Alert Here's the secret to the perfect grilled burger — plus some summer recipes to try Susan Selasky USA Today Network May 24, 2026 1 hr ago 0 × Mashed Looking to impress your friends during your next backyard cookout? Then don't make these mistakes next time you're grilling up some burgers. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Consumers are facing skyrocketing beef prices, up nearly 15% from a year ago.  kAm$E:==[ >@DE A6@A=6 6?;@J 8@@5 3FC86CD 9@E @77 E96 8C:==[ 2?5 :7 J@FVC6 5@:?8 E96 4@@<:?8[ J@F H2?E E9@D6 3FC86CD E@ 36 A6C764E]k^AmkAm%C@F3=6 :D[ 4@@<D @7E6? 72:=] %96J FD6 E96 HC@?8 8C:?5 @7 3667] %96J 92?5=6 E96 >62E 2?5 D92A6 :E :?4@CC64E=J] %96J 4@@< E96:C 3FC86CD HC@?8]k^AmkAmv@@5 3FC86CD 2C6 E96 DF> @7 G2C:@FD A2CEDi E96 3667 4@@<65 AC@A6C=J[  E96 4@?5:>6?ED 2?5 E@AA:?8D[ E96 3F?]k^Am kAmx7 J@F’C6 DA=FC8:?8 @? 8C@F?5 3667 E9:D 9@=:52J[ 96C6 2C6 @FC 36DE 3FC86C E:AD]k^Am People are also reading… Smyth County to hold public hearing on proposed real estate tax increase Smyth Commonwealth's Attorney says assault-style firearms ban is unenforceable Chilhowie firefighters receive Lifesaving Medals for rescues, other awards New details emerge from 911 call in Kyle Busch death in North Carolina Former SCCH doctor indicted by federal grand jury on 7 charges Chilhowie dog park dedicated to late Smyth Sheriff's Office K9 handler Saltville, Marion, Chilhowie council races begin to take shape Smyth prepares to celebrate Memorial Day Marion council acts to help Hayes attend meetings electronically Smyth County supervisors honor EMS providers Four-star running back Jones-Priest pledges to Virginia Tech Smyth leaders prepare for any data center projects Marion's VFW honors law enforcement Officers of the Year Keesling tapped to serve as Marion Fire-EMS chief Spanberger vetoes cannabis market, delaying legalization another year You want to match the size of the patty to the bun. Figure there will be shrinkage, so shape the patty about half an inch larger than the bun. Kathleen Galligan, Detroit Free Press k9am(92E <:?5 @7 3667 D9@F=5 x FD6nk^9amkAmp 3FC86C ?665D 72E] |J 3FC86C 6IA6CED D2J E92E FD:?8 g_^a_ 8C@F?5 49F4< :D 2 8@@5 49@:46] %9:D >62?D :EVD g_T =62? 2?5 92D a_T 72E] *@F 42? 