As hard as we try to extend the grilling season to 365 days a year, there are times when grilling outside is just not practical or convenient. Does that mean that you can’t enjoy the flavors of a home grilled burger? Absolutely not. You just have to find different ways to create your healthy burger indoors, rather than outside on the grill.
Cast Iron Grill
There was a time when cast iron was the go-to for kitchen cookware. Some people have moved away from using cast iron skillets inside, because they require a little bit of maintenance with regards to cleaning. Cast iron skillets are not dishwasher safe and need to be seasoned with olive or linseed oil and wiped clean with water after every use.
For instructions on seasoning and cleaning your cast iron skillet, check out this article from Southern Living for easy care and cleaning tips.
If you can handle the extra work to maintain your cast iron skillet, they are by far the best way to grill meat inside. Not only can you season meat and cook it on the stove top for a grilled texture (try a skillet with raised ridges in the pan that can sear authentic grill marks on your burger). Not only will your burgers have the classic grill marks, but the raised ridges help to elevate your burger away from the fat extracted during the cooking process, which reduces absorption for a healthier indoor grilled burger.
Non-Stick Frying Pan or Electric Grill
Another method is of course, the traditional non-stick frying pan. We recommend adding coarse salt to the frying pan before placing your Free Graze burgers to cook. You can experiment with a variety of different flavors of coarse salt to create some delicious combinations, with our premium flavored burgers.
When cooking your burger on the stove top, avoid flipping it more than once. That is the gourmet secret that experienced Chef’s share, to prevent over cooking while retaining the natural flavored juices of your burger.
Always use a spatula to flip your burgers (and not a fork). When you pierce the hamburger patty while it is cooking, you allow much of the moisture and juices to escape the patty, when can contribute to a dry burger. Watch for ‘hot spots’ on your pan, as many stoves have variant heat on the stove top. If your burgers are cooking faster on one side, alternate the patties you are cooking to help cook all of them evenly (without over cooking).
Use a meat thermometer inserted into the side (not the top) of the cooked burger to verify the minimum safe temperature of your Free Graze beef burger. Your burger should register 160°F before you remove it from the stove.
Some people like to place their stove cooked burgers on a couple sheets of paper towel, after removing them from the frying pan. That is one way to absorb some of the natural oils from the burger, but it can also transfer paper fibers and in some cases, dye from printed napkins or paper towels. You can prepare an alternative way to let your burgers rest, by placing them on a wire baking rack with a cookie sheet underneath instead.
Spices That Can Add that Authentic Smoked Grill Flavor
You can taste the difference between a stove top fried burger, and one that is cooked on the open grill. When you start with Free Graze grass-fed, hormone, antibiotic and artificial preservative free burgers, you’ll end up with a juicy and delicious burger (just follow our cooking instructions on the bag). But did you know that certain dry spices added to your burger can help create that “grilled outdoors” and open flame flavor?
Adding smoked salts to the frying pan or indoor grill, before you place your frozen patties to grill, is one quick indoor burger grilling hack you can try. Not only does coarse salt help prevent sticking (without the need for a non-stick spray), but it infuses the burgers with a mild smoky flavor you can taste. You can also try smoked paprika seasoning in the last 3 minutes of cooking time, to create another rich dimension of smoky flavor.
Another way to get that delicious open-fire grilled flavor, is to choose smoked bacon as one of your toppings. Simply fry it up in a separate pan and use it as your topping, to get that outdoor smoked flavor. Smoked Gouda or cheddar provide another rich outdoorsy flavor dimension for your masterpiece burger.
Free Graze burgers are a healthier choice in your frozen food section. Our beef burgers are sourced through long-time agricultural partners, that are committed to traditional methods of cattle ranching, without the use of hormones or antibiotics. Free roaming and grass-fed beef without artificial flavors (we use only natural ingredients for our premium burgers) offer a natural rich taste you’ll remember.
Learn more about all our premium flavors and natural ingredients on the Free Graze product page. And if your grocer isn’t carrying Free Graze burgers, ask them to contact us.
