How to Cook Hamburgers in a Cast Iron Skillet

Cook a hamburger in a cast iron skillet.

Cook a juicy hamburger in a cast iron skillet. Cast iron skillets, while heavy, provide a practical alternative to grilling the hamburgers. The solid metal pan doesn't add any metallic taste to the meat. The pans also heat evenly, according to Primer Magazine's "Cast Iron Cooking." Heating evenly helps prevent one part of the burger from overcooking. There's no way to drain the grease from the hamburgers as they cook, so use lean hamburger.

Things You'll Need

• Plate
• Seasonings
• Cooking spray
• Spatula
• Meat thermometer

Instructions

1. 

   Form the hamburger patties so they are all the same size.

   Wash your hands with soap and water. Break apart the hamburger meat and shape it into patties. Make the patties about 1 inch thick. Thicker patties may not cook evenly all the way through. Wash your hands with soap and water again after you are done touching the raw meat.

2. 

   Salt, pepper, paprika and onion powder mix well with hamburger.

   Sprinkle seasonings onto the patties.

3. 

   The cooking spray adds flavor and keeps the meat from sticking to the pan.

   Spray the cast iron skillet with cooking spray. Place it on a stove burner set to medium heat.

4. Place the patties inside the skillet. Leave at least one inch of space between each patty.

5. Cook the patties. Flip the patties every 5 to 7 minutes to promote even cooking. Remove the patties once the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees, according to the USDA.

References

• United States Department of Agriculture: Is it Done Yet? Recommended Internal Temperatures
• Primer; Cast Iron Man Cooking; Robert Fure