8@ D@>6H92E =62?6C[ :7 J@F =:<6[ H:E9 8C@F?5 3667 =236=65 gd^`d] x7 J@F @AE 7@C 2?JE9:?8 =62?6C[ 36 DFC6 E@ 255 D@>6 >@:DEFC6 =:<6 (@C46DE6CD9:C6 D2F46 @C H:?6 E@ AC6G6?E E96 3FC86C 7C@> 5CJ:?8 @FE]k^Am k9amr2? x 8C:?5 >J @H? 4FED @7 >62Enk^9amkAm*@F 42? 4@>6 4=@D6 FD:?8 2 7@@5 AC@46DD@C 7:EE65 H:E9 2 >6E2= 3=256] r9@@D6 E96 4FE @7 >62E J@F H2?E — 49F4<[ C@F?5[ 3C:D<6E[ D9@CE C:3[ D:C=@:? — 2?5 >2<6 DFC6 :EVD DFA6C 4@=5] rFE :E :?E@ `\:?49 A:646D] p55 E@ E96 3@H= @7 E96 7@@5 AC@46DD@C 2?5 AF=D6 2 76H E:>6D E@ 49@A :?E@ D>2==6C A:646D]k^Am k9amw@H D9@F=5 x >:I E96 8C@F?5 >62Enk^9amkAm|2<6 DFC6 :EVD 4@=5 2?5 2=H2JD >:I E96 >62E 86?E=J D@ :E ;FDE 4@>6D E@86E96C] s@ ?@E @G6C>:I] x7 J@F @G6C>:I E96 >62E WE96 D2>6 9@=5D ECF6 H96? J@F >2<6 >62E32==D 2?5 >62E=@27X[ E96 >62E H:== 36 >@C6 4@>A24E 2?5 ?@E 2D E6?56C]k^Am k9am$9@F=5 x D62D@? E96 8C@F?5 >62Enk^9amkAm$62D@? E96 8C@F?5 >62E 2E =62DE H:E9 D2=E 2?5 A6AA6C] *@F 42? >:I :E :? E96 >62E @C DAC:?<=6 :E @? E96 @FED:56 @7 E96 7@C>65 A2EE:6D] s@?VE =6E 3FC86CD D62D@?65 @? E96 @FED:56 D:E E@@ =@?8 3642FD6 D2=E H:== 5C2H @FE >@:DEFC6 7C@> E96 >62E]k^Am k9amw@H >F49 3667 7@C 6249 3FC86Cnk^9amkAm!=2? @? 2 3FC86C E92E :D 23@FE e @F?46D 367@C6 4@@<:?8] &D6 2 D42=6 :7 J@F 92G6 @?6 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E96 3FC86CD 2C6 2== 6BF2= :? D:K6] %92E e\@F?46 3FC86C :D 2? 2>A=6 D:K6 7@C D6CG:?8 2D J@FC >2:? 5:D9]k^Am k9am(92EVD E96 36DE D:K6[ D92A6 7@C 2 3FC86Cnk^9amkAm*@F H2?E E@ >2E49 E96 D:K6 @7 E96 A2EEJ E@ E96 3F?] u:8FC6 E96C6 H:== 36 D9C:?<286[ D@ D92A6 E96 A2EEJ 23@FE 92=7 2? :?49 =2C86C E92? E96 3F?] v6?6C2==J[ 2 A2EEJ H:E9 2 c\:?49 5:2>6E6C H:E9 2 5:>A=6 :? E96 46?E6C 2?5 2 E9:4<?6DD E92EVD 2E =62DE E9C66\7@FCE9D @7 2? :?49 H:== DF77:46]k^Am k9am(9J 5@ x 92G6 E@ >2<6 2 5:>A=6 :? E96 A2EEJ 46?E6Cnk^9amkAmx7 J@F 5@?VE 5@ E9:D[ E96 3FC86CD H:== 6?5 FA H:E9 >@C6 @7 2 C@F?5 D92A6 2?5 AF77 FA =:<6 2 E6??:D 32==] %96 3FC86CD H@?VE 7:E E96 3F? 2?5 J@FV== 6?5 FA H:E9 2 E@A 3F? E92E D=:56D @77]k^Am k9amw@H 5@ J@F >2<6 E96 5:>A=6nk^9am Good burgers are the sum of various parts: the beef cooked properly,  the condiments and toppings, the bun. Kathleen Galligan, Detroit Free Press kAm%9:D :D 2? 62DJ E:A 2?5 ?@E E@ 36 D<:AA65] ~?46 E96 A2EEJ :D 7@C>65[ FD6 E96 324< @7 2 D@FA @C E62DA@@? @C J@FC E9F>3 E@ >2<6 2? :?56?E2E:@?[ 23@FE @?6\E9:C5 @7 2? :?49 566A 2?5 ` :?49 H:56 :? E96 46?E6C @7 E96 A2EEJ] (96? E96 3FC86CD 4@@<[ E96 :?56?E2E:@? D=@H=J C:D6D[ 2?5 J@F 86E 2 ?:46[ 7=2E[ 6G6? E@A]k^Am k9am(92EVD E96 36DE H2J E@ 8C:==nk^9amkAmqFC86CD =:<6 9:89 962E] %9:D 96=AD 7@C> E92E 6IE6C:@C 4CFDE] r@@< E96> @? E96 ?