Should You Grill Burgers with The Lid Open or Closed?

As we head into the warmer months, it’s time to break out the grill and get cooking. But before you throw those burgers on the grill, you might wonder: should I grill them with the lid open or closed?

It’s a common dilemma that many novice grillers face, but fear not! The answer isn’t as complicated as you might think.

The answer is: it depends! It always depends on the thickness of the meat, the type of grill you’re using, and your preferred grilling method.

Grilling the perfect burger is an art form. It requires enough heat and timing to achieve that delicious, crispy exterior while ensuring the inside is cooked to a safe temperature.

So, if you want to step up your grilling game and serve the best burgers, keep reading to find out whether you should grill your burgers with the lid open or closed.

Do You Close the Grill When Cooking Burgers?

The lid can be your best friend or worst enemy when grilling burgers. Knowing whether to keep the lid open or closed is crucial for a perfectly cooked burger. Here are a few things to consider.

Type of Grill

The type of grill you’re using can greatly impact your decision to keep the lid up or down.

Gas grills usually have lids to trap heat and create an oven-like environment for your burgers to cook in. Keeping the lid closed helps maintain an even cooking temperature.

Charcoal grills use open flames for cooking burgers, and the lid is primarily used to control airflow and temperature. Closing the lid reduces the oxygen coming to burn the coal, which can result in the meat not cooking evenly or taking longer to cook. This could lead to the meat being drier.

Charcoal grills with dampers make it easier to adjust airflow with the lid on. You can adjust the dampers to regulate the amount of oxygen that reaches the coals, which controls the temperature. You don’t have to open the lid to make these adjustments, so you can keep the lid closed for most of the cooking process.

Charcoal grills without dampers make it more difficult to regulate airflow with the lid down. You need to open the lid to increase the temperature and close it when you want to lower the heat. This can result in a less-than-perfect cooking environment for the burgers.

Don’t miss out on Gordon Ramsay’s expert burger-cooking tips. Watch the clip below to see how he incorporates heat and gets perfect burger sears by keeping the lid down.

Meat Thickness

The thickness of your meat is another important factor to consider whether to grill with the lid open or closed. When grilling burgers, thicker cuts will take longer to cook, and the heat must be evenly distributed throughout the meat to ensure it cooks properly.

Closing the lid on your grill traps heat and creates an oven-like environment, allowing the heat to circulate around the burger, which is beneficial for thicker cuts. This helps to cook the burger evenly and thoroughly, avoiding the risk of undercooked meat. On the other hand, leaving the lid open will allow heat to escape, resulting in an unevenly cooked burger that may be raw in the center.

However, not all burgers are created equal, and this rule has some exceptions. For instance, if your burger is too thick, closing the lid may not be enough to cook it through entirely. Conversely, if your burger is too thin, it may cook too quickly and burn if the lid is closed.

In addition to culinary considerations, meat thickness also has food safety implications. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends cooking ground beef, including burgers, to an internal temperature of 160°F to destroy harmful bacteria. If the burger is too thick and the heat is not distributed evenly, there is a risk of undercooked meat, which could result in foodborne illness.

Generally, burgers thicker than 1 inch tend to benefit from being cooked with the lid closed to ensure the center is cooked thoroughly. On the other hand, thinner burgers, like those that are 1/2 inch thick or less, can be cooked with the lid open without sacrificing flavor or texture.

Direct Heat or Indirect Heat

If you want to cook delicious burgers, it’s not enough to just heat up the grill and toss them on the grate. Grilling burgers with direct or indirect heat can make all the difference.

Direct heat grilling means cooking your burgers directly over the flames. This method can result in a beautifully seared crust on the outside of the meat. However, to lock in the juices, keeping the lid closed for the first few minutes of cooking is best. Then, you can open the lid to avoid burning the meat.

Indirect heat grilling involves placing your burgers to the side of the flames. This method allows the burgers to cook more slowly and evenly. To ensure the burgers cook evenly without burning, you should close the lid for most of the cooking process.

You can also use both methods to cook your burgers. Start with direct heat for a few minutes on each side to sear the burgers, then switch to indirect heat to finish cooking. With this method, you can keep the lid closed most of the time and only open it occasionally to check on the burgers and ensure they don’t overcook.

Tips

• Grilling a burger to perfection is an art, and choosing the right meat is crucial. Meat with an 80:20 fat ratio will give you a juicy burger that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. However, too much fat can harm your health and increase the risk of flare-ups. To avoid this, choose cold ground meat not yet warmed up in the middle. This way, you can crisp the outside without overcooking the middle. If flare-ups occur, closing the lid will help reduce them by limiting the air available to burn the fat.
• It’s also important to ensure that the burger is cooked to a safe temperature of 160°F, as the USDA recommends. Using a meat thermometer will help you determine the internal temperature of the meat, ensuring that it’s fully cooked and safe to eat.

Conclusion

Whether to grill burgers with the lid open or closed depends on several factors, including the type of grill you’re using, the thickness of the meat, and your preferred grilling method.

Knowing these factors can help you achieve a perfectly cooked burger with a crispy exterior and a safe, thoroughly cooked interior.

For gas grills, keeping the lid closed traps heat and creates an oven-like environment, while for non-damper charcoal grills, leaving the lid open allows better airflow for an evenly cooked burger.

The thickness of the meat is also essential, with thicker burgers benefiting from a closed lid and thinner burgers cooked with an open lid.

Finally, grilling with direct or indirect heat can also impact whether to keep the lid up or down.

So, before firing up the grill, consider these factors to grill the perfect burger and impress your guests with your grilling skills.