How to Grill the Perfect Hamburger

METHOD: Direct grilling

Chances are, if you’re like most Americans, you dream of serving up smoky briskets and competition-quality ribs. But most of the time, when you fire up your grill, it’s to cook a humble hamburger. Cooking a great burger has gotten harder in recent years, even though grills have become more sophisticated. The problem lies with the beef. When I was growing up, salmonella poisoning was a freak occurrence. Now, science and prudence dictate that you cook a hamburger to an internal temperature that is at least 160°F—in other words, until it’s medium to medium-well done.