Cooking burgers on the stove is one of the fastest ways to get a deeply browned, juicy burger any time of year—and without firing up a grill. Most stovetop burgers take 5 to 10 minutes total, depending on thickness and how you like your meat cooked.

A standard 5-oz. beef patty usually needs about 5 minutes on the first side over medium-high heat. For a rare patty, simply flip the burger to seal the second side, then remove it from the heat. Otherwise, let the second side cook for 1 to 5 minutes, depending on how you like it.

Based on a 5-oz. patty cooked over medium-high heat:

The key is simply to use a hot pan, leave the burger undisturbed long enough to form a deep brown crust, and invest in an instant-read meat thermometer .

This basic burger recipe from former Bon Appétit editor Claire Saffitz is an evergreen favorite, full of smart techniques for molding a stellar homemade burger—juicy, flavorful beef that’s never dry or mealy. The cooking process is simple, and the results are magnificent.…