Step 1  Remove the beef burgers from the refrigerator at least 20 minutes before you plan to cook them so they can come to room temperature. This helps them cook more evenly.

Step 2   Pour a thin layer olive or vegetable oil into a small bowl. Dip a brush into the bowl and lightly brush the oil in a thin, even layer across the grill grates or pan to ensure the burgers don’t stick when you try to flip them.

Step 3  Set a grill to “medium high” heat or preheat a cast iron grill pan on the stovetop over “medium high.”

Step 4   Sprinkle the burgers lightly with salt and pepper to enhance the flavor.

Step 5   Add the beef burgers to the preheated grill or grill pan and heat for 3 to 6 minutes or until you see that the bottom of the patties have distinctive grill lines. Use a spatula to carefully flip the burgers over.

Step 6   Lower the grill or grill pan heat to “medium” and heat the burgers for another 3 to 5 minutes, then flip them over again. Continue slowly heating and flipping the burgers every 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 7   Insert an instant-read meat thermometer into the center of a burger each time you flip the burgers to prevent incorrectly estimating the cooking time. Remove the burgers from the heat once the thermometer reads 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Serve the burgers on buns.