Medium burgers: 4 minutes per side per inch of thickness

Yes, you can nail medium every time if you match cooking time to patty thickness and manage your heat.

For a standard 1-inch thick patty, cook 4 minutes per side over medium-high heat (around 400°F surface temp). That gives you a nice crust and a pink, juicy center. Thinner? 3/4-inch patty needs about 3 minutes per side. Thicker? 1.5-inch needs 5-6 minutes per side — but I’d lower the heat slightly to avoid burning the outside.

Flip once. Don’t press down (that’s just squeezing out juice). Pull the burgers off at 130-135°F internal temp, then rest them for 5 minutes. They’ll carry over to 140-145°F, which is perfect medium.

Your grill’s heat varies, so a thermometer is still your best friend.