Hamburgers are the all-American food, despite being named after a German city. Among the many ways to prepare a burger, one of the easiest and fastest is in the microwave. Ground beef is particularly responsive to microwave cooking, thanks to its tenderness and short cooking time. Of course, microwave cooking is faster and neater than pan frying or firing up an outdoor grill. When you factor in convenience and speed, burger-plus-microwave might just be the perfect cooking combination.
Form the ground beef into doughnut shapes about 4 to 5 inches in diameter. Each patty should completely cover the palm of your hand. Leave a 3/4-inch-diameter hole in the center of each patty. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.
Place the burger patties onto a microwave-safe plastic colander or trivet set on a microwave-safe dish. Lay a sheet of wax paper over the patties and place the dish into the microwave.
Microwave on high for about 40 seconds per patty. Turn the burgers over when the time is up and repeat the process on the other side.
Insert an instant-read thermometer into the center of the burger to check its internal temperature. Ground beef is considered safe when it's fully cooked to a temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook for another 15 seconds and check again if the temperature is lower.