Cooking a burger on the stove typically takes between 6 to 10 minutes total, depending on the desired level of doneness and the thickness of the patty.
General Cooking Times by Doneness (for about 1-inch thick patties)
- Medium-rare (red in the middle): Cook about 3 minutes per side, total 6 minutes. Internal temperature around 130-135°F
- Medium (pink in the middle): Cook about 3-4 minutes per side, total 7-8 minutes. Internal temperature around 145°F
- Medium-well (slight pink): Cook about 4-5 minutes per side, total 9-10 minutes. Internal temperature around 150-155°F
- Well-done (no pink): Cook about 5 minutes per side, total 10 minutes. Internal temperature around 160-165°F
Important Tips for Stove-Top Burger Cooking
- Use a preheated cast-iron or stainless steel pan over medium-high heat for best searing
- Add a small amount of oil to prevent sticking
- Avoid pressing down on the burger while cooking to keep it juicy
- Flip the burger only once halfway through cooking to develop a good crust
- Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature for food safety, especially to reach 160°F for well-done as recommended by USDA
- Cooking times can vary based on patty thickness and stove heat level; thicker patties require more time
In summary, for a 1-inch thick burger, cooking on the stove usually takes about 3-5 minutes per side depending on how well you want it cooked, with a total time ranging from 6 to 10 minutes