How to Cook Plant-Based Burgers in Cast Iron (2024)

Over the past few weeks, we’ve tried every imitation-beef burger we could get our hands on, using a simple burger as our benchmark. Our results aligned with most fauxtein taste tests (and boy, there are many), with both the Impossible Burger and Beyond Burger offering the most beef-like experience. The Impossible Burger had the beefiest texture, inside and out: its surface browns up beautifully, and the interior (if not overcooked) stays juicy and chewy, almost like the real thing. The Beyond Burger is more fine-grained in texture—it’s obvious you’re not eating real beef—but it forms a crispy exterior and has enough fat and beet-colored juice within to offer a good approximation. Flavor-wise, both tasted beefy, but we found the Beyond Burger to taste most like a griddle-cooked hamburger, while the Impossible Burger had a lingering, livery flavor that was too beef-like for us.

Whichever beef-alternative product you choose to cook at home, you’ll only unlock its qualities if you cook it properly—and a cast iron skillet is the best tool for the job, thanks to its excellent heat retention.

Here are our tips for cooking plant-based burgers in cast iron:

DIY patties. If possible, purchase loose “meat” over preformed patties, which are too thin and tend to dry out even if you cook them correctly (see below). To get juicier results, form the blend into patties that are about ¾-inch thick, pressing them a bit more tightly than you would a beef burger so they hold their shape.

Ingredients

1 pound loose (or 4 patties) beef alternative blend

Vegetable or grapeseed oil

4 hamburger buns, toasted

4 slices cheese (or vegan cheese), optional

Garnishes and condiments, the more the merrier

Tools

Field No.10 Skillet

Field No.12 Skillet

Slotted Turner

Resources

The Field Method for Cast Iron Care

Instructions

1.

Preheat a No.10 or Field No.12 Skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes.

2.

If using loose beef alternative blend, divide the mixture into 4 equal portions, then shape each into a patty about ¾-inch thick, and slightly wider than your bun. (Unlike ground beef, you’ll want to use a firmer hand when forming the patties, or they’ll fall apart in the skillet.)

3.

Add enough vegetable oil to completely cover the skillet, and increase the heat to medium-high. When the oil shimmers, add the patties and cook without disturbing until their bottoms are deeply browned and release easily from the skillet, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the burgers over and top with cheese slices, if using. Continue cooking until the other side is deeply browned, 2 to 3 minutes longer. (To check doneness with a thermometer, insert the probe of an instant-read thermometer into the center of the patty; you’re aiming for 125°F to 130°F for a medium-rare-style burger).

4.

Transfer the patties to the buns, dress the burgers with garnishes and condiments, and serve.

How to Cook Plant-Based Burgers in Cast Iron (2024)

FAQs

How to Cook Plant-Based Burgers in Cast Iron? ›

Cook the patties as you would a medium-rare burger; this will take 2 to 3 minutes per side (depending on the thickness of the patties), or you can check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer: 125°F to 130°F is the sweet spot for a juicy, pink-in-the-center burger. Condiments are key.

How to cook a veggie burger on cast iron? ›

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 4 patties and cook, swirling pan occasionally, until well browned and crisp on first side, about 5 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until second side is browned, about 5 minutes longer, adding cheese if desired.

What is the best way to cook plant based burgers? ›

Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Coat the bottom of the skillet with oil and cook the patties for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until well-charred and cooked through. Remove from the heat, brush with Worcestershire sauce, and serve with desired fixings.

How to cook impossible burger cast iron pan? ›

Grill Impossible Burger: Form your patties and preheat your surface, whether it's an open-flame grill, flat-top griddle, cast iron pan, or however you like to cook Impossible Burger. Gently place a burger patty on the hot surface and cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until you see a nice sear.

Do you put oil in a cast iron skillet when cooking burgers? ›

Before hitting the skillet, salt and pepper both sides of the burgers generously. Next, grease a skillet lightly with oil. Use your favorite skillet. I'll use either a nonstick or a cast iron skillet.