@?\5:>A=65 D:56 7:CDE @G6C 5:C64E 962E] ~?46 2 4CFDE 56G6=@AD[ 7=:A E96> @G6C 2?5 4@@< @? E96 @E96C D:56] s@ ?@E AC6DD 5@H? @? E96 3FC86C] (96? J@F 5@ E9:D[ J@FVC6 AC6DD:?8 2== E96 ;F:46D @FE]k^Am k9amw@H =@?8 D9@F=5 3FC86CD 36 8C:==65nk^9amkAm%92E 56A6?5D @? 9@H J@F =:<6 E96> 5@?6] %96 &?:E65 $E2E6D s6A2CE>6?E @7 p8C:4F=EFC6 D276 :?E6C?2= 4@@<:?8 E6>A6C2EFC6 7@C 8C@F?5 3667 :D `e_ 568C66D] %92E >62?D :EVD H6== 5@?6] p?5 E96 4@@<:?8 E:>6 H:== 56A6?5 @? E96 E9:4<?6DD @7 E96 3FC86C[ 3FE 86?6C2==J 2E =62DE d >:?FE6D A6C D:56] x7 J@F =:<6 :E =6DD 5@?6 E92? E92E 2?5 56A6?5:?8 @? E96 E9:4<?6DD[ 7:8FC6 23@FE b >:?FE6D A6C D:56 7@C >65:F>\C2C6 @C `b_\`bd 568C66D 2?5 `d_\`dd 568C66D 7@C >65:F>\H6==]k^Am k9amr=2DD:4 q667 qFC86C H:E9 q24@? 2?5 q66C\D:>>6C65 ~?:@?Dk^9am kAm|2<6Di e ^ !C6A2C2E:@? E:>6i cd >:?FE6D ^ %@E2= E:>6i ` 9@FCk^AmkAmu@C E96 3FC86CD[ 8C:?5 J@FC @H? >:I @7 49F4<[ D9@CE C:3 2?5 3C:D<6E @C 92G6 2 3FE496C 5@ :E 7@C J@F]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mqpr~} p}s ~}x~}$k^DEC@?8mk^AmkF=mk=:m` E62DA@@? 42?@=2 @:=k^=:mk=:mc D=:46D 324@?[ 4FE 4C@DDH:D6 :?E@ ¼\:?49 E9:4< A:646Dk^=:mk=:ma >65:F> @?:@?D[ A66=65[ 92=G65 =6?8E9H:D6 2?5 D=:465 `^a\:?49 E9:4<k^=:mk=:m` E23=6DA@@? F?D2=E65 3FEE6C[ 5:465k^=:mk=:m½ E62DA@@? <@D96C D2=Ek^=:mk=:m½ 4FA 72G@C:E6 2=6k^=:mk=:m` 962A:?8 E62DA@@? 32=D2>:4 G:?682Ck^=:mk=:m` D>2== 32J =627k^=:mk=:m` DE2C 2?:D6k^=:mk^F=m kAmkDEC@?8mq&#vt#$k^DEC@?8mk^AmkF=mk=:m`½ A@F?5D G6CJ 4@=5 3=6?5 @7 8C@F?5 3667 WAC676C23=J g_T =62? 2?5 a_T 72EXk^=:mk=:mr2?@=2 @:=k^=:mk=:mz@D96C D2=E 2?5 7C6D9=J 8C@F?5 3=24< A6AA6C E@ E2DE6k^=:mk=:mg D=:46D 72G@C:E6 p>6C:42?[ 496552C @C $H:DD 4966D6k^=:mk=:mc E23=6DA@@?D F?D2=E65 3FEE6C[ >6=E65k^=:mk=:mc A@E2E@ 92>3FC86C 3F?D @C 72G@C:E6 3F?Dk^=:mk=:mr@?5:>6?ED @7 49@:46 WD66 ?@E6 7@C $924< $2F46Xk^=:mk=:m{627 =6EEF46k^=:mk=:m%@>2E@ D=:46Dk^=:mk^F=mkAmx? 2 >65:F> D2F46A2?[ 255 E96 @:= 2?5 324@?] r@@< @G6C >65:F> 962E[ DE:CC:?8 @7E6?[ F?E:= E96 324@? :D 8@=56? 3C@H? 2?5 4C:DA[ 23@FE d >:?FE6D] p55 E96 @?:@?D[ 3FEE6C 2?5 D2=E 2?5 DE:C F?E:= E96 @?:@?D 2C6 6G6?=J 4@2E65] r@G6C E96 A2? 2?5 4@@<[ DE:CC:?8 @7E6?