Why it's a good idea to flip a hamburger only once
When cooking hamburgers at home, turning the meat only once helps to retain its juiciness, something that is lost when it is turned over and over again.
Whether grilled, pan-fried, or baked, hamburgers are a quick and easy meal to prepare at home. However, it's common to make a mistake: checking if the outside is golden brown, flipping it too soon, or thinking it takes too long to cook and turning it over and over again.
Juiciness is key. The more you flip a burger, the drier it gets, according to Bobby Flay, because more juices are released. Michael Pasquarello, owner of Kensington Quarters and KQ Burger in Philadelphia, explains to Food & Wine that it's best to cook it about 75% on one side before flipping it to reach the desired temperature.
It's best to resist the temptation to puncture, push, or constantly check it. If good practices have been followed, a single turn is all it takes.
Other factors also play a role. Cooking time depends on thickness: as a general rule, three to four minutes per side for medium or rare. The Best Burger Guide offers a table of approximate cooking times. Avoid over-kneading or compacting the meat, and the burgers should be of uniform thickness to cook evenly.
The meat should be at room temperature before cooking, and the cooking surface must be very hot. It's best to remove the burger before it looks done, because it will continue to cook while it rests.
