Burger Temperature Chart

By Becky Hardin

Published Sep 3, 2023

Check our burger temperature chart to find the ideal internal temp for the perfect burger, and how long to cook it. Whether you prefer your beef burgers medium-rare, medium, medium-well, or well-done, you can find the right cooking temperature here.

Beef Burger Internal Temperatures

Making the best burgers starts with cooking the beef to the perfect temperature. But what is the ideal burger internal temperature? And how long does that take?

It depends on how you like your burger done, of course! You can cook them to medium-rare, medium, medium-well, or well-done. This will generally change the level of juiciness and the intensity of the flavor. All four options are good, but everyone has a different preference.

Take a look at our burger internal temperature chart below to find the temperature and cooking time based on your preference! Then keep reading for details about each doneness level, how to tell when they’re done, and more tips.

Burger Temperature Chart

Take a look at this chart to decide how you’d like your burger done, what the internal temperature should read, and about how long it’ll take to cook it (if cooking on the grill or stovetop).

Guide to Burger Temperatures

How do you like your burger done? Here’s a quick look at what it’ll look and taste like at each doneness level.

For food safety, the USDA recommends all ground beef be cooked to at least 160°F before consuming. That means well-done, but many of us will prefer to cook it slightly less. So keep that in mind as you choose how long to cook your burgers.

Medium-Rare (130-135°F)

Medium-rare burgers are cooked very briefly, so that they are brown on the outside, but still very pink (almost red) in the middle. They are super juicy and flavorful! Many aficionadas would consider this the only way to eat a burger.

For safety reasons, this is the lowest temp you’ll ever want to cook your hamburgers. You’ll definitely want to get good quality ground beef, and ideally, you’ll ground it yourself.

Medium (145°F)

Medium burgers are cooked just a bit longer, but they are still pink in the middle. You still get the juicy, flavorful, moist beef, but it’s much safer than medium-rare. Personally, I think this is the ideal burger temperature for both safety and flavor!

Medium-Well (150-155°F)

Medium-well burgers will cook just a minute or so longer than medium, so keep an eye on them. They have just a small amount of pink left in the middle of the burger patty. Beef starts to dry out at this temperature, so they won’t be quite as juicy, but they are still delicious!

Well Done (160-165°F)

A well-done burger requires the longest cook time, so it will be fully browned (and maybe a little crispy) on the outside, with no pink in the middle. Cooking it this long will dry it out quite a bit, so some people consider this over-cooked.

But of course, according to the safety guidelines from the USDA, ground beef should be cooked to well-done. So this is definitely considered the safest way to cook a burger!

How can you tell when a burger is done?

The best, safest, and most accurate way to tell when your burgers are done is to use an instant read meat thermometer. Insert it into the middle/thickest part of the burger to check the internal temperature, and make sure it matches up with the chart I shared above.

The color is a decent indicator of the temp, but you probably don’t want to cut the patties open to check, and it’s not always 100% accurate. You can also press down on the center of the patty to see how firm it is, or how much juice leaks out. But again, this is not the most accurate.

Once you become a burger-cooking pro, you’ll be able to tell when they’re done without the thermometer, but I still recommend using it for food safety!

Is it okay to eat a pink burger?

A well-done burger will not have any pink left in the middle, but if you cook it below 160°F, then it will have varying levels of pink left. And yes, that’s okay! Burgers are safe to eat anywhere from medium-rare to well-done.

So if there is some pink in the middle, it is safe. Just be sure to check the internal temperature to make sure it’s done. However, if the outside of the patty (or most of the interior) is pink, keep cooking it.

How long should you cook burgers?

If you’re grilling burgers or cooking them on the stovetop , you can use the cooking time listed in the internal temp chart above (6 minutes for medium-rare, and about 1 extra minute per level of doneness). Flip burger patties halfway through so they cook evenly.

If you are using a different cooking method, just use the burger temperature as a guide to figure out the right amount of time.

