Why Put an Ice Cube on a Burger when Grilling

Are you cooking burgers but wondering about why you put an ice cube on a burger while grilling? Well, When you grill burgers, it is normal to put an ice cube on the burger. The idea of putting something cold on a hot grill may seem controversial or not scientifically sound. 

Yet, there are some good reasons why you should put an ice cube on your burger. Some of these reasons will be discussed in this blog post, therefore you have to read with attention. 

Why Put an Ice Cube on a Burger when Grilling

One reason may be that the grill cools down too quickly when you cook only one burger and the rest could use a few minutes more to cook. Another reason is that using an ice cube as a buffer prevents the burger from burning while also providing some texture contrast to change up the taste in your mouth. 

Here are some other ideas on why you should put an ice cube on a burger before grilling.

• First, by putting an ice cube on your burger, there’s no need to keep the burgers on a countertop or in the fridge while they cook. You can just grab the burgers and throw them onto the grill. 
• Second, if you put something cold on the outside of your burger, it creates an interesting contrast with the heat of the grill and may help to cool down your burger faster if it starts to quickly overheat. 
• Third, ice is just as cold as a burger and is a natural heat sink in the grill. So, by putting an ice cube on your burger, you’ll give it more of a “cool” feeling rather than scalding hot.

As a final note, it is not recommended to put any ice cubes on burgers that are cooked through. If you place ice cubes on your burger while they are still cooking, the ice would melt, and then the liquid would run out from under or through your burgers.

How to avoid the common mistakes we make while cooking burgers?

• Burning Beef Burgers:

Mostly the reason is related to heat control, so your best bet is to use a thermometer and heat the skillet on medium-high heat before placing the patties on it. Make sure also that you have enough oil to cook the burger. If you don’t have enough oil, when you try to flip the burger, it will easily stick or tear apart.

• Burger does not have the right tenderness:  

Burger needs to be tender enough, which means that the fat should be rendered properly and evenly. Make sure you use the right meat ingredients, and your grill is at the right temperature, and don’t overcook it. If you do, the burger will definitely taste like cardboard.

• Burger is undercooked:

This is common if you use meat that is too thin to prepare burgers. Either cut thicker patties (at least 1/2 inch) or cook them longer on the stove.

• Burger is overcooked:

If you are cooking the burger in a pan, make sure the skillet is hot and not too crowded before adding the patties. When you put too many burgers in a pan, you make it hard for the heat to spread evenly and give the patties time to overheat. It is best to cook only 1-2 patties at a time in a pan.

• Not using a meat thermometer:

When you cook burgers, temperatures should be set in the following order: between 120-135 degrees Celsius (US: 250-275 degrees Fahrenheit) and at a faster rate of 8-10 minutes. The time will vary depending on your meat and how thin you slice it.

• Using too much steak seasoning and herbs:

Minimize the amount, but not eliminate it. Instead, you can use herbs and spices like salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and other spices that have a savory taste.

• The burger is too dry or too fatty: 

This is mostly due to overcooking or undercooking. You want the burger to be juicy and tender but not too fatty. The fat will cook out the inside of the burger. If you are making a burger with a lot of fat, we recommend that you add some condiments like ketchup or mayonnaise to your burger, however, some people like the taste of unsaturated fat in the patty.

What is the ideal temperature to grill the burgers?    

Yes, the temperature will play an important role in terms of the overall taste and texture of your burger. If you want to keep your meat moist, then you need to cook it on low heat; as low as possible without burning it.

If you want to quickly sizzle out the fat in the meat, then a hot temperature will do the trick (around 450 degrees). However, in the middle lies a sweet spot. If you want to keep your burger tender and juicy, then cooking the burgers at medium-high grill temperature will bring out their flavors and aromas. 

So, don’t worry if you have to adjust the grilling temperature a little higher than it is suggested by your grill manufacturer’s instructions — just keep an eye on it so that nothing burns.

High heat and medium-high temperature grill is the ideal temperature to cook juicy burgers with an enhanced flavor and aroma. In this way, we can achieve a better tasting and faster cooking of the burger. It will not only save time but also help us get a high-quality burger in our life. This is a good habit to keep.

Final Thoughts      

Hope you get a satisfactory answer about why put an ice cube on a burger when grilling. And now you can grill them easily. Happy Grilling!