minutes after cooking for juices to redistribute
With a little trial and error, you can master both quick burger searing and low ‘n slow burger cooking to deliver exceptional burgers, your way.
Conclusion
There’s no consensus on the ideal method for cooking burgers. Fast, high heat cooking and slow, low heat cooking both have their merits. Factors like timing, patty thickness, equipment, and personal taste all play a role in determining whether quick searing or low and slow oven/cooker methods are preferable. Mastering the basics of keeping patties handled gently, seasoning just before cooking, using sufficiently hot equipment, and allowing carryover and resting time will lead to success with both techniques. Experiment to find your own burger cooking preferences based on the factors outlined here. The most important thing is enjoying a juicy, flavorful burger, whether it takes you 2 minutes or 2 hours to make.
