How Long To Rest A Burger Before Taking The First Bite

There is nothing better than biting into a juicy, well-cooked burger. They're not that hard to make, but there are a lot of little ways to massively improve them. One is to keep the meat cold; another is to only salt the outside. But if you really want a juicy finish, it's worth resting the burgers after they've finished cooking.

You should always let meat rest after cooking, but different cuts call for different lengths of time. Per the 5-6-7 rule for perfect burgers, they need to rest for at least five, but no longer than seven, minutes. This gives the proteins a chance to relax after cooking, which in turn allows all of the juices to redistribute evenly throughout the meat, leading to a more succulent bite.

If you don't rest burger patties before biting into them, all of the juices will spill out from the center and run onto the plate or the bun, creating a soggy mess. The patty can also fall apart, and no one wants that after going to the effort of making the perfect burger. 

After you've pulled your burgers from the grill, place them on a rack to rest. Otherwise, the moisture will pool beneath the bottoms, which can ruin a crusty exterior. Tent with tinfoil to keep the patties warm, but make sure the cover is loose to avoid softening.

It's important to note that the temperature of the patties will rise slightly during resting, typically by about three to four degrees. So make sure you don't overcook them and take note of how long you should grill burgers for the tastiest results. It really can make all the difference.

If you're cooking well-done burgers, the temperature should reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit, so pull them at 155 degrees Fahrenheit, as the temperature will rise during resting. Once five to seven minutes have passed, you can feel free to bun, plate, and dress them with whatever popular burger toppings your heart desires.