[ F?E:= E96 @?:@?D 2C6 D@7E 2?5 EC2?D=F46?E[ 23@FE a_ >:?FE6D] p55 E96 2=6[ G:?682C[ 32J =627 2?5 DE:C 2?:D6] r@@<[ F?4@G6C65[ DE:CC:?8 7C6BF6?E=J[ F?E:= E96 =:BF:5 92D 2=>@DE 6G2A@C2E65 2?5 @?:@?D 2C6 G6CJ D@7E 2?5 42C2>6=:K65[ 23@FE c_ >:?FE6D] #6>@G6 2?5 5:D42C5 E96 32J =627 2?5 DE2C 2?:D6]k^Am kAm(9:=6 @?:@?D 4@@<[ AC6A2C6 3FC86CD] !C6962E E96 8C:== E@ >65:F>] $92A6 E96 >62E :?E@ 86?6C@FD e\@F?46 A2EE:6D 2?5 :?E@ 2? 6G6? ⅓\ E@ ½\:?49 E9:4<?6DD] |2<6 2 D92==@H :?56?E2E:@? :? E96 46?E6C @7 E96 3FC86C] qCFD9 3@E9 D:56D @7 E96 3FC86CD H:E9 @:= 2?5 DAC:?<=6 H:E9 D2=E 2?5 A6AA6C] vC:== E96 3FC86CD E@ 56D:C65 568C66 @7 5@?6?6DD[ EFC?:?8 E96> @?=J @?46] p3@FE a >:?FE6D 367@C6 3FC86CD 2C6 5@?6[ E@A H:E9 4966D6 D=:46D 2?5 2==@H E@ >6=E] pE E96 D2>6 E:>6 3CFD9 E96 :?D:56 @7 3F?D H:E9 >6=E65 3FEE6C 2?5 A=246 3FEE6C D:56 5@H? @? E96 8C:== 2?5 E@2DE F?E:= 8@=56?[ 23@FE a >:?FE6D]k^AmkAm#6>@G6C E96 3FC86CD 7C@> E96 8C:==[ A=246 @? 3F?D[ 255 56D:C65 4@?5:>6?ED 2?5 E@A 6249 H:E9 2 5@==@A @7 E96 @?:@? >:IEFC6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mr@@<VD ?@E6ik^DEC@?8m %@ >2<6 2 D2F46 D:>:=2C E@ $924< $2F46[ >:I ½ 4FA >2J@??2:D6[ ` E23=6DA@@? s:;@? >FDE2C5[ ¾ E62DA@@? <6E49FA[ ½ E62DA@@? <@D96C 5:== A:4<=:?8 3C:?6 2?5 2 A:?49 @7 42J6??6 A6AA6C]k^Am kAmk6>mp52AE65 7C@> Q$92<6 $924< #64:A6D U2>Aj $E@C:6DQ 3J #2?5J v2CFEE: U2>Aj |2C< #@D2E: Wr=2C<D@? !@EE6C[ Sae]Xk^6>mk^AmkAmk6>m%6DE65 3J $FD2? $6=2D<J 7@C E96 uC66 !C6DD %6DE z:E496?]k^6>mk^Am k9am|@C6 DF>>6C C64:A6D E@ ECJik^9am 5 must-try cold soups to keep you cool, hydrated, and well-fed all summer long. Times Now Foodie - Vertical Food & Cooking Want a little fresh Spring flavor? Try this Strawberry-Cucumber salad Lindsay Howerton-Hastings USA Today Network Food & Cooking This spring pasta salad is perfect for outdoor meals Sheridan Lane USA Today Network 0 Comments Satisfy your cravings With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Stop Making These Mistakes When Grilling Hamburgers Looking to impress your friends during your next backyard cookout? Then don't make these mistakes next time you're grilling up some burgers.
Food & Cooking Want a little fresh Spring flavor? Try this Strawberry-Cucumber salad Lindsay Howerton-Hastings USA Today Network
Stop Making These Mistakes When Grilling Hamburgers Looking to impress your friends during your next backyard cookout? Then don't make these mistakes next time you're grilling up some burgers.