How to cook beef patties

Beef patties are a combination of beef mince, egg and bread crumbs which you can add any flavourings, spices or fresh herbs to depending on what accompaniments you want to serve with them. The beef mince takes on a myriad of flavours and once the mince mixture is shaped into patties they can be cooked and used in hamburgers, wraps or eaten with salad or veggies and your favourite dipping sauce on the side.

The cut

Beef patties are made from ground beef commonly known as mince. It comes in varying degrees such as prime or premium depending on the fat content. For beef patties it’s a good idea to look for a higher fat content which will add flavour and help hold the mince mixture together when cooking.

How to cook

Best cooking methods – Pan Fry, BBQ

It is best to cook beef patties over a hot pan or BBQ grill. They need to be cooked through thoroughly to an internal temperature of 65°C or until all they are no longer pink inside.

Pan Frying

A well-seasoned cast-iron skillet is an ideal tool for cooking beef patties. The wide, shallow pan allows for a high, dry, even heat. You want to heat the skillet over medium-high heat until it just begins to smoke, about 2 minutes. At this point, place the meat in the skillet.

Allow the meat to cook for a few seconds, then, using the back of a wide, offset spatula, press the meat down to make a patty. Flattening creates a flavorful sear and crisp, uneven edges as the burger sizzles in its own fat. Cook the patty, flipping once, until it is browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes total.

You can then place a slice of cheese atop the patty, cover the skillet, and continue cooking just until the cheese has melted, about 1 minute more.

Barbecuing

Cooking meat over an open flame will help to infuse it with a savoury, smoky flavor. When barbecuing beef patties, you ideally want to cook them over a compact charcoal or gas BBQ.

If using a charcoal BBQ, build a medium-hot charcoal fire (the coals are ready when they are fully ashed over but still hot enough that you can’t hold your hand an inch above them for more than two seconds). Then place the beef patties on the grill grate and cook, waiting for at least 4 minutes before flipping.

Cook until both sides are browned and the patties are cooked to the desired doneness, about 10 minutes total for medium-rare, 230g beef patties. Let them rest for about 5 minutes before serving.