How do you keep burgers from sticking to cast iron? ›

Before you start cooking, you'll want to preheat your cast iron skillet on medium-high heat for a few minutes. Once heated, lightly coat the skillet with a high smoke point oil, like vegetable or canola. This helps prevent the patties from sticking and will enhance their sear.

Is it better to cook burgers in a cast iron skillet? ›

You can grill a burger the traditional way (on a charcoal or gas grill)… the flavor is out of this world. You can cook a burger inside on a cast iron pan… the crispy sear you'll get is even better than your favorite restaurant.

How do you know when plant-based burgers are done? ›

Cook It to 130 Degrees

Plant-based meat cooked to medium-rare (125 degrees) is mushy and pasty. On the flip side, cooking plant-based meat until well done (160 degrees) yields meat with an unpleasantly bouncy, chewy texture. We found medium doneness (130 to 135 degrees) to be the sweet spot for tender, juicy meat.

What's the difference between veggie burger and plant-based? ›

Key Differences

To make a Plant-based burger patty, certain plant parts like starch and protein get extracted and isolated. Then, those parts get combined to make a product similar to meat. Veggie burgers simply combine things like beans with vegetables using binders.

Are plant-based burgers healthy? ›

Interestingly, the plant based burgers may not be the best choice for people following a heart-healthy diet, as they are higher in saturated fat than turkey burgers and contain substantially more sodium than lean beef burgers.

What is the trick to cooking with cast iron? ›

To ensure even heating, gradually pre-heat the cast iron skillet on a similar-sized burner. Since cast iron holds heat, it's not necessary to use a heat setting above medium. These steps help prevent food from sticking. Don't forget to use a hot handle mitt!

How to cook beyond burger in skillet? ›

Beyond Stack Burger is designed to be cooked from frozen and is ready to eat in just 6 minutes. Preheat a skillet to medium heat, lightly oil the surface, and cook the patty for ~3 mins/side. Or preheat a grill to medium heat, lightly brush the grill with oil, and then cook the frozen patties covered for ~3 mins/side.

Can you cook ground meat in a cast iron skillet? ›

If you have a cast iron skillet, that's an especially good choice as the strong, consistent heat of cast iron will help brown ground beef exceptionally well. 2. Heat the Oil: Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil or your vegetable oil of choice in the skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.

How do I keep my cast iron burger press from rusting? ›

Cleaning and Storing: After each use, wash and dry thoroughly and lightly re-coat with vegetable oil before storing. If there are signs of rust, then re-season by following the steps above.

How do you clean a cast iron skillet after frying burgers? ›

After I've finished cooking, if I can clean the pan without a little bit of dish soap, I will. To clean the cast iron skillet, rinse it first under hot water to remove any excess food or residue. Then, use a wet, clean paper towel to wipe out the inside of the pan until it's fully clean. Easy enough!

How long to grill burgers on cast iron? ›

I cooked mine in my cast-iron skillet 3 minutes per side and they were succulent! Good recipe! I did put a little side of ketchup on my plate, too, because I gotta have the ketchup with the burger, and I used light whole-grain hamburger buns.

How to cook a veggie burger in a pan? ›

Don't overcook.

Cook the patties as you would a medium-rare burger; this will take 2 to 3 minutes per side (depending on the thickness of the patties), or you can check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer: 125°F to 130°F is the sweet spot for a juicy, pink-in-the-center burger.

Can you cook vegetables in cast iron? ›

Heat a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat or place over campfire coals. Add olive oil and roast red onion, carrots, turnips, beets, and red pepper flakes. Add peppers and green beans and cook until warmed through. Stir in garlic and cherry tomatoes and cook until garlic is roasted.

How to cook vegetables in cast iron grill pan? ›

To heat a cast iron griddle for grilling vegetables, start by placing it on the grill or stovetop over medium-high heat. Allow the griddle to preheat for at least 10-15 minutes before adding the vegetables. This will ensure that the griddle is evenly heated and ready to create beautiful grill marks on the vegetables.

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