Should you want to eat more protein, you may have thought about adding one or two burgers to your daily routine.
So, how much protein is in a regular burger? If you want to eat a lot of protein, can you get it from a regular burger recipe?
If you want to eat a high-protein diet, this short guide will tell you what kinds of burgers to eat. Here’s what you need to know.
As a backyard burger grilling aficionado, I’m always tinkering to craft the perfect patty. And one key factor I’ve learned is the ideal weight in grams for each burger. The right beef patty weight ensures even cooking, great texture, and big flavor.
To determine the perfect burger patty gram weight, I decided to analyze everything from ounces to percentages Read on for the complete guide to burger patty weights!
What’s the Standard Burger Patty Weight?
First let’s look at the generally recommended patty weight used by most home cooks and restaurants
- The standard burger patty is 4 ounces, or 113 grams.
This 4 ounce weight allows the patty to cook evenly while staying juicy and delivering a satisfying burger experience.
Of course, preferences vary – some may like huge 1/2 pound burgers, while others prefer 2 ounce slider patties. But 4 ounces hits the sweet spot for most burger lovers.
Common Beef Burger Patty Weight Ranges
While 4 ounces is standard, here are some other common patty weights:
- Sliders – Around 2 ounces or 57 grams
- Small burgers – 3 ounces or 85 grams
- Regular burger – The classic 4 ounces or 113 grams
- Large burgers – 5-6 ounces or 142-170 grams
- Giant burgers – 8 ounces to 1 pound or more
For me, the 4-5 ounce range is ideal. But feel free to adjust based on your personal tastes!
Patty Weight as a Percentage of Burger Weight
Another approach is looking at patty weight as a percentage of the total burger weight:
- The patty should be 60-80% of the total burger weight.
- Buns, toppings, and condiments make up the other 20-40%.
So for an 8 ounce burger, use a 5-6 ounce patty. For a 10 ounce burger, a 6-8 ounce patty does the trick. This ratio creates balance.
Factors that Influence Patty Weight
A few key factors impact the final patty weight and size:
- Fat content – Higher fat beef shrinks more during cooking. Lean beef holds its shape better.
- Seasonings and binders – Ingredients like breadcrumbs or eggs help bind the patty.
- Cooking method – Grilling vs pan frying leads to different shrinkage.
- Patty shaping – Avoid over-handling and compressing the meat.
- Meat quality – Grass-fed vs conventional beef affects moisture content.
Considering these will help achieve your target patty weight.
Weighing Patties for Consistency
For consistent sizing, I strongly recommend using a kitchen scale to weigh patties.
Here’s an easy process:
- Form ground beef into a log shape
- Divide log into equal portions based on desired patty weight
- Gently shape each portion into a patty
- Weigh patties to ensure they match the target weight
Weighing guarantees every patty will start at the exact same weight before cooking, helping them cook evenly.
Typical Weights of Burger Components
To construct the full burger, here are common weights for each component:
- Buns: Around 2.5-3 ounces each
- Lettuce: 0.5-1 ounce
- Tomato: 1-2 ounces
- Cheese: 0.5-1 ounce per slice
- Onion: 0.5-1 ounce
Use these estimates when building your burgers. Weighing helps achieve balanced flavor in every bite!
Portioning Ground Beef for Patties
When working with bulk ground beef, here’s an easy way to precisely portion patties:
- Weigh total amount of beef (say 2 pounds)
- Decide desired patty weight (ex. 4 oz)
- Divide total by patty weight to get number of patties
- Portion into equal piles using a scale
For example, 2 pounds (32 oz) divided by 4 oz patties yields 8 patties. Portion into 8 equal 4 oz piles. Simple!
Cook Time Based on Patty Thickness
Nailing the patty weight also ensures ideal cook times. Here are estimates:
- 2 ounce slider patty – 2-3 minutes per side
- 4 ounce regular patty – 4-5 minutes per side
- 8 ounce pub-style patty – 6-8 minutes per side
Thicker, heavier patties take longer since heat penetrates slower. Cook until an instant-read thermometer shows 160°F internally.
Cooking Perfect Patties
To cook patties to juicy perfection:
- Don’t press patties while cooking
- Preheat grill or pan before cooking
- Let patties rest 5 minutes before serving
- Avoid charring or burning – use medium heat
- Only flip once during cooking
- Cook to 160°F internal temperature
Follow these tips and your properly weighed patties will turn out perfect every time!
Making a Custom Burger Blend
For total control over fat content and flavor, I recommend making your own blend:
- Mix 80% lean ground chuck with 20% brisket or short rib for moisture.
- Add desired seasonings like Worcestershire, garlic, and pepper.
- Gently mix without over-handling, then divide into patties.
- Get ready to grill up the ultimate burgers!
Weighing for Burger Greatness
When crafting the perfect burger, patty weight is an important but overlooked factor. Whether you like quarter-pounders or mini sliders, using a kitchen scale and controlling patty thickness guarantees burger success.
Types of Beef Meat
Of course, there’s nuance in the type of beef meat you choose for your burger.
80& lean ground beef often contains around 20 grams of protein. 95% lean ground beef has 22 grams. The latter has fewer calories, but it’s usually a better tradeoff as you’ll get more protein.
70% lean ground beef is a more affordable option. This is fatter meat and has around 183 calories per patty. The protein amount is approximately 18 grams with this option.
Make sure you ask about the type of beef meat available when you order your next burger.
Protein in a Traditional Burger
A traditional burger made from high-quality beef will often weigh close to 8 ounces. You’ll get around 34 grams from the burger, with 26 grams from the patty itself.
Of course, if you need more protein, you can always add an extra patty. Apart from the patty, the rest of the protein comes from the bun and the toppings. However, toppings such as lettuce or tomato add less than 1 gram of protein. If you want even more protein, then you want to add cheese to your burger.
Cheeseburgers often add an extra 5-6 grams of protein depending on the type of cheese you choose — with cheddar being the standard.
Which Kind of Ground Beef is Best for Burgers?
FAQ
How much beef is in a beef burger?
How many grams of beef are in a hamburger?
How many grams of beef are in a McDonald’s burger?
How much beef is actually in a McDonald’s hamburger?
How much beef is in a Burger?
For normal burgers, about 4 ounces, which is 113.5 grams is ok; however, this will not allow you to cook it to a medium-rare temperature, so you may wish to bump it up to 150 grams. 200 grams is good too, if you want a thicker patty and cook it to medium-rare. How many grams of beef are in a McDonald’s burger?
How much ground beef should be in a Burger?
In conclusion, the ideal amount of ground beef per person for burgers is approximately 1/3 to 1/2 pound (150-225 grams). However, keep in mind that personal preferences, dietary restrictions, and the overall composition of your burgers may influence the serving size.
How much protein is in a beef burger?
100% pure beef burgers contains 330 calories per 113 g serving. This serving contains 28 g of fat, 18 g of protein and 0 g of carbohydrate. How much protein is in 8 oz of cooked hamburger? The main meat used for a traditional hamburger is ground beef.
How much fat is in a hamburger?
One hamburger contains about 20.9 grams of fat. Additionally, eating a hamburger will boost your saturated fat intake. Ground beef, the primary ingredient in a burger, is high in saturated fat. And many people prepare their burgers using additional fat like butter or oil. Saturated fat is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.