To flip or not to flip burgers when preparing them in the oven? That is the question!
Cooking burgers in the oven is simple, and, for reasons we will get to in a minute, many find oven-cooked burgers to be juicier and tastier than stovetop-cooked burgers.
Depending on the bakeware and supplies that you have in your kitchen right now, you can choose to cook the burgers on a sheet pan fitted with a wire rack, lined with aluminum foil, or greased with cooking spray.
Whether or not to flip the burgers in the oven depends on the cooking method and on your personal preferences. At the end of the day, some cooks prefer to flip their burgers, while others prefer not to. Sill, there are a few ground rules—pun intended—to keep in mind.
Roasting Burgers vs. Broiling Burgers
The upsides of cooking burgers in the oven is that they won’t smell up your kitchen as much as they will when they are cooked on the stove. Nor will they splatter all over your stovetop and counters as they do when prepared in a frying pan.
When preparing burgers in the oven, you can generally choose between two cooking methods: high-heat broiling and medium-heat roasting. Though both of these are legitimate ways to prepare a burger, the right one to go for depends on the thickness of the patty.
Broiling is best for flat burgers less than 1 inch thick. When broiling foods such as burgers in the oven, you use the direct heat from the top heating panel, which heats up to 500-550°F. This direct and intense heat can cause thicker burgers to overcook on the outside without cooking through on the inside.
Since the heat comes only from above, you will have to flip the burgers mid-broiling if you want them to cook evenly (and you do).
Roasting is more appropriate for cooking bulky, juicy burgers as the thicker patties cook more slowly. This gives the heat more time to penetrate the ground meat on the inside, cooking it fully without drying it out or burning it on the outside.
When roasting burgers, whether or not to flip them comes down to you. We recommend that you do so mid-cooking, as it contributes to a more even cook. However, you can choose not to flip them at all and—as long as you time them properly—you will get hassle-free, perfectly-roasted burgers at the end.
Do You Need a Wire Rack When Cooking Burgers in the Oven?
Although everyone loves a burger prepared up on the grill, you may be surprised at how much you love oven-cooked burgers. For reasons related to the inner workings of your oven, oven-cooked burgers may even be juicer than what the grill or frying pan can offer.
You can choose to cook burgers in the oven with or without a rack (we recommend doing so with).
The rack lifts the burger patty from the bottom of the sheet pan and keeps it from coming into contact with it, allowing the circulating hot air to cook the meat on all sides, and the rendered fat to drip down from it freely. This makes for easy cleanup and keeps your burgers from coming out overly greasy; a common issue of oven cooking.
On the flip side, when you don’t use a wire rack, your burgers will marinate in their own juices throughout the cooking process, making them extra tender and deeply flavorful by the time they are done.
How to Cook Burgers in the Oven Without a Rack?
Cooking burgers in the without a rack is also simple. Line a pan with foil before adding the patties. Once burgers have finished cooking, move them to a platter with paper towels to allow the excess grease to drain.
Below is one of the best methods to get a juicy and flavorful roasted burger, even if you don’t have a wire rack:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C);
- Spray an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet with a non-stick spray;
- Place hamburgers on the baking sheet. Ensure there is plenty of space between each burger to prevent them from sticking together;
- Add your preferred seasoning to the patties;
- Place burgers into the oven;
- Allow the hamburgers to cook for roughly 20-25 minutes, depending on your doneness preference. You can choose to flip them halfway through;
- If you want cheeseburgers, add cheese to each burger within a minute or two of taking them out. Giving the cheese a minute or so allows the cheese to melt without dripping off of the patties;
- Remove the burgers from the oven and place them on a few paper towels to drain excess grease;
- Serve the burgers hot and add any toppings you like.
For easy serving, prepare all of the topping choices before cooking. Take your toppings out of the fridge while the cheese melts or a few minutes before the burgers finish.
What Temperature to Cook Burgers in the Oven
Each person’s oven will cook foods differently than the next. It may take some experimentation to determine the perfect temperature to cook your hamburgers.
We suggest cooking hamburgers at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes for a fully cooked, juicy burger.
If you prefer a crispier outside, you may choose to set the oven to 400°F. When cooking at 400°F (204.4°C), cook the burgers for 12-15 minutes. The result is a brown and crisp inside with a juicy and tender middle.
Determining the best temperature and how long you cook the patties depends on how you like your burgers. Keep these factors in mind to cook burgers exactly how you enjoy them.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, you will want to ensure that beef, pork, and/or lamb burgers have a minimum internal temperature of 160°F; burgers containing ground poultry should have a minimum internal temperature of 165°F.
Do You Need to Flip Frozen Burgers in the Oven?
Whether you forgot to take out burgers in time to defrost or simply do not want to wait around for them to do so, you can still cook the frozen patties. When cooking frozen burgers, cook them the same as you usually would. Since they are frozen, the only difference will be the time it takes to cook.
Depending on the size of the burgers, it may take an extra 5-10 minutes. If you are unsure, start with 5 minutes and get a better idea from there. It can help to flip frozen patties about halfway through as well.
Once the burgers are close to finishing, take them out of the oven. Add any seasonings you want on them, and place them back in for the remaining five or so minutes. Mind you, you don’t want to season them while frozen because most of the seasoning will melt off.
Conclusion
After trying a delicious oven-cooked burger, you may find that you prefer them that way. Determining if you flip burgers in the oven depends on cooking them. You will want to flip your patties to ensure even distribution when broiling. When roasting, it is a personal preference to flip them.