What is the perfect burger temperature?

This completely depends on your preference. Burgers can be cooked and eaten anywhere between 130-165°F, with a 5-10 degree difference between each level of doneness (medium-rare to well-done).

Most people will probably prefer a burger cooked to medium or medium-well. It’s a nice balance for juiciness, with small amounts of pink in the middle.

Tips!

• The thickness of your burger patties will affect the doneness level, and how long it takes to cook. Thicker patties will need more time to reach the desired burger temperature, while thinner patties will cook much faster.
• If you’re cooking multiple burgers at once, make them the same thickness to avoid over- or undercooking them.
• The meat thermometer should be inserted into the middle, or thickest, part of the patty to check the temp.
• Using a thermometer is recommended for food safety. While color is a good way to check how done your burger is, it’s not 100% accurate.
• Remove your burgers from the heat about 5 degrees before your desired internal temperature. As the beef rests, the temp will rise slightly. Check again before consuming.
• If you are making burgers with ground chicken or turkey, always cook it to 160-165°F.
• If you are using a different cooking method (besides grilling or stovetop), the doneness and internal temperature are the same, but the cooking times will vary.

Now that you know the internal burger temperatures for each level of doneness (medium-rare to well-done), you’ll be making the perfect burgers in no time. Fire up the grill, cook, then add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Grilling Guides

You’ve got the burger temperatures handy. Now find more tips, recipes, and ideas for your summer grilling!

Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)

30 Burger Recipes

45+ Grill Recipes (Easy Summer Grilling Ideas)

20 Easy Grilled Chicken Recipes

By Becky Hardin

Published Jul 12, 2017

This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.

Essential Grocery List

It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!

It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.

However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.

In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.

I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List

What to Buy at the Grocery Store

This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.

When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.

So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!

Fresh Produce

• Apples
• Bananas
• Strawberries
• Avocados
• Bell Peppers
• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Garlic
• Lemons/Limes
• Onion
• Parsley
• Cilantro
• Basil
• Potatoes
• Spinach
• Tomatoes

GRAINS

• Breadcrumbs
• Pasta
• Quinoa
• Rice
• Sandwich Bread
• Tortillas

MEAT/PROTEIN

• Chicken
• Eggs
• Ground Beef
• Sliced Turkey
• Lunch Meat

DAIRY

• Butter
• Sliced Cheese
• Shredded Cheese
• Milk
• Sour Cream
• Greek Yogurt

BAKING GOODS

• Baking powder
• Baking Soda
• Granulated Sugar
• Brown Sugar
• Flour
• Honey
• Vanilla Extract
• Dry Yeast
• Chocolate Chips
• Cocoa Powder
• Powdered Sugar

FREEZER

• Fruit and Berries
• Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
• Juice Concentrate
• Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
• Pie Crust
• Cookie Dough

CANNED/DRIED GOODS

• Chicken stock/broth
• Salsa
• Diced Tomatoes
• Jam/Jelly
• Peanut Butter
• Pasta Sauce
• Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
• Soups
• Tuna
• Green Chiles
• Canned Veggies
• Coffee or Tea

Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods

CONDIMENTS/SPICES

• Black Pepper
• Chili Powder
• Cinnamon
• Crushed Red Pepper
• Cumin
• Garlic Powder
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Mayo
• Nutmeg
• Paprika
• Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
• Soy Sauce
• Steak Sauce
• Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
• Salad Dressings

OILS/VINEGARS

• Apple cider vinegar
• Balsamic vinegar
• Coconut Oil
• Olive Oil
• Vegetable/Canola Oil
• Red Wine Vinegar
• White Vinegar
• Cooking Wine
• White Wine Vinegar

SNACKS

• Crackers
• Nuts
• Quick Oats
• Popcorn
• Tortilla Chips
• Cereal

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!

Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!

I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!

Stock Your Kitchen

Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!

Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On

Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)

Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen

Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen

Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use

26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them

What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?

Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)

How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)

Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart

How to Cut Recipes in Half